About the Author

Michael Tester

Playwright/Composer/Lyricist

Michael Tester made his writing debut in the London fringe scene with the musical satire Amoebas on Parade!! Hailed by The New York Times as displaying "a sophisticated musical awareness (and) the development potential of a major humorist," this “musical textbook” went on to have a command performance for the Broadway cast of Cats. Tester is also a co-author of Tony winning Broadway producer Ken Davenport’s international hit The Awesome 80s Prom (Improv Theater Award for Interactive Show of the Year) as well as Davenport's Broadway musical Gettin’ the Band Back Together. Tester’s original musicals include Hollywood Exposed! (Actors' Playhouse, Coral Gables, Fla.), The Mummy Musical (Dramatic Publishing Co) The Pirate Musical! (Samuel French), and Most Likely To: The Senior Superlative Musical-the latter’s all-teen cast winning the Outstanding Ensemble award at the Midtown International Festival. The show has been subsequently licensed and performed internationally, via Dramatic Publishing Company.

Tester’s work with musical theatre kids includes master classes at the likes of the Long Island High School for the Arts-where he has mentored many a young actor to the Broadway casts of Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, The Little Mermaid, School of Rock, and Spring Awakening, et. al.) and as a co-author for the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts Body & Soul Gala at Manhattan’s Baryshnikov Arts Center.

Tester is a State University of New York Diversity Fellow, Rodgers & Hammerstein Scholarship winner, Certified Public Historian, and graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. As an actor, he has performed in six countries and 48 US states in such Broadway musicals as Annie, Crazy For You and Peter Pan. He was voted Class Clown and Most Dramatic in high school, the dichotomy of which informs the seriocomic tone of his work.