Producing Experience and
Career Highlights

     It all started in 2000 when Les noticed a baby grand piano in the window in a restaurant on Vermont Ave in Los Feliz, apply named Vermont and started his first show, Open Mic Mondays with the late Ron Snyder and it was an immediate hit. Over 7 years it drew 20, sometimes more, talented singers from up and coming to seasoned pros, many that went on to American Idol, The Voice, and America's Got Talent. We also attracted a lot of people like; Michael Feinstein, Fredda Payne, Eric McCormick, Tim Curry, Sam Harris, Sharon McNight, and Katharine McPhee before American Idol, also a regular was Katherine Heigl and now husband, singer and songwriter Josh Kelley who would play guitar and sing, Seen there almost weekly was Keifer Sutherland  who often brought a large party of friends, but he only sang once, Stairway to Heaven.
     In 2013 Les started Saturday Night Spotlight at AJ's On The Green at Date Palm Country Club with pianists, Wayne Abravanel & Joel Baker. After closure due to Covid 19 the show returned in March - May. 2021. But under new management, the new T's On The Green  remodeled and finally reopened December 31, 2021. With many requests from fans and singers, Les rejoined with Joel Baker for Cabaret Open Mic Thursdays  at their new venue, Nicolino's in Cathedral City..
      Besides hosting open mics, Les is also a Producer of live entertainment for night clubs and theaters. Cabaret Guest Stars Series ran for 3 years at West Hollywood's Wyndam Bel Age Hotel. During that time hundreds of singers guest starred in the shows including; Sharon McNight, Todd Murray, Joanne Tathom, Sean MacDermitt, Joey McIntyre, Jason Graee, Kevin Spirtas, Katharine McPhee, and a lot more.
     During his 3 year run at Wyndom Belage Hotel, Les was honored with a Proclamation from the City Of West Hollywood for his musical review, Boyz Night Out which followed the closing day of the LGBTQ Tourism Week event that took place earlier in the Hotel.
     During his 7 year run at Vermont, a member of the audience approached him asking permission to bring his co-writing staff from the TV series Bones as a possible idea for an episode. The following week 9 people were there taking notes and talking with a few singers. For that week's show, Les opened singing Corner Of The Sky from Pippin. After 4 months the episode titled Wannabe In The Weeds aired and opening with a singer doing Corner Of The Sky. Unrelated, one of our regular singers, an actress named Jennifer Hasty was cast as one of the main guest stars along with American Idol's Ace Young. It turned out to be the season finale cliffhanger with a shocking ending you didn't see coming. You may be able to view it on line at:  https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7psm1o
     In 2004 Les planned Cabaret At Sea and organized a tour group of 80 on board Carnival Cruise Line for a 3 day cabaret intensive workshop, headed by some of the best instructors including, MaryJo Munday, Lori Donato, Wayne Moore, Dianne LeGro, Ron Snyder, and Steven Applegate. Workshop attendees learned voice technique, stage performance, building a cabaret show, and show promotion, during the day and after dinner we were given full use of the piano lounge for our pianists and singers that was SRO. On the final night we took over the main stage in the ships showroom for a show featuring all our singers and staff where the other passengers were invited to attend.
      In 2005, Les Michaels created "Cabaret Caravan" in an effort to introduce management of Palm Springs
venues to the concept of Cabaret format entertainment. And introduce 20 of my cabaret performer friends to them with the goal of making some matches and building future relationships. The traveling Cabaret Caravan starting with Happy Hour at Rainbow Cactus Lounge, then on to historic Bamboo Lounge at The Racquet Club,  Wilde Goose Supper Club, and ending at Blame It On Midnight.
     In 2008, he took over the Annenberg Theatre at the Palm Springs Art Museum for Cabaret's Best, 2 shows starring, Todd Murray, Joanne Tatham, Gregg Marx, and Broadway's Luba Mason, and Cabaret Extravaganza with 2 shows, each starring 8 different cabaret performers including Peisha McPhee, Keri Kelsey, Sharon McNight, and more, as well as a fully produced Musical Review starring the song and dance group, Live It Up. 
      In 2010 the Steinway Lounge at Billy Reeds in Palm Springs, Les launched  The Supper Club Cabaret  that ran Saturdays for 1 year before growing out of the room, and moved to Blame It On Midnight, where The Midnight Cabaret ran for 2 years. Another success was an Open Mic on Fridays at The Old Creek House in Palm Springs that after 1  month had to also include Saturday nights too due to demand. Other popular Open Mic Les produced and hosted in Palm Springs were at Three-Sixty North, Three-Sixty North again with new owner,  Central Park, Levreri's, Rock Garden, again at Blame It On Midnight after reopening with a new owner, and The Red Tomato.
     Currently, Cabaret On Sundays Series 13th season returns November 7th and run though May 29, 2022 at the Arthur Newman Theater in Palm Desert. It began in 2010 when the Joslyn Center invited Les to move his successful cabaret shows to their theater. There have been 100's of shows with some familiar names like, Jae Rodriguez, Sammy Williams,  Jim J. Bulluck, Jason Graee, Alix Korey, Terri White, and given opportunities to many local artists such as; Francesca Amari, Jerome Elliott, Keisha D, Douglas Graham, Bonnie Gilgallon, Marcia Harp, and too many to mention here.