michael raabe
crooner, pianist, music director, songwriter, arranger, lover of good music
biography
Originally from South Dakota, Michael has graced the stages of Busch Gardens, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and numerous regional theaters. He is an in demand vocalist/accompanist/music director for many theaters and cabaret artists in central Florida including the award winning freeFall Theatre.
In 2014 and 2015, Michael music directed and did additional arrangements for the Off-Broadway hit DISENCHANTED!
In Summer 2023, freeFall Theatre produced the World Premiere of "OZ: A New Musical" about the life and work of L. Frank Baum with music by Michael, book by Eric Davis, and lyrics by Michael & Eric. This is the first original musical by the songwriting team. The Original Cast Recording is now streaming on all major platforms.
Michael is a member of the band "RETROTASTIC!" and his cabaret shows have played to sold-out crowds including "THE PURSUIT OF SNAPPINESS" and his collaborations with Sara DelBeato "The BETTE Set - A Musical Journey to MIDLER Earth," "RING-A-DING-DING!" and "TOO DARN HOT!"
He has also been a vocal director/arranger for shows at Busch Gardens and has worked around the world for Event Show Productions, Wizard Studios, and Club Med Resorts.
Michael's musical influences include Ella Fitzgerald, Jamie Cullum, Blossom Dearie, Sinatra, Mel Torme', and Steve and Eydie.
music director
2010 - present
2010 - present
OZ - A NEW MUSICAL (composer/lyricist World Premiere) - freeFall Theatre
DISENCHANTED! - Off-Broadway - Theatre at St. Clements/Westside Theatre
THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE (arranger for World Premiere Sci-Fi/80's Rock adaptation) - freeFall Theatre
THE NIGHT BEFORE (writer/arranger for World Premiere) - freeFall Theatre
KURT VONNEGUT'S GOD BLESS YOU, MR. ROSEWATER - freeFall Theatre
MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (A LIVE RADIO PLAY) - freeFall Theatre
DAMES AT SEA - freeFall Theatre
(I AM) NOBODY'S LUNCH - Turkey Creek Collective
THE ROSE AND THE BEAST (songwriter for World Premiere Immersive Adaptation) - freeFall Theatre
LEONARD BERNSTEIN'S NEW YORK - freeFall Theatre
WAR OF THE WORLDS (arranger for World Premiere Drive-In Adaptation)
THE LION IN WINTER (arranger for incidental music) - freeFall Theatre
EVITA (Music and Vocal Supervisor) - Orlando Shakespeare Theatre
PIPPIN - freeFall Theatre
MAMMA MIA! - American Stage In The Park
THE FANTASTICKS - freeFall Theatre
THE MUSICAL OF MUSICALS - freeFall Theatre
DADDY LONG LEGS - freeFall Theatre
MAN OF LA MANCHA (with Davis Gaines) - Orlando Shakespeare Theatre
WHITE FANG - World Premiere (arranger for original songs) - freeFall Theatre/Jethro Compton Productions
UNDER FIRE (staged reading) - freeFall Theatre
HAIRSPRAY - American Stage In The Park
END OF THE RAINBOW - freeFall Theatre
PETER PAN (composer of original songs/score) - freeFall Theatre
ASSASSINS - freeFall Theatre
THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA - freeFall Theatre
MR. BURNS, a Post-Electric Play - freeFall Theatre
SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM - freeFall Theatre
THE BOY FROM OZ - TheatreZone
PETER AND THE STARCATCHER - freeFall Theatre
MAME - freeFall Theatre
BRIGHT LIGHTS BIG CITY - freeFall Theatre
INTO THE WOODS - freeFall Theatre
THE BURNT PART BOYS - freeFall Theatre
THE WIZ - American Stage In The Park
DISENCHANTED! (out of town tryout) - Straz Center For The Performing Arts
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF - freeFall Theatre
SPRING AWAKENING - freeFall Theatre
THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE - American Stage In The Park
BERNARDA ALBA - freeFall Theatre
THE COLORED MUSEUM - Stageworks Theatre
CABARET - freeFall Theatre
ROCKY HORROR SHOW - American Stage In The Park
GREY GARDENS - freeFall Theatre
MAN OF LA MANCHA (vocal director) - freeFall Theatre
THE FROGS - freeFall Theatre
PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES - New American Theater
song writer
cabaret
Composer and Lyricist for "OZ - A New Musical" - book and additional lyrics by Eric Davis (freeFall theatre World Premiere)
New music for adaptation of J.M. Barrie's "PETER PAN" - freeFall Theatre
Arrangements and original music for "THE NIGHT BEFORE" - freeFall Theatre
Original music (lyrics with Amanda Elend) for Francesca Lia Block's "THE ROSE AND THE BEAST" - freeFall Theatre
"Florida Is Home" - ZOOM'N - A Musical Journey of Florida's History - Florida State Fair
"Splash Bash" - SPLASH BASH - Florida Aquarium
"Where Is The Joy Of Christmas?" - HOLIDAY INC. - Straz Center For The Performing Arts
"A Very Swell Noel" / "Rudy Baby" - A VERY SWELL NOEL - freeFall Theatre
"Take A Trip Down South" - BLOWN BY THE WIND - S.A.T.P. at American Stage
THE PURSUIT OF SNAPPINESS (with Tito Vallejo) - New American Theater and freeFall Theatre
THE BETTE SET - A MUSICAL JOURNEY TO MIDLER EARTH (with Sara DelBeato)- New American Theater and freeFall Theatre
FRIEND OF DOROTHY (with Sara DelBeato) - St. Petersburg Museum of History
RING-A-DING-DING! - A CHRISTMAS MUSICAL COCKTAIL PARTY (with Sara DelBeato) - American Stage Theatre
TOO DARN HOT! (with Sara DelBeato) - freeFall Theatre
A VERY SWELL NOEL! (with Sara DelBeato and Tito Vallejo) - freeFall Theatre
FREEFALL SINGS series - freeFall Theatre
theme park
DANCE TO THE MUSIC - (show concept/arrangements/vocal direction) - Busch Gardens Tampa
ROCK A DOO WOP - (vocal direction) - Busch Gardens Tampa
CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION (select arrangements/vocal direction) - Busch Gardens Tampa
CHRISTMAS FROM THE HEART - (arrangements/vocal direction) - Busch Gardens Tampa
LET'S GET LOUD! - (show concept/arrangements/vocal direction) - Busch Gardens Tampa
KINETIX! - (arrangements/vocal direction) - Busch Gardens Tampa
TIMBUKTUNES - (arrangements/vocal direction) - Busch Gardens Tampa
BORN TO ROCK - (arrangements/vocal direction)
MOTOR CITY GROOVE - (arrangements/vocal direction)
HOLLYWOOD! LIVE ON ICE (performer) - Busch Gardens Tampa
INTERNATIONAL CELEBRATION (performer) - Busch Gardens Tampa
CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION (performer) - Busch Gardens Tampa
DANCE TO THE MUSIC (performer) - Busch Gardens Tampa
BURN THE FLOOR (performer) - Busch Gardens Tampa
AMERICAN BEAT (performer) - Busch Gardens Tamp
MOROCCAN ROLL (performer) - Busch Gardens Tampa
SAFARI GROOVE (performer/arranger) - Busch Gardens Tampa
JUMP! (performer) - Valleyfair!
FREEZE FRAME FLASHBACK (performer) - Valleyfair!
various
ROYAL CARIBBEAN - Adventure Of The Seas - jazz vocalist/promenade singer
CLUB MED RESORTS - show writer/vocal director/assistant director
EVENT SHOW PRODUCTIONS - performer/music director/arranger for various corporate gigs across the country
PATEL CONSERVATORY - instructor
SUNCOAST AIDS THEATER PROJECT - "Wizard Of Oz" "Blown By The Wind" - performer/music director/lyricist
STRAZ CENTER BROADWAY BALL - accompanist for Broadway's ROB EVANS (Jekyll & Hyde, Les Miserables) and LUBA MASON (How To Succeed, Jekyll & Hyde)
theater performance
THE NIGHT BEFORE - freeFall Theatre
MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (A Live Radio Play) - freeFall Theatre
L.M. - PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES - New American Theater
Pete Bartel - PETE 'N' KEELY - Largo Cultural Center
Frankie - FOREVER PLAID - Florida Tour
GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING - Francis Wilson Playhouse
Jeff Moss - BELLS ARE RINGING - Francis Wilson Playhouse
The Beast - BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - Largo Cultural Center
Agis - TRIUMPH OF LOVE - Palladium