ME by Mike Eldred

He also starred as TONY in the Tennessee Repertory/Nashville Symphony's production of WEST SIDE STORY. A cast recording featuring Mike Eldred with the Nashville Symphony has been released internationally on NAXOS Records.

Other theater credits include the original Broadway cast of Frank Wildhorn's THE CIVIL WAR in 1999, the National Touring Company of THE CIVIL WAR in 2000, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (Broadway and Touring Companies), Dennis DeYoung's THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (Starring role, Tennessee Repertory), WEST SIDE STORY (Tony, Tennessee Repertory Theatre), HEARTLAND (Goodspeed Opera House), Carole King's TAPESTRY (Tennessee Rep), Marcus Hummon's FRANCIS OF GUERNICA (Starring role, Actors Bridge in 2000, and the March 2002 production at the Tennessee Repertory Theatre), and Hummon's ATLANTA (Actors Bridge Ensemble) in January 2005, SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD and MY FAIR LADY (Alpine Theatre Project 2004 and 2005).

Mike has been recognized as an outstanding performer, winning the Tennessean Actor of the Year Award four years in a row. He was also chosen as the Nashville Scene's Best Musical Theatre Performer. Mike was nominated for the Nashville Music Awards Male Vocalist of the Year for his portrayal of Quasimodo in THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME. A Dennis DeYoung PBS Soundstage Concert featuring Mike Eldred singing the HUNCHBACK music is currently being aired around the nation.

In the last few years, Mike has performed with award-winning recording artists including Jim Brickman, Michael Bolton, Garth Brooks, Dennis DeYoung, Larry Gatlin, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Richard Marx, Luther Vandross, Be Be Winans, Stevie Wonder, and Trisha Yearwood.

Mike has produced and released this solo recording featuring musical theatre favorites and selections from original musicals such as Dennis DeYoung's HUNCHBACK, Marcus Hummon's FRANCIS, and Mike Reid's THE BALLAD OF LITTLE JO. Mike has also had a significant career in the gospel recording industry, releasing two solo projects nationally and touring the country. For more information visit www.mikeeldred.com.

What people are saying about Mike Eldred:

"His amazing voice - a high-flying, full-bodied tenor, intensely romantic, alternately wrenching and joyful - was so compelling that you forgot you were in a theater, forgot everything but the sound pouring out of his throat."

THE CIVIL WAR

Kevin Nance, The Tennessean

"Eldred impressively sang "If I Loved You," and was absolutely first-class as Billy Bigelow in his rendition of "Soliloquy" from Carousel."

TRIBUTE TO RICHARD RODGERS, Illinois Philharmonic

D. J. Luksetich, Chicago Star

".....But, among the highlights, Mike Eldred sings "Maria" in a nicely ardent tone."

WEST SIDE STORY RECORDING, Naxos Records

Billboard Magazine

Best Musical Theater Performer: Mike Eldred

"Not that we didn't already know it, but Eldred is the people's choice in Nashville musical theater. His fine singing as Tony in Tennessee Repertory Theatre's big production of West Side Story was matched only by his vocal work as the title character in The Rep's full-bodied staging of the Marcus Hummon musical Francis of Guernica. Mike recently released a CD too. Big year."

Martin Brady, The Nashville Scene

"Mike Eldred gives a soul-piercing performance...."

THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME

Lisa DuBois, Variety Magazine

"The voices are stellar. Mike Eldred (as the Husband) soars in what may be the shows loveliest, most personal song."

THE CIVIL WAR

Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times

Mike Eldred's Tony is the best I've seen, bar none. His powerful tenor handles the score as well as it can be presented. Eldred embraces the music with an original style and understanding. His characterization is fresh and believable. If you think you've seen Tony presented every way he can be done, you need to see this production. Eldred gives a sensitive new age guy coupled with an Old World immigrant edge that makes Tony that much more endearing. "Tonight", "Something's Coming" and "Somewhere" left me breathless.

WEST SIDE STORY

Leo Sochocki, The City Paper, Nashville

"Likewise, Mike Eldred, half of a northern husband/wife (Amy Rutberg) duo who are separated by the war, soars during "Sarah," a final paean to his wife before his death. His beautiful voice actually reminds one of the Larry Gatlin of the late 1970s, which is a compliment indeed."

THE CIVIL WAR

David L. Roberts, Illinois Entertainer

"...singer Mike Eldred wowed the audience with the soaring ballad, "Bright November Morning," from Mr. Reid's football opera, Different Fields."

IN CONCERT WITH THE CINCINNATI POPS

Janelle Gelfand, Cincinnati Enquirer

"Mike Eldred is incredible as the starry-eyed Francis. Fresh off a run with the Broadway cast and touring company production of "The Civil War," Eldred brings a marvelous voice and finely honed acting skills to the part. His portrayal is sensitively revealing and multifaceted. His idealistic young fighter is clearly etched and easily believable. His character's later transformation into a demented religious zealot is equally believable, and demonstrates a considerable acting talent. Plus, Eldred's singing voice is sweet and clear as a bell. A delightful performance."

FRANCIS OF GUERNICA

Bill Dorian, Nashville on Stage

"....Mike Eldred stepped in to sing the part of Quasimodo in "Esmerelda," nearly stealing the show with his powerful voice."

DENNIS DEYOUNG IN CONCERT

Brian Q. Newcomb, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"The delusional title character, beautifully acted and gorgeously sung by Mike Eldred, becomes a kind of saint-artist so wrapped up in the trappings of sanctity that he neglects Renee (the sumptuous-voiced Natalie Toro), the Jewish woman who loves him."

FRANCIS OF GUERNICA

Kevin Nance, The Tennessean

"Mike Eldred soared with his performance of Esmerelda.....What a voice....An amazing performance not lost on the audience, which erupted into yet another standing ovation!"

DENNIS DEYOUNG IN CONCERT

Rosemont Theatre Review, Chicago

"The real revelation here is Mike Eldred, who plays Tony. Richard Beymer swished his way through the movie, his performance not particularly enhanced by a dubbed-in nobody vocalist. Eldred brings force and resonance to the songs, and we're reminded more firmly just how badly the film short-shrifts the character's impact in such tremendous numbers as "Something's Coming," "Maria," "Tonight," "One Hand, One Heart," and "Somewhere."

WEST SIDE STORY

Martin Brady, The Nashville Scene

"Eldred is often electric....."

FRANCIS OF GUERNICA

Alan Bostick, The Tennessean

""Esmerelda," a disarming ballad from "Hunchback," attested to DeYoung's still blossoming gifts as melodist, the song's imploring phrases and plangent chords rendered all the more effective by the inspired performance of Mike Eldred (who played the title role of "Hunchback" in Nashville)."

DENNIS DEYOUNG IN CONCERT

Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune

"Mike Eldred's Tony comes off best; singing with a more mature sound than Larry Kert, he nonetheless creates a sense of heightenend expectancy and wonder in "Something's Coming"."

WEST SIDE STORY RECORDING Naxos Records

Victor Carr, Jr., Classics Today

"Mike Eldred's Tony is also excellent......"

WEST SIDE STORY RECORDING Naxos Records

Robert Cummings, ClassicalNet.com

"The male principals - especially Mike Eldred - are outstanding........"

WEST SIDE STORY RECORDING Naxos Records

Rob Barnett, MusicWeb.com

"Mike Eldred's Tony offers the most persuasive singing-"Something's Coming" and "Maria" are especially moving."

WEST SIDE STORY RECORDING Naxos Records

Paul Seydor, AVGuide.com

"It's very well cast with an ardent and smooth-voiced Mike Eldred as Tony...."

WEST SIDE STORY RECORDING Naxos Records

James Camner, Fanfare

"The two main roles are well occupied with a charming Betsi Morrison as Maria and above all a completely excellent Mike Eldred as Tony."

WEST SIDE STORY RECORDING Naxos Records

Der Schallplattenmann sagt

Ausgabe #354, 18.

http://schallplattenmann.de

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