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Michael Rafter

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Michael Rafter is an American arranger, musical director, musical supervisor, conductor, and musician best known for his work on Broadway and collaborations with Sutton Foster.[1][2] He was the musical director of the 2014 Broadway revival of Violet.[3]

Awards

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Rafter was awarded the 1994 Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music Direction for his work on the Gypsy, a televised adaptation of the stage musical of the same name.[4]

Educational career

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Rafter is an associate professor of musical theatre at Ball State University.[5]

Personal life

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Rafter married arranged and composer Jeanine Tesori on September 30, 1994, in Italy.[6] As of 2008, they lived with their child in Manhattan.[7] By 2016, the couple had gotten divorced.[8]

Credits

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Stage

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Broadway
West End
  • Thoroughly Modern Millie° musical director (2003)
Off Broadway
  • Violet° musical director, conductor (1997)
  • Merrily We Roll Along musical director (1994)
  • Theda Barra and the Frontier Rabbi musical director (1993)
  • Mandrake Musical Director (1984)
Other Credits
  • Thoroughly Modern Millie° musical director (2000)
  • Thoroughly Modern Millie° musical director (1999)

° Denotes Musical composed by his wife Jeanine Tesori

Discography

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  • An Evening with Sutton Foster: Live at the Café Carlyle (2011)
  • Wish (2008)
  • Thoroughly Modern Millie Original Cast Recording (2002)

References

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  1. "Past Shows Alphabetical Listing".
  2. "Michael Rafter – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB".
  3. "Photos: Sutton Foster Returns to Cafe Carlyle!".
  4. "Nominees & Winners | 1994 - 46th Emmy Awards | Outstanding Individual Achievement In Music Direction". Television Academy. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
  5. "Michael Rafter". Ball State University. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
  6. "Tesori-Rafter". The Press. January 1, 1995. p. G7.
  7. Jeanine Tesori at AmericanTheatreWing.org Archived 2009-01-30 at the Wayback Machine
  8. "Abby Corrigan finds a 'Home' away from home on national tour". The Charlotte Observer. December 18, 2016. p. C1.
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