Michael Walters On Stage! - Florida Dame Edna, Jackie Gleason, Mr Broadway, Actor, lookalike

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The official website of Michael L. Walters

Bio and Resume

Michael L. Walters

(as Himself)
A native of Hope, Arkansas, Michael was delivered by the same nurse who delivered former President Bill Clinton. That nurse also happened to be his late grandmother, Wilma Booker.Michael began performing as soon as he realized he had an unquenchable thirst to be the center of attention. A natural mimic, Michael began as a miniature Rich Little - doing impressions of the entire cast of The Muppet Show, Archie Bunker and countless other television icons - and he hasn't stopped since. Fortunately, some of the impressions have gotten better over time.As a performer, Michael has appeared in over 75 musicals and dozens of other dramas and comedies from Neil Simon to Shakespeare. Michael has performed for audiences across the country in some of the nation's finest regional theatres as well as for thousands of people a day at Walt Disney World. At Disney, Michael had the honor of appearing for three years in the longest running musical show in the history of the American Stage: The Hoop Dee Doo Revue, which has been continually running at Walt Disney World for 35 years. Michael was an original cast member of FINDING NEMO: THE MUSICAL, originating the role of Bruce the Shark. Michael has toured nationally as a soloist with the Mantovanni Orchestra and with Troupe America's BABES IN TOYLAND.Some of Michael's favorite roles include Max Bialystock in THE PRODUCERS, Tevye in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, Albin/Zaza in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, The Padre in MAN OF LA MANCHA, The Governor of Texas in THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS, Nicely-Nicely Johnson in GUYS AND DOLLS, Thomas Andrews in TITANIC:THE MUSICAL, Mr. Enoch Snow in CAROUSEL, Jud Fry in OKLAHOMA!, Luther Billis in SOUTH PACIFIC, Professor Harold Hill in THE MUSIC MAN, and Pap Finn in BIG RIVER, to name a few.As an award-winning celebrity impersonator, Michael's hilarious portrayal of Comedy Icon Dame Edna Everage has taken him all over the US and Canada to appear at various corporate and private functions and major entertainment events from Las Vegas to Calgary, Alberta Canada. Michael has the distinction and honor of having the blessing and approval of Dame Edna manager/creator Barry Humphries and is the only tribute artist in the US that has that distinction.In addition to Dame Edna, Michael is also widely recognized for his spot-on impersonation of The Legendary Jackie Gleason - Gaining the blessing of the Gleason estate and the friendship of the late, great Gleason choreographer and sister-in-law, June Taylor. Michael has performed as "The Great One" many times on the stage of Miami Beach's Jackie Gleason Fillmore Theatre. For his recreation of Jackie Gleason's portrayal of Uncle Sid in the TONY-winning musical TAKE ME ALONG, Michael was nominated for the prestigious South Florida Carbonell Award for Best Actor in a Musical.Currently, Michael resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he performs regularly as both Gleason and Dame Edna, in addition to performing his one-man comedic semi-autobiographical show: MR.BROADWAY. Michael has recorded a CD of MR. BROADWAY, which is available for sale at his concert appearances.

MLW Resume and Headshot GRAYSCALE.pdf

MLW Resume and Headshot COLOR.pdf

Photos

Photographs

Headshot

As Gleason's Buford T. Justice

As Dame Edna Everage

As Gleason's Ralph Kramden

As Ralph Kramden

As Max in the PRODUCERS

The Producers

Max Bialystock

Michael as Fred Flinstone

With Barry Humphries

Michae's "Edna" With Barry

As Edna with John Waters

In Paint Your Wagon

Harold Hill in The Music Man

As Domina in "....Forum"

Take Me Along -Jack Philbin...

Uncle Sid in "Take Me Along"

ZAZA in La Cage Aux Folles

Zaza again

Disney's Finding Nemo

Michael as Bruce

Once again in La Cage

As Tevye in Fiddler onthe Roof

as Santa

Michae'ls Mr Broadway!

With Carol Channing

Gleason

Michael as

Jackie Gleason
Michael Walters is the world's foremost Jackie Gleason impersonator. During his many years of performing as Gleason, Michael has earned prestigious engagements such as performing a live tribute to The Jackie Gleason show at the Gleason Theatre in Miami, Florida. He was also given the rare chance to perform for both June Taylor (Jackie's sister-in-law and the creator of Gleason's "June Taylor Dancers") and Marilyn Taylor Gleason (Jackie's wife) at Jan McArt's Royal Palm Theatre as Jackie's character Uncle Sid in the critically acclaimed live production of “Take Me Along.” Following the performance, Miss Taylor remarked "Anyone can yell like Jackie, but (Michael) talks and even whispers like him." Recently, Michael was contacted for a developing reality series revolving around the classic film "Smokey and the Bandit" in which Walters would have portrayed the infamous character Buford T. Justice during produced segments of the series. Michael's image was even approved by Universal film corporation as Jackie's likeness for commemorative "Smokey and the Bandit" merchandise. Always a true Gleason fan, Michael masterfully emulates the charisma, passion, and comic timing for which Jackie Gleason became known as "The Great One."

Click below to see video of Michael as Ralph Kramden with Linda Valente as Alice!
Youtube

Click HERE to visit Michael's Jackie Gleason web page!

Mr Broadway

Michael L. Walters presents a one-man journey through the world of Musical Comedy as seen through the eyes of an actor who lives to entertain. Michael sings classic Broadway tunes from his favorite shows, and re-enacts some of his favorite roles. This fast-paced journey is peppered with stories of special celebrity encounters, offstage mishaps and hilarious tales about his family, who were never quite sure what to do with a show-biz kid. Don't miss your chance to share an unfortettable evening with this unforgettable and critcally acclaimed entertainer!

The Mr. Broadway concert show is booked exclusively through Coast2Coast star entertainment. Please click the link below for booking inquiries.

Dame Edna Michael L. Walters has been delighting audiences for over ten years with his impersonation of Dame Edna which Provincetown Magazine calls "a dead-on homage to the famous saucy Aussie." Walters is so perfect as Dame Edna that Barry Humphries, creator of Dame Edna Everage, calls his performance "spectacular!" The longest-running authorized Dame Edna impersonator, Michael is also the only impersonator who wears replicas of the Dame's fabulous gowns and even performs her classic musical numbers! A lifelong veteran of the stage, Walters delivers a "theatrical tour de force" (says Orlando Weekly) as the world's most iconic and entertaining gigastar!

Click here to visit Michael's Dame Edna website!
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Reviews

Critical acclaim for Michael Walters!
In THE PRODUCERS at Show Palace Dinner Theatre"Michael L. Walters is brilliant as the deliciously conniving Max Bialystock... Walters is comfortable in the role, effortlessly improvising during a solo scene in the second act and holding stage bits right to the edge with double and triple takes, lip quivers and outrageous bawdiness that don't seem the least bit contrived."-BARBARA FREDRIKSON, The St. Petersburg Times"...this show belongs to Walters, who turns in a tour-de-force characterization of the wily Bialystock.Larger than life... as he prances and dances on stage, Walters is adept at the physical comedy required of this role, but also shines as "The King of Old Broadway."His solo in Act Two, "Betrayed", where he synopsizes the entire play, is brilliantly sung and performed as he takes on the various voices of the cast in a non-stop soliloquy"-MARSHA REINERS, The Tampa Tribune"If what they say is true, Casting is Everything, then director Todd Eskin got it right by picking Equity Actor Walters to overplay the bigger-than-life Broadway hustler. Walters adds all the Jackie Gleason moves and touches to make you believe that the blustering Bialystock may just be able to pull off his ruse. He also shows his mastery of the pause to get an extra laugh.Walters' over-the-top performance takes this show over-the-top and ensures that you will be thoroughly entertained by The Producers."-JACK PETRO, Jacks's Theatre.comIn LA CAGE AUX FOLLES at the Mark Two Dinner Theatre"Anchored by the brilliant performance of Michael L. Walters, La Cage is a theatrical tour de force. One of the evening's highlights is Walters' uproarious and freewheeling tete-a-tete with the audience. Clearly in his element, Walters delightfully vamps like Mae West in her prime. Dressed in a hip-hugging gown and wielding an over sized walking stick, he chats, poses and swaggers to a rising tide of laughter, tossing off one liners and bawdy jokes in a rapid-fire falsetto."-AL KRULIK, Orlando Weekly"Michael L. Walters brings a beautiful voice and a nicely comedic manner to Albin... His comic impulses are right on target... This is an Albin audiences will love."-ELIZABETH MAUPIN, The Orlando SentinelIn LA CAGE AUX FOLLES at The Show Palace Dinner Theatre"Through Albin/Zaza, we learn that this transvestite has emotional depth no different from anyone else. Not enough can be said about Michael L. Walters- he is simply superb.. He steps in front of the curtain and has a hilarious and (apparently improvised?) chat with the audience and shows us that he is the ultimate entertainer. His clarion voice displays anger and hurt as he sings 'I Am What I Am.'"-MARSHA REINERS, The Tampa Tribune/Hernando Today"Michael L. Walters is a terrific Albin: Slightly jaded, but still vulnerable, confident but easily hurt, effeminate, but not a parody. His off-script standup comedy routine in the middle of the title song is a hoot. His powerful "I Am What I Am" brings a catch to the throat."-Barbra Fredriksen, The St. Petersburg TimesIn TAKE ME ALONG at Jan McArt's Royal Palm Dinner Theatre"Walters...has a glorious singing voice, making you believe at times that he's actually channeling Gleason."-CHRISTINE DOLEN, The Miami Herald"There are a great number of laughs, compliment of the light-footed, fast-talking Walters, who inflicts with the Gleason calibre every step and movement into the audiences' delight..."-DONA KAY, The Hallandale Digest"...if there was ever a more spitting image of the Great One, other than Gleason Himself, it has to be Walters. It's not quite an imitation as it is an homage...right down to Gleasons's patented stutterings. Walters is very good - as he's shown in other roles that have nothing to do with Gleason."-ROBERT SANDLER, Loafer's Choice/ WINZ NewsIn MAN OF LA MANCHA at Actor's Playhouse"In the role of the Padre, Michael L. Walters' rich, sweet tenor voice is impressive." -HAP ERSTEIN, The Palm Beach Post"The Padre, played by Michael L. Walters...has a splendid voice."-PAMELA GORDON, New Times MagazineIn BIG RIVER at the Mark Two Dinner Theatre"One of the highlights of BIG RIVER is Michael L. Walters' portrayal of Pap Finn. His raucous, bluesy moonshine-soaked rendition of 'GUV'MENT' is hilarious.-JENNIFER GREENHILL-TAYLOR, The Orlando Sentinel"The best performance is given by Michael L. Walters as Pap Finn... Walters manages to flounder across the stage in a manner that has to take a great deal of coordination and grace."-DARRELL JOHNSON, The Oviedo (Orlando) VoiceIn the National Tour of BABES IN TOYLAND"As the Toymaker, Michael L. Walters offered a sweet rendition of the show's best known tune, TOYLAND. Walters was the epitome of fatherly love, goodness, and unconditional love, a gentle old man, I would say. The casting was superb."-WARREN GERDS, The Green Bay Press-GazetteIn PAINT YOUR WAGON at the Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival"At the top of the many blessings we can count in this show is a REAL voice in Michael L. Walters. Walters... is built like Pavarotti and the voice is headed in that direction: a big, full baritone with a wide range, very even quality and a ringing, open top."-CARROL STATON, Durant Daily DemocratIn RUMORS at the Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival"Michael L. Walters gives a near-perfect performance as Lenny, using his character agressively and outlandishly... Walters is caustic, clever, and extremely funny, delivering lines with a subtle but exploding punch.-DEBORAH RUSHING, The Daily Oklahoman

Guest Book

Guest Book

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Contact

the king of broadway - the producers

i am what i am - la cage aux folles

mister cellophane - chicago

betrayed - the producers

ol' man river - showboat

if i were a rich man - fiddler on the roof

this nearly was mine - south pacific

they call the wind maria - paint your wagon

the impossible dream - man of la mancha

stars - les miserables

some enchanted evening - south pacific

so in love - kiss me kate

rainbow connection - the muppet movie

if ever i would leave you - camelot

hello, dolly - hello, dolly

Guestbook

Reviews

Listen to tracks from Michael's CD!

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