A So. Cal. Contributing Editor since 2009, Michael Lawrence Quintos is a talented, mild-mannered Senior Designer by day. But as night falls, he regularly performs on various stages everywhere as a Countertenor soloist, actor, and dancer for OC's MenAlive Chorus since 2002. He sings everything from Broadway, Jazz, R&B, Classical, Gospel and Pop, and has shared the stage with Bernadette Peters, Debbie Reynolds, Michael Feinstein, and Liza Minnelli. In June 2019, he made his soloist debut at the Hollywood Bowl in front of 17,000 concertgoers. His musical theater roots started early, performing in various stage productions and a couple of nationally-televised competition programs. The performing bug eventually brought him a brief championship run in the Philippines' version of "Star Search" before moving to Las Vegas at age 11. College brought him out to Orange County, California, where he earned a BFA in Graphic Design and a BA in Film Screenwriting. He has spent several years as a designer and art director for various media companies, while spending his free time going to Disneyland, binge-watching shows, or performing in or watching live shows. Follow Michael on TwitterX or Instagram @cre8iveMLQ.
LEARN MORE ABOUT Michael Quintos
First Show:
The first show I ever saw on Broadway was the 2013 Revival of PIPPIN (my first time in NYC!)Favorite Show:
1. RAGTIME 2. WEST SIDE STORY 3. SPRING AWAKENING4. WICKED 5. CAROUSEL 6. HAMILTON 7. FOLLIES8. DREAMGIRLS 9. A CHORUS LINE 10. HAIRSPRAYFavorite Stories:
- BWW Interview: Lily Tomlin (2013) - The resulting article from my almost 4-hour-plus conversation with Ms. Tomlin is still one of my favorite early pieces as a BroadwayWorld contributor. Our candid talk felt less like an interview and more like a casual chat with a living legend, who was mentoring and giving a detailed overview of a storied career to a fan. By the end of our talk, she even joked "well, you can probably write my biography at this point, I've told you so much!"
- World of Color - Opening Night Coverage (2010) - Some of my early assignments for BWW (before doing mostly show reviews) involved covering the press line at red carpets on Opening Nights of shows. As a Disney fan, getting to cover the opening of WORLD OF COLOR at Disney California Adventure on the *blue* carpet was so much fun! I wish I had the bandwidth to cover more of these kinds of events nowadays.
- BWW Reviews: All-Star RENT at the Hollywood Bowl (2010) - I celebrated my 1-Year Anniversary as a correspondent for BWW by reviewing (not just attending) the Hollywood Bowl's annual all-star summer musical, which in 2010 was Jonathan Larson's RENT, directed by Neil Patrick Harris. It was the night the world and I discovered ex-Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger needed to do more musicals.
- BWW Reviews: CAMBODIAN ROCK BAND (2018) - Though I admittedly enjoy musicals far more than straight plays, once in a while I get to see some of the most extraordinary productions that don't involve people randomly bursting into song. This world premiere at South Coast Repertory in 2018 (which *does* have music) still sits in my brain and my heart, particularly because as I enter my 15th year covering local OC theater, it make me hopeful and encouraged by the increasing diverse voices I see in new works being staged (see also my review of SCR's 2023 World Premiere of COLEMAN '72).
- BWW Interview: ALAN CUMMING (2009) - Everything has a beginning... and this article marked my first ever interview with a celeb after just a month of writing for BroadwayWorld. I still have this Tony winner's text saved (well a screenshot anyway) of him texting me to call him back because he was in an elevator when I originally called him to chat LOL.
Neil Simon's JAKE'S WOMEN Comes to The Costa Mesa Playhouse, 2/5-2/28
January 22, 2010
January 22, 2010
On February 5, the Costa Mesa Playhouse's 44th season continues with Tony® and Pulitzer Prize-winner Neil Simon's semi-autobiographical examination of dysfunctional relationships between the sexes, JAKE'S WOMEN.
O.C.'s Theatre Out presents TICK, TICK...BOOM, 1/15 - 2/20
January 7, 2010
January 7, 2010
Theatre Out, Orange County's gay and lesbian theatre, presents Jonathan Larson's autobiographical musical TICK, TICK...BOOM!. Recalling the life of composer Jonathan Larson in the years leading up to the creation of RENT, TICK, TICK...BOOM! is a deeply personal look at the courage required to follow your dreams through life's most difficult challenges.
Laguna Playhouse Presents GEORGE GERSHWIN ALONE, 1/12-2/21
December 22, 2009
December 22, 2009
The Laguna Playhouse presents the popular and critically acclaimed final movement of Hershey Felder's 'Composer Sonata' trilogy, Hershey Felder AS George Gershwin ALONE, a musical play directed by Joel Zwick with Music and Lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin and a book by Hershey Felder. George Gershwin ALONE runs January 12 through February 21, 2010. The 'Composer Sonata' comprises BEETHOVEN, AS I KNEW HIM; MONSIEUR CHOPIN; and this final movement, George Gershwin ALONE.
Orange County's Pacific Symphony presents HANDEL'S MESSIAH, 12/13
November 25, 2009
November 25, 2009
'Handel's Messiah,' performed by Pacific Symphony, is perhaps the perfect way take refuge from the hectic pace of the holidays and celebrate the season in a serene and meaningful way. This year, the most famous oratorio in the world is led by British guest conductor William Lacey and features the Pacific Chorale and four seasoned veterans of the opera and solo stages-soprano Christine Brandes, mezzo-soprano Elizabeth Batton, tenor Benjamin Butterfield and baritone Timothy Mix-singing some of the most beautiful music ever written. Taking place on Sunday, Dec. 13 at 3 p.m., in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, the Symphony's annual performance-the first of several holiday concerts-includes blazing trumpets, thundering timpani, the exhilarating 'Hallelujah' chorus, and a message of hope in a year of tribulations.
The Holidays Ring Out with The JOHNNY MATHIS CHRISTMAS Show, 12/12
November 25, 2009
November 25, 2009
The Johnny Mathis Christmas Show will put Orange County's holiday season into full swing. America's beloved singer returns to the Center for an evening decked with holiday favorites and many of his most popular hits on Saturday, December 12 in Segerstrom Hall. Since his first two hits, 'Wonderful, Wonderful' and 'Chances Are' hit the top of the charts in 1956, Mathis has been inducted into the Grammy Award Hall of Fame twice and the public has continued to love the singer, his music and that distinct Mathis voice ever since. Mathis will be joined by comedian/singer Gary Mule Deer for part of the evening.
OCPAC Presents ANNIE, 1/29 - 1/31
November 24, 2009
November 24, 2009
ANNIE's back! America's most beloved musical, ANNIE, is back, and on its 30th anniversary tour, giving a whole new generation the chance to experience this classic musical about never giving up hope. The timeless tale of Little Orphan Annie will be coming to the Orange County Performing Arts Center for five performances only January 29 - 31.
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