Michael Donati

Born Michael Sanchez in Long Island, NY, Michael began his career as an actor with various productions in school and community theater. He made his writing and directing debut at age 18 with the short play "The Confession" at the Bucks County Play Festival in New Hope, Pennsylvania. After winning the program's Best Male Actor honor, he continued his writing pursuits as a student at Penn State where he graduated from the university's film program in 1996. An equally active playwright, he co-authored "Milton Hershey - The Play" in 2001. The original production, which examined the life of the world's most renowned chocolate confectioner, played to sold-out crowds during a three-year period in his home state of Pennsylvania. He followed that success the autobiographical one-man show "Tuxedo Joe" in 2003. In addition to writing the production, Sanchez also starred in the title role: portraying a comedic actor whose life is turned upside down after he is diagnosed with bipolar 2 disorder. Successfully bringing awareness to the misunderstood topic of mental illness, the story and its endearing character returned to the stage three more times before closing its run in 2006. Sanchez later adapted the material into his debut feature film the following year.