Michael Brennan

Michael Brennan was born March 28, 1974, in Topeka, Kansas, the son of Robert and Dana (Clemmer) Brennan. He graduated from Washburn Rural High School in 1992 then attended K-State and KU.

Michael learned his love of music growing up at First Baptist Church, and through "This Generation" at WRHS under the direction of Kenneth Forsyth. Although Michael grew up playing the piano and singing starting at the age of 5, his career really started at WRHS. He performed/had the lead in numerous musicals, variety shows, This Generation, Chorale, and was also an assistant teacher. WRHS was the stepping stone to his AMAZING musical and world renowned career.

Music was everything to him. Michael had started his career as a dancer. He grew into a renowned vocal coach, musician, and composer. Early on, he was a musical director for Broadway tours Victor/Victoria, Cinderella, and Disney's The Lion King at The Pantages Theater in Los Angeles.

He was universally admired and respected in the Las Vegas Vegas entertainment community. Brennan worked on "Starlight Express" at Las Vegas Hilton, "Mamma Mia!" at Mandalay Bay, "Avenue Q" and "Steve Wynn's Showstoppers" at the Wynn and the aquatic spectacle, and "Le Reve" at the Wynn which won "Best Show in Las Vegas" for 9 consecutive years. While at Le Reve, he was a musical director for world renowned composers Benoit Jutras of Cirque Du Soleil and 8-time Oscar winner Alan Menken.

Michael and his friend and fellow composer, musician Keith Thompson, co-founded one of the city's endearing art institutions The Composers Showcase of Las Vegas in May 2006. The show started as a loose gathering of Vegas composers at a piano bar where composers and musicians could share new works. Today, it has grown into a monthly production at The Smith Center in Las Vegas.

Michael's beautiful original scores were enjoyed by millions around the world in lavish International stage spectacles in Las Vegas, Japan, China, London, and Dubai for world renowned director friends such as Franco Dragone, Brian Burke, Amy Tinkham, Christopher Childers, Allegra Libonati, and John Rando.

He became a composer of Las Vegas shows "One Night for One Drop" for Cirque Du Soleil and "Celestia" at The Strat, which won "Best New Show" in 2019 and was featured on America's Got Talent.

Brennan's original musical "Citizen Ruth" won Best Musical at the New York International Fringe Festival. He was also a composer for animation. Two of his animated short films with Nicolas Villarelal, "Meta" and "Pasteurized," premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. "Nieta" has already won 80 international film awards and counting. Their latest work "ON/OFF" was on the short list for Oscar consideration this year.

He was incredibly passionate about his original shows and had countless projects in development with his award winning writing partner friends John Masse, Mark Leydorf, Richard Thomas, and AnnMarie Milazzo. He was represented in the entertainment business by his longtime agent and friend Michael Moore. Most importantly, he was adored by his family, colleagues, and close friends around the world as the most generous, kind, thoughtful, and hilarious person you would ever have the honor of knowing.