Mike Nadajewski: Staying Present

Mike is the first person to be silly and not take himself too seriously but then he’ll turn around in the next moment and become quite introspective and serious about it all. At one point I asked him if he could go back and give his younger self a piece of advice he said, “ Don’t eat the Turkey burger!” Then in the next moment, he would go deep into thought expressing his tendency to lean towards art that has undertones of melancholy that deals with subjects of loss and grief. Mike was open about what challenges him as an artist, parent and human being and how he strives to be gentler with himself as he goes along his journey as he has a tendency to be hypercritical of himself.

I liken my interview with Mike to sitting down to have a ten course meal . There is a huge menu to choose from and not enough time to consume everything on the menu or finish it all in one sitting. I found myself contemplating our conversation days later. Reflecting on my personal choices and becoming really clear on my goals. Mike gave me so much food for thought .

by Chelsea Johnson | Cue to Cue

A little about Mike:

Mike has spent the past Seven seasons gracing the stage at the Stratford festival. He is currently performing as Tumnus in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, Adam and Boatman in Shakespeare In Love and Hector, Robert in Aeneid in the 2016 Season. Mike is also the co-founder of Talk Is Free Theatre.

Select Theatre Credits include: Jesus Christ Superstar (Broadway), Sunday in the Park with George (Talk is Free Theatre), Anne of Green Gables (Drayton Entertainment), A Midsummer Night’s Dream ( Stratford Festival) Cabaret (Manitoba Theatre Project), A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (Stratford Festival and Mirvish Productions,) Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris (Stratford Festival)and the Canadian première of Peter and the Starcatcher (Western Canada Theatre).