Rebecca J Michelson is a New York City-based Theatre Photographer and Videographer.
Since the first time I picked up a camera, I realized how unique the opportunity was to tell a dynamic, human story that lasts long after the curtain drops and the ghost light has taken the stage. These are photos with movement, joy, energy; that embody the beauty and richness of the live theatrical experience and every collaboration that goes into its creation.
In my time in the industry, I’ve had the distinct joy of capturing photo and video for Broadway and Off-Broadway opening nights, concerts, cabaret shows, galas, press events, portraits and production photos. I have worked on shows and for companies such as & Juliet, Maybe Happy Ending, Oh, Mary!, The Great Gatsby, 11 to Midnight, Paper Mill Playhouse, Broadway Cares, and TDF. My work can be found in a vast number of publications including Vanity Fair, People, Elle, Vogue, Parade, and Entertainment Weekly, as well as Broadway publications such as Playbill, Broadway.com, BroadwayDirect, and BroadwayWorld.
The photographer’s role is a deeply personal one to me in an industry driven by community and connection. As someone who has enjoyed eight years building and growing on and off Broadway, I have photographed performers on the night of their 54 Below debut and again when they have won their first Tony. My job - to capture their light, immortalize these moments, and most broadly, to represent the breadth and beauty of the magic of live theatre - is the very thing that keeps me gratefully pointing my lens every day.