Entertainment
During a 30-year performance career with highlights including an audience with Queen Elizabeth II, over 14 million views on original, social media content, voted Atlantic City’s Act of the Year, and his critically acclaimed book, “Breaking OUT of Show Business” (Post Hill Publishing), Michael Paul simultaneously cultivated a production career that encapsulated a uniquely vast scope of experience.
Director, writer, producer, talent relations, brand media creative & strategy, Michael leads networks, theater, concert and television production companies, products, casts & crews in the development, path correction or dramaturgy of new, refreshed, or at-risk projects.
| ♦ CREATIVE DIRECTOR PORTFOLIO by request. |
PLATFORMS: Television, Film, Radio, Print, Virtual, Events, Theatrical/Concert, Environments, Social Media
FORMATS: Broadway, Las Vegas Spectaculars, Concerts, Revues, Sitcom, Talk Show, Late Night, Special, Magazine, Scripted, Children, Documentary, Reality, Episodic, Award Show, Red Carpet, Environment Experiences.
ELEMENTS: Concept Development, Dramaturgy, Character Development, Casting, Directing/Producing, First Looks, UI/UX, Marketing/Promotional, Talent Relations, On-set Coaching, Lighting/Sound/Scoring Design, Cinematography, Pre/post-production, Graphics Packaging, Scripting & Punch-ups, set design, marketing and promotional assets.
BRANDS
| NBC | NETFLIX | MTV |
| CBS COMEDY DEVELOPMENT | COMEDY CENTRAL | MTV U |
| ABC DIGITAL | VH-1 | NICKELODEON |
| DISNEY TELEVISION | THE JIM HENSON COMPANY | SESAME WORKSHOP |
| TRIGGER STREET PRODUCTIONS | AMERICA’S GOT TALENT | BACK TO THE FUTURE FRANCHISE |
| THE GOLDEN GLOBES | THE OSCARS | PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS |
| ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE LINE | CELEBRITY CRUISE LINE | DICK CLARK PRODUCTIONS |
| MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL | COCA-COLA | MCDONALDS |
| HARRAH’S LAS VEGAS | CAESARS PALACE | HARD ROCK |
THEATRICAL
| CLIVE DAVIS PRE-GRAMMY CONCERT | AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS LIVE (Tour) | JENNIFER HUDSON (Event) |
| PHYLLIS HYMAN: A TRIBUTE TO LIFE & SONG (Apollo) | RIPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT CIRCUS SIDESHOW (Biloxi) | PHILADELPHIA 4TH OF JULY SPECTACULAR |
| LEGENDS IN CONCERT (Las Vegas) | THE NAKED MAGICIANS (Las Vegas) | LAUGH RIOT (Minneapolis) |
| SIEGFRIED & ROY PRESENTS (Tour) | RED HOT BLACK & BLUES (Atlantic City) | BRANDEN JAMES IN CONCERT (Tour) |
| THE CORNER OF SYMPHONY & SOUL (Los Angeles) | SHOWGIRLS: A LIFE IN FEATHERS & RHINESTONES (Las Vegas) | STEVE BRUNER: SIMPLE (Comedy Central Stage) |
| BROADWAY SHOWSTOPPERS (Reno) | SOUL TRAIN LIVE (Cruise Lines) | THE DIVAS OF BROADWAY (New York) |
| JAI RODRIGUEZ POST-REALITY (Los Angeles) | CRYSTAL JUBILEE HOLIDAY ON ICE (Toronto) | JUKEBOX JEWELS WITH CHUBBY CHECKER (Tour) |
| BURLESQUE BERZERK (Corporate) | HOLIDAY ESCAPADE Drive-In Spectacular | ZIEGFELD’S FOLLY (New York) |
| FROM BACH TO BIEBER (Tour) | SHAYNA STEELE @ FEZ (New York) | JEWICIDAL TENDENCIES (Tour) |
| HEAVENLY BODIES (Atlantic City) | 1 VOICE (Royal Caribbean) | IMPROV INFUSED (Chicago) |
| SOUNDS OF THE CITY (Sands Casino) | MICHAEL JACKSON 30th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT (New York City) | Over 30 Greg Thompson Productions worldwide revue shows |
FILM, TV & DIGITAL: Outsourced & Original Pilots & Shows
| AMERICA’S GOT TALENT | DISNEY’s CRASH AND BERNSTEIN | PARTNERS |
| MIKE & MOLLY | COMEDY CENTRAL ROASTS | BAD TEACHER |
| AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE AWARDS | 45 MINUTES OF INSPIRATION | THE PASEK & PAUL SHOW |
| WONDERTOWN | GOODNIGHT AMERICA! | COLLEGE COOKING |
| THE CONRAD CAVALCADE | WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE | THE VENTRILOQUIST |
| THE TOMATO LOUNGE | GOING DEEPAK | HUNK*MANIA: THE REALITY SHOW |
| BECKA AND THE BIG BUBBLE | WELCOME TO THE GAYBORHOOD | YICKEE-DOODLE |
| ZOEY ZOOLOGY | HEEL ME | MISS RICHFIELD 1981 |
| HELLO DOLLIES | CJ AND PEANUT | MAKING THE MOVE |
AWARD SHOWS, RED CARPET EVENTS, PRODUCT ROLLOUTS
| THE GOLDEN GLOBES | CLIVE DAVIS PRE-GRAMMY CONCERT | WALT DISNEY AWARDS |
| BETTY WHITE’s DOG HERO AWARDS | THE MOMENT IS NOW – with Billy Porter | ASCAP AWARDS |
| OSCAR NOMINEE LUNCHEON | LEGENDS OF AVIATION with Harrison Ford | THE 43RD ANNUAL MAGICAL ARTS AWARDS |
| TREVOR LIVE | NATIONAL DANCERS SOCIETY | SDT CENTENNIAL CONVENTION |
| BHPD BLACK & WHITE GALA | THE SABAN CLINIC hosted by Sean Hayes | PUBLICIST AWARDS Honoring Francis Ford Coppela |
| THE FULFILLMENT AWARDS at the DOLBY THEATRE with Robert Deniro & Bradley Cooper | LA MISSION with Nick Cannon and the Real Housewives of BH | MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL NETWORK – Scouts Tribute Special |
TALENT
| BILLY PORTER | JODIE FOSTER | JOAN RIVERS |
| BILL MAHER | MORGAN FREEMAN | RAY ALLEN |
| DAVID LETTERMAN | LISA LAMPANELLI | SPIKE LEE |
| JIM GAFFIGAN | DIANA ROSS | JAMES BROWN |
| HENRY WINKLER | BUZZ ALDRIN | JERRY SEINFELD |
| HARRISON FORD | THE TEMPTATIONS | KATHERYN HEIGL |
| WINONA RYDER | JASON ALEXANDER | BEN PLATT |
| DAVID WAIN | DON RICKELS | ROBERT DENIRO |
| KATHY BATES | RYAN COOGLER | BILLY CRYSTAL |
| MAYIM BIALIK | RICHARD LEWIS | GAL GADOT |
| JACK BLACK | TIFFANY HADDISH | LIOR RAZ |
| JOSH GAD | MARC SHAIMAN | RITA RUDNER |
| PASEK & PAUL | FRANK GORSHIN | KEVIN SPACEY |
| WYNONNA JUDD | JAMES MARSDEN | PAUL RUDD |
“I first met Michael Paul Ziegfeld while at Comedy Central in 2003. Since then, Michael receives the call for help from multiple mediums because he has truly studied the business. In an age where people must wear multiple hats to compete for employment, he has an encyclopedia of information providing a fluid, unique, diverse sensibility.”
TONY COLON, VP of Unscripted
“Each of the three, theatrical productions Michael directed were super.
He’s the whole package and one-stop-shop.”
STEVE WYNN
The Mirage, The Bellagio, Treasure Island
“When I was trying to figure out what my digital pilot was, Michael came on board and added immediate clarity. He has the ability to help you find what you want, in your voice. He’s also a fantastic director. His ability to understand post-production and guide you along through that makes him the complete package.”
DEEPAK SETHI, Writer/Comedian
“Stay behind the scenes. You’re too funny and I don’t need the competition.”
JOAN RIVERS – Icon
“You are fantastic and a joy to work with!”
MELISSA RIVERS, EP – Fashion Police
“Michael, the special looks fabulous. Emmy eligible for Special Event and Directing.”
BRENT STANTON, Executive Director Emmy Awards
“… fascinating insights … fast-paced … slickly produced and went off without a hitch!”
PETE HAMMOND, Critic
“What I really liked about his writing were the marvelously odd and specific details. The self-deprecating gags and the harsh, truth-telling gags were the best. And the magician’s father’s funeral scene was a comedy classic.”
STEVE O’DONNELL, Head Writer
“Wow, thank you for so much coverage on the script. These are laugh-out-loud funny! Seriously! “
ERIK KUSKA, Writer/Director
“Thank you for making it all so easy. You made me glad to be a part of it.”
HENRY WINKLER, Producer, Author, Actor, Icon
“I am acutely aware of someone’s abilities to teach others, to “get the job accomplished,” and maintain a high regard for technical precision and production values.
Michael Paul has all of these abilities. He has immense knowledge of Stage and Theater, with a vast spectrum of twenty-five years of experience in the entertainment and hospitality industry. He is able to work with any type of person and personality, from stagehand to top headliner, with finesse and grace.”
BOBBI TAYLOR, Entertainment Coordinator
“He’s a hilarious writer.”
LAVELLE LEE, VP of Development
Land Before Time, An American Tail, Secret of Nihm, Dragon’s Lair
“You were a gem to work with!”
KATIE MORABITO, Talent Coordinator
“I first met him in 2001 when he stepped in last minute to technically design a concert that moved the audience by marrying the look to the sound. What resulted was a performance that led artist, Shayna Steele to a record deal, several recordings and eventually gigs around the world.“
DAVID COOK, Musical Director
TAYLOR SWIFT, NATASHA BEDINGFIELD, JENNIFER HUDSON, N*SYNC
“He is one of our most sought-after producers and show directors and an amazing talent in his own right. You could not be in more capable hands.”
Peter McCain, The International Ballroom
A LEADING GLOBAL MEDIA STUDIO
“Content development, comedy, television, and live events, Michael Paul Ziegfeld remains relevant and in demand. His detailed career makes for a significant contribution.”
NICK BUZZELL, President / Executive Producer
“Working with a director on a cabaret wasn’t something I’d ever considered doing. I find the medium extremely personal. However, when I finally decided to take that step Michael was able to help me clarify story points and step out of myself in a way that made my show more successful than I ever could have imagined. His help was a great way to take my live shows to their next level.“
JAI RODRIGUEZ, Actor
“MP took my act and guided me to find the verbal thread and the physical stage movement for the theatre. I was asked to try things, asked to keep an open mind, and given permission to abandon it if I felt it wouldn’t go the direction I wanted. He also gave me something to focus on other than how the performance would go!”
STEVE BRUNER, Comedian
“Working with Michael was a complete breakthrough for me. Coming from operatic training, no one had ever coached me about how to take a singing performance and make it personal. For twenty years, I’d been performing at audiences without authenticity.
As a director, I don’t know anyone who knows the craft better, the ins and outs of a theatre- lights, technical, stage. Michael generously takes you through the entire process of creating a show and leaves nothing a mystery. He is a caring and nurturing expert and I now feel I have a product that I can take anywhere in the world and it’ll translate- because it’s real!”
BRANDEN JAMES, Singer
“.. he challenged my persona
l weaknesses and helped me develop as a performer. As a “newbie” to center-stage performance, I was very green and had a lot to learn in terms of putting a show together, stage presence, and audience interaction.
Over the course of our rehearsals and workshops, Michael was able to instill true freedom in my performance: worrying less about what other people think, and learning to enjoy the artistic process for me as a musician/entertainer and person.
His approach to directing is truly holistic – with consideration of mind, body and spirit, PLUS his knowledge of fully packaging the show, including promo materials. Michael is a consummate professional and hilarious to work with: our time together was steeped in fun and laughter. ”
JAMES CLARK, Australian Symphony Cellist
“In one day, he brought in fresh ideas and very useable material that other writers couldn’t accomplish. Insightful notes on characters, pacing, structure, and other theatrical elements, knowing what the strengths were and how to play them, never straying from the original vision of the show and keeping all the comedic material in context.
Communication is always done with professionalism and respect. Collaboration with Michael is smooth and notes are presented with direct, honest comments. He knows the craft of building shows with the ability to make a marketable product and how to sell that product.
I know of no one else that can bring so much to the table as Michael Paul.”
International Illusionist, CHARLES BACH
“Michael’s process for preparing quickly for a scene is dead on. In a very short time, my videotaped, television audition scenes had arc, movement and a depth I had never achieved so quickly. When all was said and done, my agent, who NEVER says anything, wrote back and said “Fantastic audition!” Besides being a great friend, and a fantastic performer himself, I now count Michael as my incredible acting coach.”
JERI SAGER, Actress – Cats, Sunset Boulevard
“Michael Paul is one of the most incredible acting coaches I have worked with. In preparation for an audition for Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame, he helped me lock in the voice of the role Quassimodo. And I booked the gig!!! Michael’s style is fantastic. The way he describes placement and technique will not only help a seasoned actor, but also a newbie just starting.”
BOBBY CASSELL, Actor – Spring Awakenings
“HA! I knew you were a great writer but damn, you’re brilliant! THANK YOU!”
JEFF HOBSON
The Illusionists on Broadway
