“I was truly surprised to receive this robe for Spamalot, and honored. My esteemed colleagues Charlie Sutton and Shina Morris both have more Broadway ensemble experience than I do but chose to pass the Robe down. I adore this tradition, knowing how hard the ensemble in a Broadway show works each day and how special it is to be a part of an original Broadway company, and I couldn’t be prouder to be among the legacy of recipients before me. Any chance we have to cheer on our peers is a welcome one. I was most touched by the tradition of blessing each dressing room before the show -- I was able to visit, see and celebrate each cast member before we shared our opening night performance and get out of my own little pre-show bubble. I can’t wait to pass this honor to the next ensemblist very soon!"
![Michael Fatica poses in the Robe. Photo by Jeffrey Bateman.](https://cdn.actorsequity.org/images/public/aboutequity/awards/Robe/Fatica1.jpg)
Photo by Jay-Rey Rivera.
Name: Michael Fatica
Opening Night: November 16, 2023
Hometown: Cape Coral, Florida
First Broadway Credit: Newsies in 2012, as a swing. My dream show!
Professional Training: I graduated from Florida State University with a BFA in Music Theatre.
Year Joined Equity: 2011
How I Got My Equity Card: I got my card while doing two shows the Fulton Theatre in Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the young audience version of The Little Mermaid. It was Mermaid that technically earned me the card. I was an eel of some kind.
Other Broadway Chorus Contract Credits: She Loves Me (Busboy), Matilda (Party Entertainer), Groundhog Day, A Bronx Tale (vacation swing), The Cher Show (u/s Sonny Bono), Newsies (swing/dance captain) and Frozen (u/s Olaf and the Duke of Weselton).
Fun Fact: "I can’t whistle, which, is quite problematic for a show with a very famous whistle line in the act 2 opener. Thank goodness I don’t understudy the incredibly talented Christopher Fitzgerald. I’d be found out as a whistle-faker."
![Michael Fatica blesses his castmates in their dressing room (L to R: Gabriella Enriquez, Kristin Piro, Shina Ann Morris and Maria Briggs.](https://cdn.actorsequity.org/images/public/aboutequity/awards/Robe/Fatica2.jpg)
Michael Fatica blesses his castmates in their dressing room (L to R: Gabriella Enriquez, Kristin Piro, Shina Ann Morris and Maria Briggs. Photo by Jeffrey Bateman.
![Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer captures Michael Fatica blessing her dressing room for her vlog.](https://cdn.actorsequity.org/images/public/aboutequity/awards/Robe/Fatica3.jpg)
Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer captures Michael Fatica blessing her dressing room for her vlog. Photo by Jeffrey Bateman.
Watch the video of the ceremony