Micail Buse - Curtain

Left: 'The Dream' from Woodland Opera House's 1997 production of "A Fiddler On The Roof". Foreground, from left to right, Elizabeth Monet Nilsen as Fruma Sera, Charlotte French as Golde, Joseph Schulte as Tevye, Julie Bock as Grandma Tzeitel, and Micail Buse as the Ghost Rabbi. In the background, the Ghost Chorus (which includes Robert Valencia, Karen Gay, Rich Verdugo, and Peter William Wagner, among others).



Jason Hammond sends this via E-Mail today:

Last night Michail Buse took his final bow. I work with his Sister-in-law and I told her I would let people know. I don’t have any further information, but if I receive any, I will pass it on. If you know others who knew him please let them know as well. I know I’m not nearly capturing all the people who would want to be aware.

Micail has been a stalwart supporter and fixture at the Woodland Opera House for years, and he will be missed.

Micail played the Rabbi in the first community musical theater show I ever did: Woodland Opera House's "Fiddler On The Roof", in 1997. Interesting guy!

During rehearsals, for the "To Life!" dance sequence, Micail insisted that that he be flung into the furniture - in particular, into the bar. "I know how to do pratfalls," he insisted. Generally he did OK getting flung around in "To Life!", but one night during a live performance he hit either the bar or a table top square-on with his face, and broke his nose. After exitting the stage, he headed downstairs into the dressing room, and had the unpleasant task of dealing with all the blood. He had to come onstage again shortly as the Ghost Rabbi in "The Dream" musical number, so he swiftly got out his latex and plastered it all over his face, to both shore up his shattered probiscis, and to hide the blood. He did not miss his entrance.

Ever the optimist, Micail saw the advantages of a broken nose. This was the second time he broke his nose. The first time he broke his nose, years before, it had healed slightly-crooked, so that one nostril was sealed. Breaking his nose again liberated both nostrils, and made breathing easier.

Everyone loved Micail, and he will be missed....