Michael Mann

For more than 60 years Michael Mann has been involved in professional theatre. He has been an Actor, Dancer, Singer, Stage Manager, Choreographer, Director, Tech Director, Production Manager, Magic Consultant, Rigger for Circus Aerialists, and Producer of major corporate trade shows. His earlier background is equally varied, starting out as a performer at age 9 and continuing to dance, sing and act for more than thirty years. His first Broadway show was Gypsy with Ethel Merman, dancing in Vegas, TV and Film as well as working as a Stunt Man for film and TV. Directed and Choreographed for the Stage, Barnum 2nd National Co., Barnum Bus & Truck, Home Sweet Homer on B'way, Gypsy for summer stock, Night of the Bear off B'way, Astra Pharmaceuticals, Oldsmobile Industrial Show three years). was stage combat choreographer for the B'way production of Passion (directed by Frank Langella). From 1966-69 served as an Airborne-Ranger during the Viet Nam war, receiving the Air Medal and the Bronze Star for Valor, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant, the youngest man to achieve that rank in the Army at that time. Other honors and achievements were Honor Graduate of the Third Army NCO Academy, Honor Graduate of the Pathfinder School, Honor Graduate of Jump School. After my Service in Viet Nam, I was one of the founders of the Veteran's Ensemble Theatre, a professional theatrical group designed to overcome the prejudice of the theatrical industry against Viet Nam Veterans. I also traveled to many VA hospitals and veterans groups to speak about how even though society was anti Viet Nam, and veterans, at the time, Veterans could not use that as an excuse to fail in life. PTSD was not a recognized condition at the time.