Growing up in rural Pennsylvania, Michele was involved in theater and dance in high school but never thought it possible to have a career on stage. But after two years at a small local college, when she had to declare a major, her dad encouraged her, saying, “Do what you love to do most.” Emboldened by this, she successfully auditioned for one of the country’s top theater programs and transferred to the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.

After graduating, a job singing in a nightclub in Disney World soon followed -- two shows a night, five times a week -- which proved to be a good primer for Broadway. A director encouraged her to move to LA with the promise of work. During her time there she appeared on TV (Golden Girls, Dear John) and did some theater, including a production of Mail at the Pasadena Playhouse, which eventually moved (briefly) to New York, earning Michele her first Broadway credit. After that closed, she moved back to LA for a bit, but when she was cast in Broadway’s Crazy for You, she moved to the New York area for good.

Michele first met Producing Artistic Director Jim Vagias when she did a production of Doug Cohen’s musical, The Gig with his former theater company (ATG produced another one of Doug’s shows, The Evolution of (Henry) Mann, in 2021) .They became fast friends and when she accompanied him to see a new cultural arts center under construction in Rahway around 2011, she was already ensconced in the NJ community and eager to become a part of ATG and its first home – Hamilton Stage.

She has been a tireless champion from the start. “I wholeheartedly believe in our mission,” she states. “Particularly to give a platform for those who don’t normally have an opportunity. There are so many unheard voices – especially in theater – that it is so important to create a space for those under-represented.”

 “Community is everything,” she continues. “To give-back, to nurture, to mentor young adults – like we do in our New Works/New Voices (high school playwriting) program, is paramount to me.”

In addition to her time behind the scenes at ATG, Michele has also appeared onstage – in ATG’s 2019 production of Tell Them I’m Still Young with the late Emmy Award-winner Andre Braugher. By happenstance she had met Kel Haney who had directed ATG’s production of The Way We Get By and who introduced her to the new play. Manhattan Theater Group was presenting a reading and she and Andre were cast. They had not met until they were waiting for the same NYC train on the way to the reading. When the train was canceled, they ended up driving in together and developed a close bond. Within a year, ATG mounted a full production.

“I am so proud that in our relatively short history, our reputation within the industry has allowed us to attract top talent like Andre and Kate Baldwin,” she notes. “It is a great testament to the work we are doing and the professionals involved.”

Having just finished nearly a year starring in the smash hit Wicked, Michele reflected on what a thrill it was to be part of a show that is so loved and such a “phenomenon.” It also provided a special opportunity to work with her husband, Broadway veteran John Dossett, who portrayed the Wizard. The two met at Lincoln Center doing a production of Hello Again but don’t often get the opportunity to work together. “This was a huge gift that we appreciated every single day,” she said.

And while her run in Wicked has ended, she hasn’t slowed down. She has resumed teaching full-time at Wagner College, and just directed another play there, Plano, by Will Arbery who wrote Heroes of the Fourth Turning, which she starred in at Playwrights Horizon in NYC. While she first pursued a job as a college professor to allow her more time with her young son, Jack, she grew to love it so much that she has continued for 14 years.  Not surprisingly, Jack shares his parents’ talent and passion for theater, and is an actor himself, most recently appearing in our production of A Little Night Music.

When asked about the Gala, she notes she is humbled to be honored and is aware that such events allow ATG to continue pursuing its mission. “The importance of supporting local theater can’t be understated – just showing up is key. I’ll never tire of the thrill of storytelling and the communal experience theater provides. At its best, theater allows an audience to reflect about their lives and to take a hard look inward.”

“ATG is so fortunate to have Michele as a guiding light for our mission,” remarked Jim Vagias. “I can think of no-one more deserving of this honor and we sincerely hope you can join us in celebrating a wonderful artist and human being.”

Gala tickets are available at the link below.