Michael Shurtleff

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Charles Gordon Shurtleff also known as Michael Shurtleff (born July 3rd, 1920 in Oak Park, Illinois - died January 28th, 2007 in Los Angeles, California) was an American actor, casting director, playwright and author and was a major force in casting on Broadway during the 1960s and 1970s. He is also known for writing a famous book for actors on the audition process called Audition.

[edit] Early Life

Shurtleff was born in Oak Park, Illinois and attended Lawrence College in Appleton, Wisconsin and Yale University. Shurtleff moved to New York and changed his first name to Michael.[[1]] He has two brothers, John and Roger.

[edit] Career

Shurtleff was the major casting director for the producer David Merrick and gave roles to such names as Elliot Gould, Barbara Streisand, and Jerry Orbach in such productions as Oliver!, Irma la Douce and I Can Get It for You Wholesale.[[2]] Shurtleff also worked with Bob Fosse and the legendary Andrew Lloyd Weber, casting actors for them for the shows Pippin and Chicago for Fosse and Jesus Christ Superstar for Weber.[[3]]

Shurtleff went on to form his own casting service, Casting Consultants, in 1962. He cast other shows like 1776 and The Apple Tree as well as films like The Graduate and The Sound of Music.[[4]] Shurtleff is best known, however, for writing a book called Audition (Walker and Company) in 1978, which addresses and solves the common problems for actors during the audition process. The book has become somewhat of a "bible for aspiring actors."[[5]] Shurtleff traveled globally and gave master classes based on the lessons found in his book.

Included in his versatile career in the theatre, Shurtleff wrote plays - the most popular being Call Me By My Rightful Name, starring Robert Duvall, Alvin Ailey, and Joan Hackett in its Off-Broadway debut in 1961.[[6]]