Michael Torontow is a Canadian actor, singer and director, best known for his work in musical theatre. He has played such roles as Link Larkin in the first Canadian production of Hairspray in 2004 Giuseppe Naccarelli in Toronto productions of The Light in the Piazza in 2010 and 2016, and the title character in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in 2022. He is an artistic director for Talk is Free Theatre in Barrie, Ontario. He has been nominated for Dora Awards both as a leading actor and director.
Early life and education Torontow was born in Ottawa, Ontario, where he attended Bell High School. While in high school, Torontow played Joseph in a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which motivated him to pursue a career in acting. He graduated from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and a Certificate in Arts Administration.
Career In 2001, Torontow made his professional stage debut in the first North American tour of Mamma Mia! as a member of the ensemble and an understudy in the role of Sky.
In 2004, Torontow played the role of Link Larkin in the first Canadian production of Hairspray. The musical ran at the Princess of Wales Theatre from April to November 2004.
Torontow was a member of the ensemble for the stage adaptation of Dirty Dancing. The first Canadian production played at the Royal Alexandra Theatre, opening in July 2007. In 2010, Torontow played Giuseppe Naccarelli in a Toronto production of The Light in the Piazza presented by the Musical Stage Company and the Canadian Stage Company. In 2016, Torontow reprised his role of Giuseppe in a production of The Light in the Piazza at the Max Bell Theatre, for which he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical at the 2016 Calgary Theatre Critics Awards.
In 2019, Torontow performed Every Brilliant Thing, a one-man show written by Duncan Macmillan. The production was presented by Talk is Free Theatre at the Five Points Theatre in Barrie, before it transferred to the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre. In 2020, the production was presented at the Adelaide Fringe Festival with Torontow again performing the show. This production won the BankSA Best Theatre & Physical Theatre award.
Since 2019, Torontow has served as an artistic director for Talk is Free Theatre (TIFT), which is a professional theatre company based in Barrie that has produced theatre across Ontario, Canada, and internationally. In 2021, he directed his first musical, a TIFT production, of Into the Woods, in Barrie and at the Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto. At the 2022 Dora Awards, Torontow was nominated for Best Direction.
In 2022, Torontow starred as Sweeney Todd in a production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, which was presented by Talk is Free Theatre. For his performance in the role, he was nominated for Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role in a Musical at the 2022 Dora Awards.
In 2023, Torontow played Kevin J. and others in a production of Come from Away in Gander, Newfoundland, where the musical is set. When the musical returned to Gander in the summer of 2024, Torontow returned, this time playing Kevin T. and others.
Torontow is currently playing Cal in the original Canadian production of Titanique. The musical premiered at the Segal Centre in Montreal, where it is playing between October 27 and November 24, 2024. It will then transfer to the CAA Theatre, where it will play between December 5, 2024 and January 12, 2025.
Credits Theatre Year Production Role Theatre Category 2001–2003 Mamma Mia! Ensemble, u/s Sky First National Tour 2004 Hairspray Link Larkin Princess of Wales Theatre Mirvish Productions 2007–2009 Dirty Dancing Ensemble Royal Alexandra Theatre Mirvish Productions 2010 The Light in the Piazza Giuseppe Berkeley Street Theatre Musical Stage Company, Canadian Stage Company 2014 Floyd Collins Homer Collins Mady Centre for the Performing Arts Regional: Talk Is Free Theatre, Patrick Street Productions The York Theatre 2016 The Light in the Piazza Giuseppe Max Bell Theatre Regional: Theatre Calgary 2017 Beauty and the Beast Beast Capitol Theatre Regional 2018 Mamma Mia! Sam Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage Arts Club Theatre Company 2019 Every Brilliant Thing Narrator Five Points Theatre Regional: Talk is Free Theatre Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre2020 Adelaide Fringe Festival 2022 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Sweeney Todd Regional: Talk is Free Theatre 2023 Come from Away Kevin J. and others Joseph R. Smallwood Arts and Culture Centre Regional: Gander, Newfoundland 2024 Cock M Regional: Talk is Free Theatre Come from Away Kevin T. and others Joseph R. Smallwood Arts and Culture Centre Regional: Gander, Newfoundland 2024–2025 Titanique CalSegal Centre for Performing Arts Mirvish Productions CAA Theatre
Television Year Title Role Notes 2005 Queer as Folk Babylonian S5.E7: "Hope Against Hope" 2009True Crime Scene Bakery Manager S2.E10: "Cherry Hill Murder" 2010 Forensic Factor S7.E5: "Abbotsford Killer" Being Erica Doug S3.E6: "Bear Breasts" 2013 Hannibal Pharmacist S1.E2: "Amuse-Bouche" 2014 Reign King's Guard S1.E9: "For King and Country" 2015 Remedy 68 Special Elvis S2.E10: "Day One" 2015–2016 Lost & Found Music Studios Mr. T Main role: 17 episodes 2017 Conviction Handsome Guy S1.E13: "Past, Prologue & What's to Come"
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2016 Calgary Theatre Critics Award Best Supporting Actor in a Musical The Light in the Piazza 2019 Ovation Awards Outstanding Supporting Performance of a Musical - Male Mamma Mia! 2020 Adelaide Fringe Festival Awards BankSA Best Theatre & Physical Theatre Every Brilliant Thing 2022 Dora Awards Outstanding Direction Into the Woods Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
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