Michael Xavier


Michael D. Xavier is an English actor and singer.

Early life

Xavier attended St. Francis Xavier's College in Liverpool, Knutsford High School in Cheshire, and ultimately completed his professional acting training at the Manchester Metropolitan University in 1999. His first professional role was in the musical comedy Pageant at London's Vaudeville Theatre in 2000.

Work in theatre

Xavier has worked in lead roles on stage in the United Kingdom for 20 years. Notable productions in which he has appeared include Miss Saigon, My Fair Lady, The Phantom of the Opera, Oklahoma!, and The Sound of Music. In 2014, he played Sid Sorokin opposite Joanna Riding in The Pajama Game at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London.
In 2008, Xavier played Rock Hudson in Tim Fountain's play Rock at the Unity Theatre in Liverpool, the Library Theatre in Manchester, and the Oval House Theatre in London. It went on to be produced as a radio play by production company Made in Manchester, and won the Best Online Only Audio Drama award at the BBC Audio Drama Awards in 2012.
Xavier has been nominated twice for a Laurence Olivier Award. He was first nominated for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical in 2011 for his performance as Cinderella's Prince/Wolf in Into The Woods at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. The same year he was also nominated for the Best Actor in a Musical for his performance as Oliver in the musical Love Story at the Duchess Theatre. In January 2017, Xavier's lead performance in "Sunset Boulevard" won the 2016 BroadwayWorld UK/West End Award for Best Actor in a New Production of a Musical.

Major theatre credits

YearRoleProductionTheatreDirector
2017PerformerPrince of BroadwaySamuel J. Friedman TheatreHal Prince, Susan Stroman
2017Joe GillisSunset BoulevardPalace TheatreLonny Price
2016Archibald CravenThe Secret GardenShakespeare Theatre CompanyDavid Armstrong
2016Joe GillisSunset BoulevardLondon Colliseum Lonny Price
2016HookbeardBumblescratchAdelphi TheatreStewart Nicholls
2015GaylordShowboatSheffield CrucibleDaniel Evans
2015Suffolk / George of ClarenceThe War of the RosesRose Theatre KingstonTrevor Nunn
2015John Wilkes BoothAssassinsMenier Chocolate FactoryJamie Lloyd
2014Sid SorokinThe Pajama GameShaftesbury TheatreRichard Eyre
2013Captain Von TrappThe Sound of MusicRegent's Park Open Air TheatreRachel Kavanagh
2012James PrinceSoho CindersSoho TheatreJonathan Butterell
2012Bob BakerWonderful TownUK No. 1 TourBraham Murray
2012Cornelius HacklHello DollyCurve Theatre LeicesterPaul Kerryson
2010OliverLove StoryDuchess TheatreRachel Kavanagh
2010Wolf / Cinderella's PrinceInto The WoodsRegent's Park Open Air TheatreTimothy Sheader
2009CurlyOklahoma!Chichester Festival TheatreJohn Doyle
2008Rock HudsonRockOval House TheatreTamara Harvey
2006RaoulThe Phantom of the OperaHer Majesty's TheatreHal Prince
2004Artie GreenSunset BoulevardCork Opera House, Ireland
2004SkyMamma Mia!International TourPhyllida Lloyd / Paul Garrington
2003Freddy Eynsford-HillMy Fair LadyTheatre Royal Drury LaneTrevor Nunn
2003Christopher Scott Miss SaigonUK TourMatthew Ryan
2000Miss Great PlainsPageantVaudeville TheatreBill Russell

Presenting, recording, and film work

In 2013, Xavier co-presented the Olivier Awards BBC Radio 2 Covent Garden Stage with Claudia Winkleman, and returned again in 2014 to co-present on the ITV Stage with Myleene Klass. He also hosted the UK Theatre Awards at the historic Guildhall in the City of London in both 2013 and 2014.
Xavier's film work includes his portrayal of Tom in the 2014 production Never Let Go with director Howard J Ford for Latitude Films, scheduled for release in 2015. In 2013, he appeared as Rob in the short film Gnomeland by writer/director Francesca Jaynes, as well as playing a Russian Gulag Prisoner in Walt Disney Pictures' Muppets Most Wanted, filmed at Pinewood Studios.
In addition, Xavier has worked as a recording artist, with both radio and original soundtrack credits to his name. In 2007, BBC Radio 2 presented a special edition of Friday Night is Music Night, celebrating the work of Leonard Bernstein and the 50th anniversary of West Side Story. Paul Gambaccini presented the program at London's Mermaid Theatre, featuring the BBC Concert Orchestra and Xavier as Tony. He also played Artie Green in the BBC Radio 2 live recording of Sunset Boulevard, performed at the Cork Opera House with Michael Ball and Petula Clark. Outside of radio, his work in recordings includes Bumblescratch Collaborations: The Songs of Elliot Davis, Lift, Soho Cinders, Love Story, and Little Women.

MX Masterclass

Xavier is the Principal of MX Masterclass, a training school for musical theatre students which aims to aid them in gaining acceptance to professional training colleges. The school runs every Sunday, based at The Umbrella Rooms in the West End. Their patron is Matthew Bourne. Regular teachers over the years have included Anna Tringham, Ross Sharkey, Lucinda Lawrence, Brandon Lee Sears, Nicola Coates, Peter Polycarpou and Alex Young. Students are also taught by guest performers and practitioners including Kerry Ellis, Ramin Karimloo, Rebecca Trehearn, Marc Antolin, Robbie Sherman, Katie Brayben, Louise Dearman, Trevor Dion Nicholas and Matt Henry. The students are often given an opportunity to perform at various charity and West End events at which Xavier also appears. The students also appear at a Christmas concert at St Paul's, Covent Garden, alongside industry professionals. The 2016 concert was hosted by Rufus Hound.
Students have many performance opportunities throughout the year and gain national and local news coverage in the process. Last year they performed at The Best of the West End concert at The Royal Albert Hall starring many big West End names including Xavier himself.
They have also performed at Lambert Jackson Productions concert, West End Women and Main Men Of Musicals