Professional Bio:
A native of "The City of Good Neighbors," Buffalo, New York, Michael La Rocca (pronounced La-Rock-a) began his show business career in 1970 as the King of the Flying Monkeys in a local production of THE WIZARD OF OZ. He appeared in his first professional production in 1973 at the age of 14 in the drama CHILD’S PLAY with Richard Kline (Three’s Company), and Donald Moffat (Clear and Present Danger) at the Studio Arena Theatre.

Michael received tremendous acclaim starring in a six-year run of his super-successful nightclub show BRAVO BROADWAY. He made numerous television appearances and starred in NBC's Fiesta Bowl Halftime Spectacular in 1990. He has hosted several CBS telecasts of the Miss America State Pageant in Arizona, along with his own television shows: That’s Showbiz and The Michael La Rocca Show.

His theatrical credits include starring roles in the musicals: GREASE, GODSPELL, THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG, PIPPIN, COMPANY, HELLO, DOLLY!, OKLAHOMA!, YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN, CAMELOT, SWEET CHARITY, and CABARET among others.

Along with BRAVO BROADWAY, Michael created several critically acclaimed musical reviews: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, LE CABARET CE SOIR, PARK AVENUE, THOSE WONDERFUL YEARS, VAUDEVILLE THE WAY IT WAS, THE MICHAEL LA ROCCA SHOW – Las Vegas and AMEN! A MUSICAL CELEBRATION.

In 1984, Michael began his affiliation with the Miss America Pageant as a Local and State Pageant Executive Producer. He personally coached several talent winners on the national level of Miss America. His Pageant Productions were hailed as some of the best in the country and won two Telly Awards for Best Entertainment Special. In 1993, The Miss America Organization named his Miss Arizona Pageant Production “The Number One Televised State Pageant Production in the United States.”

Through his association with Miss America, Michael had the honor of performing for the President and First Lady in New York City for the Statue of Liberty Celebrations in 1986. He has hosted more than fifty State and Local Miss America Preliminaries and Miss America U.S.O. Shows in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Arizona, Florida and was affectionately known as “Mr. New York.”

Mr. La Rocca made his major motion picture screen debut in VEGAS VACATION with Chevy Chase, Randy Quaid, and Beverly D’Angelo (look closely and rewind a few times you may find him). Other celebrities Michael has worked with include numerous Miss Americas, Brooke Shields, Bonnie Franklin, Carl Weathers, Fred Travalena, B.J. Thomas, Judy Collins, Natalie Cole, Clint Holmes, Susan Anton, Ginger Rogers, and the "Unsinkable" Miss Debbie Reynolds.

He has performed and produced shows in many major cities including: New York, New Orleans, Toronto, Nashville, Houston, Orlando, and in Las Vegas at Bally’s, The Sahara, The Frontier, The Stratosphere, The Riviera, The Maxim, Bourbon Street, The Debbie Reynolds, and The Las Vegas World Trade Center Hotels.

In the summer of 2001, Michael underwent surgery damaging his vocal cords, permanently affecting his speaking and singing voice. However, with a positive attitude, he remained actively involved with Community projects, Theatre and his Church.

He founded a positive support group for LGBT Catholics called St. Paul’s Outreach, and was involved with Community Organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada, Nevada Reading Week, The St. Therese Center, KLVX Channel 10 (PBS), The Clark County PAYBAC Program, the City of Henderson “Summer Fun” Program, and as a Teacher of Musical Theatre.

The Diocese of Las Vegas, recognizing Mr. La Rocca’s talents in management, organization, development, and working with volunteers, created a position for him that combined his knowledge of liturgy with his talents and experience from show business.

In 2004, Michael was named Director of Liturgical Ministries for Guardian Angel Cathedral of Las Vegas. He served as Executive Producer of the Cathedral’s Christmas Midnight Mass LIVE Telecast for five years, winning him another Telly Award in 2008 for Outstanding Religious Programming.

In addition to the Midnight Mass Telecast; Michael developed and produced many programs and events for the Cathedral. He also held the very prestigious position of Principal Master of Ceremonies to the Roman Catholic Bishop of Las Vegas, where he produced and directed numerous Liturgical Ceremonies, including a 2007 Mass for the Cardinals of the United States.

In 2012, he returned to college to obtain his degree in English/Creative Writing and is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

In 2015, Michael moved back to his hometown of Buffalo, New York and reunited with the Miss America Organization as Executive Producer of the Miss America Preliminary Competition at Buffalo, where his Pageant career began in 1984, and in 2016 as Executive Director/Producer of the Miss America Preliminary for Western New York.

He also continues his work as an LGBT and PTSD Advocate, Motivational Speaker, Master of Ceremonies, and a Non-Denominational Licensed Wedding Officiant.