About Me
Hello! My name is Michael Penick. I am a performer born and raised in Iowa City, Iowa and currently residing in Chicago, Illinois.
From a young age, my parents noticed I had a strong interest in the arts. I would sing along to my Disney cassette tapes on the front lawn with my pink blankie in hand or pop in their CD of The Rocky Horror Picture Show so I could dance to the “Time Warp” (and inevitably, because it was the next track, "Sweet Transvestite"). They encouraged this interest by providing me with dance classes, acting classes, voice lessons, piano lessons, violin lessons, saxophone lessons, organ lessons, so many lessons, and involving me in the Music and Theatre Ministries at our church, Zion Lutheran.
I would go on to study music at Luther College (BA) and The University of Iowa (MA). I then spent two years as the Artistic Director for Combined Efforts, a non-profit arts organization with a mission of purposeful collaboration between people with and without physical and mental disabilities. My time with them helped expand what I believe is possible through the arts and how we can better serve audiences and communities.
Currently, I'm a cantor at Immaculate Conception and Saint Joseph Parish and work as a performer, primarily of musicals. I have also performed at Carnegie Hall with The Manhattan Chorale and at Lincoln Center as part of Broadway's Future Songbook Series. I am excited to see where this career will take me next!
From a young age, my parents noticed I had a strong interest in the arts. I would sing along to my Disney cassette tapes on the front lawn with my pink blankie in hand or pop in their CD of The Rocky Horror Picture Show so I could dance to the “Time Warp” (and inevitably, because it was the next track, "Sweet Transvestite"). They encouraged this interest by providing me with dance classes, acting classes, voice lessons, piano lessons, violin lessons, saxophone lessons, organ lessons, so many lessons, and involving me in the Music and Theatre Ministries at our church, Zion Lutheran.
I would go on to study music at Luther College (BA) and The University of Iowa (MA). I then spent two years as the Artistic Director for Combined Efforts, a non-profit arts organization with a mission of purposeful collaboration between people with and without physical and mental disabilities. My time with them helped expand what I believe is possible through the arts and how we can better serve audiences and communities.
Currently, I'm a cantor at Immaculate Conception and Saint Joseph Parish and work as a performer, primarily of musicals. I have also performed at Carnegie Hall with The Manhattan Chorale and at Lincoln Center as part of Broadway's Future Songbook Series. I am excited to see where this career will take me next!
Currently Playing
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INTO THE WOODS
Swing (Wolf/Cinderella's Prince/Rapunzel's Prince/Steward) kokandy productions Chopin Theatre (1543 W Division St. Chicago, IL 60642) NOW thru December 22nd |
Reviews
THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS at Theo Ubique - Ensemble
"The gifted company features the talents of... the handsome, hardworking and multitalented Michael Penick." - Colin Douglas / Chicago Theatre Review
HOT MIKADO at Skylight Music Theatre - Nanki-Poo
"Rana Romans’ Yum-Yum and Michael Penick’s Nanki-Poo were beautifully matched, both in strong, stylish vocal deliveries and in the sweetly oblivious characters they created." - Elaine Schmidt/Journal Sentinel
4000 DAYS at PrideArts - Paul
"Making his Chicago debut at PrideArts is handsome, talented newcomer Michael Penick. This actor is quite wonderful, and we look forward to enjoying him in other roles in the near future. His poise, controlled composure and quiet desperation never give way to histrionics. Mr. Penick plays Paul as smart, mellow and merciful, a man forever reevaluating his life and his relationship with his partner." - Colin Douglas / Chicago Theatre Review
KINKY BOOTS at Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse - Charlie Price
"Penick has an almost bumbling quality about him that makes Charlie as loveable as he is infuriating. If you consider the overwhelming desire to grab certain on-stage characters by the shoulders and shake some sense into them a sign of believable acting, then Penick is an unquestionable success." - Madeline Dudziak/River Cities' Reader
CANDIDE at Third Avenue Playhouse - Candide
"Penick’s marvelously limpid tenor is as pure as the guileless face of his Candide, whose childlike innocence is stunningly misplaced but also increasingly inspiring; he is a holy fool, of the sort embodied by that man from La Mancha who tilts at windmills while seeing the best in everyone." - Mike Fischer/Journal Sentinel
A SINGAPORE MIKADO at Theater 2020 - Nanki-Poo
"The young lovers Yum-Yum and Nanki-Poo were very effectively sung by Brianne Keefe and Michael Penick. Mr. Penick has a sweet lyric tenor that is perfect for Nanki-Poo, and uses it to great effect. Ms. Keefe brings beautiful singing and comic talents to her role. These two were at their best when onstage together, bringing to each other an energy that delighted the audience."
- David Browning/HuffPost
PIPPIN at Revival Theatre Company - Lewis
"Michael Penick plays dumb to the hilt, better at speaking with his sword than his brain." - Diana Nollen/The Gazette
PARADE at Revival Theatre Company - Young Soldier/Hugh Dorsey
"An excellent actor, Penick is also gifted with a powerfully sonorous voice that fills the entire auditorium."
- Matthew Falduto/Iowa Theatre Blog
"The gifted company features the talents of... the handsome, hardworking and multitalented Michael Penick." - Colin Douglas / Chicago Theatre Review
HOT MIKADO at Skylight Music Theatre - Nanki-Poo
"Rana Romans’ Yum-Yum and Michael Penick’s Nanki-Poo were beautifully matched, both in strong, stylish vocal deliveries and in the sweetly oblivious characters they created." - Elaine Schmidt/Journal Sentinel
4000 DAYS at PrideArts - Paul
"Making his Chicago debut at PrideArts is handsome, talented newcomer Michael Penick. This actor is quite wonderful, and we look forward to enjoying him in other roles in the near future. His poise, controlled composure and quiet desperation never give way to histrionics. Mr. Penick plays Paul as smart, mellow and merciful, a man forever reevaluating his life and his relationship with his partner." - Colin Douglas / Chicago Theatre Review
KINKY BOOTS at Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse - Charlie Price
"Penick has an almost bumbling quality about him that makes Charlie as loveable as he is infuriating. If you consider the overwhelming desire to grab certain on-stage characters by the shoulders and shake some sense into them a sign of believable acting, then Penick is an unquestionable success." - Madeline Dudziak/River Cities' Reader
CANDIDE at Third Avenue Playhouse - Candide
"Penick’s marvelously limpid tenor is as pure as the guileless face of his Candide, whose childlike innocence is stunningly misplaced but also increasingly inspiring; he is a holy fool, of the sort embodied by that man from La Mancha who tilts at windmills while seeing the best in everyone." - Mike Fischer/Journal Sentinel
A SINGAPORE MIKADO at Theater 2020 - Nanki-Poo
"The young lovers Yum-Yum and Nanki-Poo were very effectively sung by Brianne Keefe and Michael Penick. Mr. Penick has a sweet lyric tenor that is perfect for Nanki-Poo, and uses it to great effect. Ms. Keefe brings beautiful singing and comic talents to her role. These two were at their best when onstage together, bringing to each other an energy that delighted the audience."
- David Browning/HuffPost
PIPPIN at Revival Theatre Company - Lewis
"Michael Penick plays dumb to the hilt, better at speaking with his sword than his brain." - Diana Nollen/The Gazette
PARADE at Revival Theatre Company - Young Soldier/Hugh Dorsey
"An excellent actor, Penick is also gifted with a powerfully sonorous voice that fills the entire auditorium."
- Matthew Falduto/Iowa Theatre Blog
