tony-clements.com/bio

In the late 1980's, Tony began making a name for himself in small professional theaters in and around Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Stephen Wadsworth and Francesca Zambello, then Artistic Directors of Milwaukee's Skylight Opera Theatre, cast Tony in several shows in their 1990-91 season, including "El Capitan" and "Girl Crazy".

At the Skylight Tony worked as an apprentice artist and went on to appear in over sixteen Skylight shows, including "Gypsy", "The Coconuts", "Into The Woods", Wings" and several cowboy roles (Will Parker in "Oklahoma", Jimmy Curry in "110 in the Shade" and Herman in "Most Happy Fella").

Tony still considers the Skylight "home".

Around that same time, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre gave Tony experience with Shaw and Shakespeare, including roles in "The Apple Cart", "Caesar and Cleopatra" and "Timon of Athens".

Tony has also performed with the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, First Stage Milwaukee, Next Act Theatre, Madison Repertory Theatre, New American Theatre, Lyric Opera Cleveland, The Clarence Brown Theatre, The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, The Milwaukee Ballet, and The Utah Shakespearean Festival. Some more memorable roles include Whizzer in "Falsettos," Prior Walter in "Angels in America", and Floyd in "Floyd Collins".

First Stage Milwaukee Children's Theatre produced two musicals for which Tony contributed original score and lyrics: "Thumbelina" and "The Little Drummer Boy". Tony has also written original music for Next Act Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre and the Milwaukee Rep. As a musical director, Tony has worked with the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, First Stage Milwaukee, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, and the Kohler Arts Center.

In 1994, Tony was awarded the Wisconsin Performing Artist Hall of Fame Young Artist award.

In 2002 he was cast – first in the ensemble and then as "American dad" Sam Carmichael – in the national tour of "Mamma Mia!" performing in over 80 cities across North America, and in front of over 1.5 million people.

In 2007 Tony toured as a company member and soloist for the Japanese tour of "Disney on Classic" with the Tokyo Philharmonic, playing Osaka, Okinawa, Hamamatsu, Nagoya, Tokyo, Sapporo and over 15 other cities throughout Japan.

2008 saw Tony return to Milwaukee to direct "A Year With Frog and Toad" at First Stage Milwaukee, and to perform in James Valcq and Fred Alley's "The Spitfire Grill" at the Skylight Theater. In the Fall of '08, Tony will return to Japan for another "Disney on Classic" tour, which will also perform in Seoul, South Korea.