Michael Rafter
Michael Rafter is an American arranger, musical director, musical supervisor, conductor, and musician best known for his work on Broadway and collaborations with Sutton Foster.[1][2] He was the musical director of the 2014 Broadway revival of Violet.[3]
Awards
Rafter was awarded the 1994 Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music Direction for his work on the Gypsy, a televised adaptation of the stage musical of the same name.[4]
Educational career
Rafter is an associate professor of musical theatre at Ball State University.[5]
Personal life
Rafter married arranged and composer Jeanine Tesori on September 30, 1994, in Italy.[6] As of 2008, they lived with their child in Manhattan.[7] By 2016, the couple had gotten divorced.[8]
Credits
Stage
- Broadway
- Violet° musical director (2014)
- Everyday Rapture musical supervisor (2010)
- Sweet Charity Broadway Revival additional music and vocal arranger (2005)
- Thoroughly Modern Millie* conductor, musical director (2002-2004)
- Swing! musical supervisor, music arranger (1999-2001)
- The Sound of Music Revival musical director, conductor (1998-1999)
- The King and I Revival musical director, conductor (1996-1998)
- The Most Happy Fella assistant conductor, piano (1992)
- Gypsy Revival assistant conductor, piano (1989-1991)
- West End
- Thoroughly Modern Millie° musical director (2003)
- Off Broadway
- Violet° musical director, conductor (1997)
- Merrily We Roll Along musical director (1994)
- Theda Barra and the Frontier Rabbi musical director (1993)
- Mandrake Musical Director (1984)
- Other Credits
- Thoroughly Modern Millie° musical director (2000)
- Thoroughly Modern Millie° musical director (1999)
° Denotes Musical composed by his wife Jeanine Tesori
Discography
- An Evening with Sutton Foster: Live at the Café Carlyle (2011)
- Wish (2008)
- Thoroughly Modern Millie Original Cast Recording (2002)
References
- ↑ "Past Shows Alphabetical Listing".
- ↑ "Michael Rafter – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB".
- ↑ "Photos: Sutton Foster Returns to Cafe Carlyle!".
- ↑ "Nominees & Winners | 1994 - 46th Emmy Awards | Outstanding Individual Achievement In Music Direction". Television Academy. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Michael Rafter". Ball State University. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Tesori-Rafter". The Press. January 1, 1995. p. G7.
- ↑ Jeanine Tesori at AmericanTheatreWing.org Archived 2009-01-30 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "Abby Corrigan finds a 'Home' away from home on national tour". The Charlotte Observer. December 18, 2016. p. C1.