Michael McILwee is an award-winning producer, journalist, dancer, and actor. Dividing his time between Los Angeles and New York City, Michael has traveled the world as a professional dancer and performer in Broadway musicals while simultaneously pursuing a career in journalism. He holds a Master of Arts in Journalism from New York University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from The New School.
Originally from Scranton, Pennsylvania, Michael attended Mid Valley High School, where he discovered his passion for the performing arts. He became the longest-running member of the school’s drama club, debuting in his first performance at age nine. He was also the youngest student to be named drum major of the marching band, a role he held throughout high school. In addition to his artistic pursuits, Michael was actively involved in district choir and orchestra festivals, attended the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership seminar, served as class president, was a member of the student council, and was president of the band, choir, and drama clubs.
In 2006, Michael received a scholarship to study ballet and train with renowned dancer Henry Danton. He trained with Danton for several years and performed roles such as the title character in The Nutcracker and danced in classical ballets like Coppélia.
At 17, Michael was accepted into the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. He attended the conservatory program and later graduated in 2010. A few years later, Michael became the youngest person to join the dance faculty at the school. During his tenure, he served as a director and choreographer for various dance showcases under the leadership of Harry Woolever. He taught at AMDA for eight years before leaving to pursue his master’s degree.
After graduating from AMDA in 2010, Michael performed in The Music Man at Reagle Music Theatre in Boston alongside Broadway performer Sarah Pfisterer. The Music Man became a defining show in his career. He performed in over 500 performances of the musical, including a Broadway national tour, where he understudied the role of Tommy Djilas and danced in the ensemble. Michael performed the show across every state in the continental U.S. and internationally.
Following The Music Man, Michael performed in productions of 42nd Street, White Christmas, Hello, Dolly!, and Carousel. His next major role was in an international production of Phantom of the Opera in Jakarta, Indonesia, where he performed as a ballet soloist alongside Metropolitan Opera ballet dancer Michelle Joy.
In 2013, Michael landed a role in A Chorus Line, directed by Baayork Lee, the original Connie Wong and assistant to choreographer Michael Bennett. As a swing, Michael covered roles including Bobby, Mike, Mark, Greg, and Larry. This production allowed him to work with many members of the original cast, including Tony winner Donna McKechnie. In 2016, Michael went viral for performing the opening number of A Chorus Line in an inflatable T-Rex costume, a video that has been viewed over 20 million times worldwide and featured on shows like Good Morning America.
After A Chorus Line, Michael returned to Harbor Lights Theater Company to perform in Oliver!, where he served as dance captain and assistant to choreographer Mimi Quillin, a mentee of Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon. Quillin’s mentorship deeply influenced Michael’s approach to dance.
Michael joined the Actors Equity Association in 2013 and has been a member of the union since. In 2014, Michael moved to Los Angeles, where he started training in ballroom dance. Michael trained with several Dancing with the Stars alums, including Max and Val Chmerkovskiy. Michael is also a certified Arthur Murray teacher and placed first in his first rhythm ballroom competition at Arthur Murray’s Fall Forum in 2023.
Michael has also appeared on several television shows, including The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Amazon, HBO’s The Plot Against America, and Biography’s Celebrity Ghost Stories. In 2016, Michael decided to return to school and earned a BFA in Musical Theater from The New School in New York City. He then attended a summer Shakespeare program at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) in London, where he played the title role in Hamlet and was coached by actors such as Kevin McNally (Pirates of the Caribbean, The Crown).
In 2019, Michael auditioned for several master’s programs and was accepted into The Actor’s Studio at Pace University, East 15 Acting School at the University of Essex, and Rose Bruford College in London. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he deferred entry into these programs. This period allowed him to explore his passion for politics and news. He later applied to and was accepted into the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute at New York University, where he earned his Master of Arts in Journalism.
During his time at NYU, Michael reported for The Click News, where he interviewed notable figures such as Hugh Jackman, chef Nyesha Arrington, political analyst Basil Smikle, and Matthew Trebek, the son of Alex Trebek. After graduating in 2022, Michael joined WCTV News, the capital CBS station in Florida. He started as a broadcast news producer and was later promoted to digital executive producer and newsroom manager. In 2023, Michael helped the station win a Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists award for best digital coverage.
Michael recently relocated back to Los Angeles – where he works as an actor, dancer, and journalist.