Tyler Michaels is a performer, director, and improviser living in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He received 2014's Emerging Artist Ivey Award and has been named "Artist of the Year" by City Pages, "Best Actor" by Minnesota Monthly, and Minneapolis' "Best Actor in a Musical" by Broadwayworld.com. He also holds the "Mark Twain Comedic Performance Award" from the Kennedy Center.
Tyler was born and raised in Bloomington, Minnesota and graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead with a Bachelor's Degree in Theatre Arts. After college, he was awarded a scholarship to study at Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theater in Blue Lake, California.
Since 2011, Tyler has worked and played with the Guthrie Theater, The Ordway, Children's Theater Company, Hennepin Theater Trust, Theatre Latte Da, History Theater, Chanhassen Dinner Theaters, Illusion Theater, Flying Foot Forum, 7th House Theater, Actors Theater of Minnesota, Circa Productions, Newton Theater, Minneapolis Musical Theatre, HUGE Theater, Got It Made Productions, Studio206, and Artistry (Bloomington Civic Theatre).
In 2016, Tyler launched Trademark Theater, a Twin Cities based company devoted to the creation, development, and production of new theatrical productions.
Tyler is also a founding member of Bearded Men Improv, a long-form experimental improv troupe that performs weekly at HUGE Improv Theater as well as all over the country during various comedy festivals and tours.
Tyler is an on-camera and voice over talent for NUTS, ltd. a Twin Cites based talent agency. He is also a proud member of the Actor's Equity Association.
Tyler was born and raised in Bloomington, Minnesota and graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead with a Bachelor's Degree in Theatre Arts. After college, he was awarded a scholarship to study at Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theater in Blue Lake, California.
Since 2011, Tyler has worked and played with the Guthrie Theater, The Ordway, Children's Theater Company, Hennepin Theater Trust, Theatre Latte Da, History Theater, Chanhassen Dinner Theaters, Illusion Theater, Flying Foot Forum, 7th House Theater, Actors Theater of Minnesota, Circa Productions, Newton Theater, Minneapolis Musical Theatre, HUGE Theater, Got It Made Productions, Studio206, and Artistry (Bloomington Civic Theatre).
In 2016, Tyler launched Trademark Theater, a Twin Cities based company devoted to the creation, development, and production of new theatrical productions.
Tyler is also a founding member of Bearded Men Improv, a long-form experimental improv troupe that performs weekly at HUGE Improv Theater as well as all over the country during various comedy festivals and tours.
Tyler is an on-camera and voice over talent for NUTS, ltd. a Twin Cites based talent agency. He is also a proud member of the Actor's Equity Association.
Reviews of Tyler's Work
"Michaels is more than just a daredevil, though. His skills, charisma and determined ambition have propelled him into the forefront of Twin Cities musical theater."
~Graydon Royce, Star Tribune theater critic
"When Tyler Michaels starred in Theatre Latté Da's 'Cabaret," that rivaled anything anywhere. That exemplified the talent and quality we have here."
-Tom Hoch, President/CEO Hennepin Theater Trust, quoted in a Star Tribune article
"Tyler Michaels never fails to impress in any role, large or small."
~Review of Disney’s The Little Mermaid by Jill Schafer, Cherry and Spoon
"Tyler Michaels as the Emcee is a sneering, audience-teasing, glittery dynamo."
~Review of Cabaret by Croline Palmer, Artcetera - Star Tribune
"From the moment he dropped into the audience at the top of the show, the Emcee, played by Tyler Michaels, was the highest point (both figuratively and literally) of a show with many. […] If you went to see this show for nothing else, catch this young star in the making. "
~Review of Cabaret by Kristen Hirsch Montag, Broadwayworld.com
"...but here’s absolutely the best thing about Cabaret: Tyler Michaels. Wow. Michaels plays the Emcee with a combination of sweetness and nastiness, of innocnece and delicious wickedness, with delightful smiling innuendo. He’s tall, lean and handsome. Well-muscled and acrobatic. [...] His performance is a star turn, really."
~Review of Cabaret by John Olive, Howwastheshow.com
"Did someone say “personality?” Wait till you get a load of Tyler Michaels as Freddy. [...] With his lovestruck balladeering on one of the slower-moving songs in the show, Freddy can be a bit of a bore, but the athletic Michaels makes “On the Street Where You Live” into a show-stopping comic highlight that recalls the loose-limbed clowning of Dick Van Dyke in the “Mary Poppins” movie."
- Review of My Fair Lady by Chris Hewitt, Pioneer Press
"Tyler Michaels gives poor beleaguered Moritz a way to fight back, even if it's only in his mind. Inside his songs, both emotionally and physically, he takes flight. His performance is inspiring to watch, and makes it all the more heartbreaking when the world keeps trying to beat Moritz down."
~ Review of Spring Awakening by Matthew A. Everett, TC Daily Planet
"Many of the comedic highs in this scene and others come from Tyler Michaels amazing performance as Bat Boy. He flops and flits about the stage in a way that can only be described as, well, batty. His gymnastic contortions are fascinating, and his vocal manipulations hilarious."
~ Review of Bat Boy The Musical by Anna Rosenweig, Aisle Say Twin Cities
"Tyler Michaels continues his years-long hot streak as Vee, showcasing both the naive young man and the more weary, post-success singer. The changes are subtle (a change in posture or even hairstyle) but work wonders."
- Review of Teen Idol The Bobby Vee Story by Ed Hyuck, Star Tribune
~Graydon Royce, Star Tribune theater critic
"When Tyler Michaels starred in Theatre Latté Da's 'Cabaret," that rivaled anything anywhere. That exemplified the talent and quality we have here."
-Tom Hoch, President/CEO Hennepin Theater Trust, quoted in a Star Tribune article
"Tyler Michaels never fails to impress in any role, large or small."
~Review of Disney’s The Little Mermaid by Jill Schafer, Cherry and Spoon
"Tyler Michaels as the Emcee is a sneering, audience-teasing, glittery dynamo."
~Review of Cabaret by Croline Palmer, Artcetera - Star Tribune
"From the moment he dropped into the audience at the top of the show, the Emcee, played by Tyler Michaels, was the highest point (both figuratively and literally) of a show with many. […] If you went to see this show for nothing else, catch this young star in the making. "
~Review of Cabaret by Kristen Hirsch Montag, Broadwayworld.com
"...but here’s absolutely the best thing about Cabaret: Tyler Michaels. Wow. Michaels plays the Emcee with a combination of sweetness and nastiness, of innocnece and delicious wickedness, with delightful smiling innuendo. He’s tall, lean and handsome. Well-muscled and acrobatic. [...] His performance is a star turn, really."
~Review of Cabaret by John Olive, Howwastheshow.com
"Did someone say “personality?” Wait till you get a load of Tyler Michaels as Freddy. [...] With his lovestruck balladeering on one of the slower-moving songs in the show, Freddy can be a bit of a bore, but the athletic Michaels makes “On the Street Where You Live” into a show-stopping comic highlight that recalls the loose-limbed clowning of Dick Van Dyke in the “Mary Poppins” movie."
- Review of My Fair Lady by Chris Hewitt, Pioneer Press
"Tyler Michaels gives poor beleaguered Moritz a way to fight back, even if it's only in his mind. Inside his songs, both emotionally and physically, he takes flight. His performance is inspiring to watch, and makes it all the more heartbreaking when the world keeps trying to beat Moritz down."
~ Review of Spring Awakening by Matthew A. Everett, TC Daily Planet
"Many of the comedic highs in this scene and others come from Tyler Michaels amazing performance as Bat Boy. He flops and flits about the stage in a way that can only be described as, well, batty. His gymnastic contortions are fascinating, and his vocal manipulations hilarious."
~ Review of Bat Boy The Musical by Anna Rosenweig, Aisle Say Twin Cities
"Tyler Michaels continues his years-long hot streak as Vee, showcasing both the naive young man and the more weary, post-success singer. The changes are subtle (a change in posture or even hairstyle) but work wonders."
- Review of Teen Idol The Bobby Vee Story by Ed Hyuck, Star Tribune