about

Michael F Bergmann is an artist? and Associate Professor in Performance at The Creative School of Toronto Metropolitan University. Their research-creation work explores the integration of AI and robotics into performance and storytelling, fostering post-humanist and post-anthropocentric thinking through improvisational collaboration with synthetic intelligences. Designing and building systems to explore technology as a foundational element, their works pose open questions rather than providing definitive answers.

Michael holds an MFA in Design from the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University. Their work has been presented at academic conferences and artistic exhibitions in Toronto, Guelph, Kingston (CA), London (UK), Dublin (IE), Prague (CZ), and Reykjavik (IS).

Prior to TMU, he worked in industry at the San Francisco research and development lab for Worldstage, a live events company, innovating on approaches to corporate performance and industrial events across the USA and Macau for clients such as Wynn, NBC Studios, Intel, and Nokia Bell Labs.

They are a member of IATSE Local ADC 659 and continue to design when possible. Some interesting past projects include: Theatre Design: Crossing Borders (IYAF Kingston and Parodos) and 291 (Parodos Festival), He Left Quietly (Toronto SummerWorks, Best Production Award), Accidental Death of an Anarchist (Berkeley Repertory Theatre / Yale Repertory Theatre). Assistant design on Newsies: The First National Tour & Disney’s Newsies: The Broadway Musicial (film adaptation) (Disney Theatrical, Designer: Daniel Brodie). Design for Dance: Work with Grisha Coleman (echo::system), Heidi Strauss (YET) ongoing collaborations with Belinda McGuire Dance Projects, including Slaughterhouse/Requiem (Harbourfront NextSteps). Film: In-camera VFX (Projection) & Producer for Nuptials (2025).