She received an immersive commission from the New Work Initiative at Montclair State University and developed #revolution, or janet jackson saves the world, or jesus christus superestrella censored. A new work around the apathy and activism of a generation of young 1st generation revolutionaries and their relationship to their immigrant roots.She was commissioned by the Kennedy Center for a new immersive work for the US Botanical Gardens: F+J bringing romance to the story of conservation. She was also awarded a commission from the New Victory Theater for Bird Brain: a show about a young girl with a unique brain and the family and friends that flock to her…all performed on a jungle gym that lights up like a brain!
She is currently in development for Alexandria a new immersive production for the New York Public Libraries uncovering the conflicting needs under the roof of our urban houses of knowledge. She is also under the first immersive commission by the Goodman Theatre in Chicago for a new large scale production around immigration and conflicting needs of neighborhoods - touring disused spaces in Post Offices. Her project Fornicated, an immersive multi-platform immersive experience through texting, technology and rock music was originally commissioned by American Repertory Theater and workshopped in New York and Boston Clubs.
Her commission for the Institute of Contemporary Art of Boston, The Experiment, was a one night live instigation in and throughout the museums using technology to incorporate the voices over
40 playwrights, 60 live performers, visual art, and surprising live performance.
She also wrote On The Other Side of Choice (a piece on the scope of women’s relationships with choice) which premiered with The Culture Project.
Mikhael runs the directing program for the 3rd & 4th years for Playwrights Horizons Theater School at New York University. She has been an adjunct professor at Columbia University, Barnard College, Yale University and Montclair State University among others. Mikhael was the associate director for Sleep No More. She was the Artistic Director of Chicago Storefront Uma Productions; the Managing Artistic Director For Woodshed Collective; Emerging Artist for the National Theater of Scotland; Artistic Fellow at American Repertory Theater; and an Artistic Associate of SITI company.
She has created large scale experiential work for Bloomberg, The National Park Services, Viacom, The United Nations, Hormel, and AMC to name a few. She has worked directly with brands, but also alongside the creative teams at agencies during ideation. She is a collaborative artist in the development of experiential integration, a skilled leader in executing goals and brings a vast network of production talents to build the optimal team for each project nationwide. She directed the 150th Anniversary of Gettysburg for CNN: retelling the battle story with a cast of diverse voices. A collaboration with the National Parks and West Point Orchestra. She was the lead Artist and Artistic Director behind the Museum of Drug Policy: a 3 day pop up installation in conjunction with the UN's Convening on Drug Policy.
Mikhael is currently leading the movement www.dontplayletsact.com organizing national theater artists around activism and has written a series for howlround on immersive sensory practices.
