Michael Cassara, CSA is a Casting Director, Director and Producer based in New York City and dedicated to developing and fostering the growth of new musicals, plays, and film projects.
Since the formation of Michael Cassara Casting in 2003, recent projects have included The Molly Maguires (Pre-Broadway Workshop, dir. Sheryl Kaller, mus. dir John McDaniel), Stephen Schwartz's Captain Louie (National Tour), If This Hat Could Talk (National Tour, directed by Tony®-Award winner George Faison), The Gig (York Theatre Concert/Cast Recording on JAY Records with William Parry, Michele Pawk, Karen Ziemba, etc.), Red (2005 Richard Rodgers Award Winner, York Theatre workshop, starring Alison Fraser and Mary Testa), Barnstormer (by Douglas J. Cohen and Cheryl L. Davis, dir. Jerry Dixon), The Unauthorized Autobiography Of Samantha Brown (Makor, w/ Michael Arden and Celia Keenan-Bolger), Joy (off-Broadway and workshops), and countless readings and workshops. He presently serves as the resident casting director for the Hinton Battle Theatre Laboratory and the Kitchen Theatre Co. of Ithaca, NY. Before opening his own casting office, Michael worked in casting with Johnson-Liff Casting Associates, Ltd., Cameron Mackintosh, Inc. and the Paper Mill Playhouse.
Michael is the resident casting director of the New York Musical Theatre Festival, where he has cast over 40 individual projects since the festival's inception in 2004. Some favorite NYMF casting credits include The Yellow Wood (dir. Tony-Award Winner B. D. Wong), The Woman Upstairs, Sherlock Holmes (The Early Years), Wrong Number, The Last Starfighter and Cutman: A Boxing Musical.
Michael recently cast his first feature film, Clear Blue Tuesday, directed by Elizabeth Lucas and set for release in 2008. Other film credits include Alienated (dir. Paul Borghese, starring Vincent Pastore) and the upcoming Nor'easter (dir. Andrew Brotzman).
As a director, Michael's credits include The Songs Of Kait Kerrigan and Brian Lowdermilk, selling out Manhattan's Opia lounge starring Michael Arden, Alison Fraser, Mandy Gonzalez, Kate Shindle and many others. His directing work has recently been seen at the Goodspeed Opera House, the Perry-Mansfield Center for the Arts and in readings at the NYU Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program. He is presently at work directing and conceiving a new project featuring the songs of Judd Woldin, composer of the Tony®-Award winning musical, Raisin. As a producer, he recently co-produced the critically acclaimed premiere cast recording of Timothy Huang's musical, The View From Here, starring Shonn Wiley. In August, 2006, Michael made his theatrical producing debut with the world premiere of Hermanas, a play by Monica Yudovich which received a completely sold-out FringeNYC run and transferred for an extended run at off-Broadway's Theatre Row.
Originally a performer, Michael is a native Clevelander and a graduate of the musical theatre program at Otterbein College. He regularly teaches and lectures on musical theatre and the entertainment industry, in New York City and throughout the world. For more information please visit his website at http://www.michaelcassara.net. Member, Casting Society of America.