Skylight hires Michael Unger as artistic director
Skylight Music Theatre has named New York theater artist Michael Unger as its new artistic director. He’ll take the reins in September.
Unger is associate artistic director and director of education at The York Theatre, an Off-Broadway company that creates musical theater. He is also producing artistic director of NewArts in Newtown, Conn., a performing arts program for children that began as a response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings.
In a telephone interview, Unger said he “loves what the Skylight does.” Specifically, he appreciates that Skylight performs a broad spectrum of music theater from musicals to opera, which makes it unique nationally.
During the interview process, Unger saw Skylight’s production of “Kiss Me, Kate.” “I was really impressed with the local talent,” he said.
Unger said he plans to spend his first six to eight months immersing himself in the community. “I want to spend from Day One getting to know Milwaukee and the local talent. I will see every single show I can, I will meet every single actor I can,” he said.
He was born in Highland Park. Ill., and is a graduate of Ithaca College in Ithaca, N.Y. During his career, Unger has often been involved in productions of new plays. He co-directed the world premiere of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” which Skylight will perform in its upcoming season.
Unger first became involved with the Newtown community by directing a Sandy Hook benefit performance, “From Broadway With Love,” that blended Broadway performers with 100 Newtown children, including some whose fellow dance group members were killed.
Newtown surgeon Michael Baroody, who started the 1214 Foundation to help people affected by Sandy Hook, then recruited Unger to start a performing arts branch of the foundation. The first NewArts show, in summer 2013, featured Broadway star John Tartaglia starring in “Seussical” with Newtown children.
The goal of NewArts is not to produce young musical theater stars, but to increase confidence through mastering skills and working together, Unger explained.
“In theater, anyone who walks through the door can feel welcome, and feel celebrated, and have a fabulous social system,” he said.
In 2014, Unger and his NewArts collaborators premiered “A Rockin’ Midsummer Night’s Dream,” a musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s comedy performed by Newtown youth. Earlier this year, he staged “Rockin’ Midsummer” with another group of young people affected by violence at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.
Unger succeeds Skylight veteran Ray Jivoff, who stepped down from the artistic directorship after the 2018-’19 season. Unger is married to actor Janet Metz. They have two children.
Skylight’s season begins Sept. 27 with a production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma!” Info: