Michael Chase

Current

Project Manager at ShowFX, Inc
President and Technical Production Catalyst at Cedar Stage Productions

Past

Technical Director at BASE Entertainment Asia Holdings, Ltd.
VP, Project Management at G&G Design Associates
General Manager - 3form Onsite at 3form, Inc.

Director of Production at George & Goldberg Design Assocaites
Technical Director, Disney Creative Entertainment: Hong Kong Disneyland at Walt Disney Imagineering
Technical Director at American Musical Theatre of San Jose
Technical Director, Walt Disney Entertainment, Japan: Tokyo DisneySEA at Walt Disney Imagineering
Foreman, Stage Technician in Technical Services at Disneyland Resort
Assistant Technical Director at BVSE

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Education

El Camino College
Santa Rosa Junior College
School of Practical Work Experience

West High School

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1 more...

Recommended

18 people have recommended Michael

Connections

500+ connections

Industry

Entertainment

Michael Chase’s Summary

Michael is a purpose driven leader in Technical Direction and Project/Production Management. With a high level of integrity and responsibility , Michael continues to look after the best interests of everyone involved in his projects. Michael takes ownership of all commitments and is a driven achiever with a strong work ethic. Michael especially enjoys working with a collaborative and talented project team.

Michael's top 5 Strengths Finder results are Responsibility, Achiever, Connectedness, Belief and Activator.

Michael Chase’s Specialties:

Michael is highly detail oriented and excels at coordination of theatrical, technical and facility elements. Michael is a gifted technical writer and is exceptional at leading crews and show installations. Michael has a solid knowledge in budgeting, project organization and planning, most CAD platforms, and experience in set and lighting design. Michael has extensive experience in South East Asia and across the USA.

Michael Chase’s Experience

Technical Director

BASE Entertainment Asia Holdings, Ltd.

(Entertainment industry)

June 2008 — October 2008 (5 months)

Technical Director for new Magic Show production in Macau, China on the Cotai Strip. Developing initial budgets and schedules for the production. Networking and developing business relationships in Macau to support installation and purchasing for the production. Initial development of a technical standards and basic stage technician training program for Macau to support country wide entertainment programs. (This production has been put on hiatus until the current financial crisis has settled.)
VP, Project Management

G&G Design Associates

(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Entertainment industry)

December 2006 — June 2008 (1 year 7 months)

VP, PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Developed a new business market in architectural specialty installations by developing a partnership with manufacturers of products for the architectural + design industry and becoming trained and certified to fabricate and install these products. Brought in over $1 million in new client sales my first year. Meet with clients, consulted on new projects, estimated project costs, negotiated contracts and implemented fabrication and installation of awarded contracts. Created a new plastics fabrication department within the company and developed a higher standard for quality control. Updated and implemented new estimating and job tracking system.
General Manager - 3form Onsite

3form, Inc.

(Privately Held; 201-500 employees; Architecture & Planning industry)

May 2006 — December 2006 (8 months)

Responsible for creating a new division of the company covering installations, project management, and onsite technical support for the Southern California area. Implemented new procedures and guidelines for job estimating, project management, job cost tracking, production efficiencies and quality control. Worked with administration staff to ensure proper reporting structure, job cost tracking, and fulfillment of contract obligations. Developed a Partnership plan with fabricators/installers to perform installation services and later moved over to G&G Design Associates to run the installation division in Southern California as a 3form Partner.
Director of Production

George & Goldberg Design Assocaites

(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Entertainment industry)

November 2005 — May 2006 (7 months)

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS & PRODUCTION: Implemented new procedures and guidelines for job estimating, project management, job cost tracking, production efficiencies and quality control. Managed custom manufacturing scene shop of up to 75 employees in various trades: metal workers, welders, carpenters, stitchers, scenic painters, riggers, electricians and automation mechanics. Worked with administration staff to ensure proper reporting structure, job cost tracking, and fulfillment of contract obligations.
Technical Director, Disney Creative Entertainment: Hong Kong Disneyland

Walt Disney Imagineering

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; DIS; Entertainment industry)

January 2004 — November 2005 (1 year 11 months)

Hong Kong Disneyland: Storybook Theater and “The Golden Mickeys” stage show ($10.5 million). I delivered facility entertainment design input and reviewed facility design on all systems for Storybook Theater, the design period was completed in 20 weeks. Despite the compressed schedule I was able to increase the level of detail normally expected. In an eight week period of time I was able to prepare five requests for proposal (RFP) packages to cover the fabrication of five elements: scenic and automation; specialty rigging, puppets and costumes, video racks and projection equipment, and special effects. I also provided key input for the AVSC and site technical support vendor scope of work (SOW) and RFP. I managed and coordinated all the technical aspects of “The Golden Mickeys” stage show from Creative Development Phase, to Production/Procurement Phase, Installation, Test & Adjust, Technical Rehearsals and Grand Opening.
Technical Director

American Musical Theatre of San Jose

(Non-Profit; 11-50 employees; Entertainment industry)

September 2001 — January 2004 (2 years 5 months)

Created production schedules for design, fabrication and installation. Elevated the quality of work and professionalism of the scene shop staff and fabrication. Created nine full-time positions in the scene shop. Managed budgets for lighting, audio, scenery, labor, contract work, and set rentals. Successfully managed union, non-professional and volunteer staff. Acted as Technical Coordinator for eight Broadway National Tours to load in and perform at the Center for Performing Arts of San Jose (i.e. Les Miserables, Mamma Mia, Disney’s AIDA, Blast!, Swing, and many others). In house productions include: Grease!, Evita, Joseph…Dreamcoat, Damn Yankees, Miss Saigon, Sound of Music, Funny Girl, On the 20th Century, and Dreamgirls (co-production tour) with budgets ranging between $250K and $1.1 Million. Responsible Managing Employee (RME) under a California State Contractors License Class C-61/D34.
Technical Director, Walt Disney Entertainment, Japan: Tokyo DisneySEA

Walt Disney Imagineering

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; DIS; Entertainment industry)

April 1999 — October 2001 (2 years 7 months)

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR for live entertainment productions in a new Disney theme park: Dockside Stage “Sail Away” ($1.6 million) outdoor-stage musical, park wide Atmosphere Entertainment program ($1 million) comprised of 30+ groups, and supervised technical aspects integrating live performers into a 3D movie attraction Magic Lamp Theater. Obtained estimates from prospective vendors and identified facility requirements to implement the construction of each venue. Contracted multiple vendors – both domestic and international – for scenic fabrication and show equipment acquisition. Supervised and coordinated with local vendors in the installation and completion testing of all show equipment. Managed all technical rehearsals, trained show crews on the operation and safety of all show related equipment.
Foreman, Stage Technician in Technical Services

Disneyland Resort

(Public Company; Entertainment industry)

1994 — 1999 (5 years )
Assistant Technical Director

BVSE

(Entertainment industry)

1995 — 1998 (3 years )

Michael Chase’s Education

El Camino College

General Ed, Theatre: Stage Management/ Lighting Design, Architecture, etc 1989 — 1993

Stage Managed three musicals, Lighting Designer for two series of One Act Plays
Santa Rosa Junior College

Summer Reperatory Theatre 1989 — 1989

Lighting Technician for SRT: Summer Repertory Theatre, worked on 9 productions in repertory.
School of Practical Work Experience

Degree: unobtainable, as I'm always learning and growning in my field. , Fields of Study: Live Theatre, Touring, Theme Park Entertainment/Attractions, Event Productions , 1987

ON THE JOB TRAINING: In this business, experience is the best and only teacher. There are no classes that teach you how to build sets for national tours; coordinate and oversee design and construction phases for a 4.5 billion dollar project in another country; or lead a crew of 300+ to build a temporary facility to house 15,000 people for a special event.
For Michael, experience began during high school in the mid ‘80s with his management and creative involvement in live theatre and small regional tours. Joining with Disney for nearly a decade he has worked on everything from a 35-foot tall inflatable octopus puppets to large mechanical effects design and engineering; from live radio remotes to film shoots, from scenery construction to facility design and fabrication; from show operation and safety training to show planning and development. Michael has now worked coast-to-coast and overseas and is eager to stay on the threshold of new developments and technologies.
West High School

Gen Ed, Theatre, Music

Won two awards at Fullerton College Design Festival for Lighting Design.