Broadway Star creates Naperville Ornament

Before his first performance with the MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe at a statewide youth conference at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois on June 27, 2003 when he was age 10, Michael Notardonato prepared a drawing in preparation for that event.  Without a doubt, he not only was a superb singer and dancer at such a young age, but he also showed a flair for creative design.

Fast forward 17 years, when in March 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic shut down New York City’s Broadway and off-Boardway productions, including ‘Romeo and Bernadette,’ of which Michael was a cast member.

With his livelihood shut down, Michael returned to his home town of Naperville, Illinois, where he again put his creative design skills to good use.  

The result was the creation of his 2020 Naperville Ornament, depicting various landmarks of his home town. 

He sketched a design, found a manufacturer in Massachusetts, and began selling the Ornament at $24 apiece through thenapervilleornament.com.  Just like many Broadway shows, the Ornament  quickly sold out.  

Michael, now age 28, says he was very open that he was an actor who suddenly lost any available stream of income and that designing also was one of his passions.

The success of Ornament #1 and the continued shut-down of his off-Broadway production led this past holiday season to Ornament #2, which, in turn, led to an even greater success for Michael as a creative designer.  

Besides that success, he has learned from his New York City producers that ‘Romeo and Bernadette’ is scheduled to resume rehearsals this month (January 2022) and to begin shows in February 2022 at Theater 555 on 42nd Street.

From that drawing for the MWAH! youth conference in Decatur in 2003  to resumption of his off-Boardway shows in 2022, Michael has shown not only creative resilience both on and off stage, but also a passion for doing things that both he and others enjoy.

Michael is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory.