Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia
Taylor, Michael
Playwright, composer and performer, Michael Taylor was born in Estevan, Saskatchewan on May 29, 1947. His family moved to London England when he was 11, and he began his performing career as a child actor in live television programs for the BBC. Upon his return to Canada he continued to perform, and auditioned for John Hirsch in Winnipeg, eventually pursuing a career in music, and forming in the band Humphrey and the Dumptrucks in Saskatoon in 1967. In 1974/5, Humphrey and the Dumptrucks (Michael “Earnie” Taylor, Michael “Bear” Millar, Gary “Humphrey” Walsh) and Ken Mitchell co-wrote the country and western opera Cruel Tears which had its premiere at Persephone Theatre in Saskatoon. He toured with this production of Cruel Tears through 1976, culminating in a national tour in 1977, from Vancouver's Arts Club Theatre to Montreal's Centaur Theatre. Cruel Tears was a finalist for the Chalmers Award in 1978.
Michael Taylor collaborated again with Ken Mitchell to write and compose the music for The Laughin' Jack Rivers Show which included a young Colin James in the cast. He also co-wrote, composed and performed the show Hotsy Totsy at the David YH Lui Theatre in Vancouver.
He continued composing, musically directing, and performing in a variety of shows over the subsequent years including The Collected Works of Billy the Kid by Michael Ondaatje for the Saidye Bronfman Centre; Love is Strange by Paul Ledoux and David S. Young at Magnus Theatre and Tarragon Theatre; West Memphis Mojo by Martin Jones for Theatre Passe Muraille; and a number of shows with the Blyth Festival, including Sticks and Stones by James Reaney (1989), Cornflower Blue by Kelly Rebar (1991), Puff and Blow Boys by Valoreyne Brandt Jenkins (1992), Many Hands by Dale Hamilton (1993), and a reprise of Cruel Tears in 2000.
Michael Taylor has two children and currently lives in Stratford, Ontario, where he continues to compose and play music.
Profile by Terri Dans
Last updated 2022-01-05
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