MICHAEL's profile
Michael became an Active-member of the Baltimore Theatre Alliance in 2010, while being a member with the Baltimore Dramatist Guild. He found other Playwrights and Entertainers to go "on the road" with stage plays. This Ensemble of Preformers named ourselves OTR/ ON THE ROAD Theater Company.
Founded 2005, the OTR Theater mission is to provide a platform for aspiring Performing-artists, and to provide a platform for unknown Playwrights. Stories from Playwrights that focus on social issues: Alcoholism, Depression, Domestic Abuse, PTSD, Teen Suicide, Gambleing, Bigotry and Sexuality. Stories not always with a happy ending... BUT ALWAYS WITH A RESOLVE.
We do this at the same time teaching aspiring Actors professional techniques. Today OTR hires Dance and Acting Instructors for Middle school students.
It was 1972 when Michael caught the Acting-bug at Mervo High School . He created the school's first Black History assembly to a 60% all White school. When it ended, Michael watched 100% of the student-body give a standing-ovations. It was that day a Producer, Writer, Director, Film-Maker and Actor was born.
By 2009, Michael leased the company's first brick & mortar location. Located near Howard St. on North Avenue. This theater building is now known to us all today as the: Motor House Theater, 120 W. North Ave. When the lease expired, Michael moved the company to the Forest Park Senior Center. There we continued to be a platform for new Playwrights and aspiring Actors. It was late 2020 Michael with other professional Artist & Instructors began teaching professional-dance, singing, music, and acting lessons via Zoom.
The pandemic cost us an audience-drop in 2020, but the Performers wanted work. Michael was given a stage play that required many, many pre-teens, we advertised for auditions. The auditions were overwhelming because there were so many pre-teens with the desire, but lacked the skills. This stage-play evolved into a screen-play, Michael added Studio-film productions to the OTR Entertainment platform.
He has joined-hands with a local church and created an After School Program for pre-teens to learn the Performing-Arts. At no-charge, these children learn Live-stage production and Studio film-production. The stage-play became a sold-out success at the Forest Park Senior Center and is now being organized to be a filmed miniseries. Do have a peek at the YouTube clips over many years Michael has produced & performed: www.youtube.com/@OTR111/videos from 1972 Mervo High School to 2026 Michael's OTR Entertainment... "Always aiming to bring the Races together.''
