1990 - The Heidi Chronicles (Royal Alex) 

Drama in 2 acts by Wendy Wasserstein 

Michael Riley portrayed Scoop Rosenbaum, a charming yet self-absorbed lawyer who entangles himself in an affair with the title character, Heidi Holland—an art historian navigating friendship, love, and identity in a changing world.

 

1989 - Fire (Theatre Passe Muraille) 

Musical drama in 2 acts by Paul Ledoux and David Young. 

Michael Riley played Herchel, the brother of Cale—a man who turns from church musician to star, ultimately losing his child-bride in the process. Herchel becomes a minister and marries Cale’s wife, but his envy drives him toward a career as a TV evangelist.

 

1989 - The Comedy of Errors (Canadian Stage) 

Play by Shakespeare. 

Set in Ephesus, whose strict laws govern immigrants and outsiders, this comedic tale sees mistaken identities, family reunions, and fate intervening. Michael Riley appeared as Dromio of Syracuse.

 

1988 - The Last Bus (Tarragon Theatre)

Michael Riley played Robert, a closeted high-school music teacher returning to his small Canuck hometown to confront his past and his true self—reuniting with family and an old girlfriend.

 

1988 - Blood Brothers (Canadian Stage) 

Rock musical in 2 acts by Willy Russell 

The tragic story of twin boys separated at birth. Michael Riley played Mickey, raised by the natural mother in poverty, as opposed to Eddie raised by a wealthy couple.  As children, the brothers meet and become best friends -- "blood brothers" (though remaining ignorant of their true relationship).

 

1987 - Nothing Sacred (Centre Stage) 

Comedy in 2 acts by George F. Walker, adapted from Turgenev's Fathers and Sons.  Bazarov, a haughty nihilist, intends to wreak havoc on all established order.  It featured Eric Peterson and Sonja Smits. Michael played Arkady. The play won the Chalmers Award and the Governor General's Award as well as several Dora Mavor Moore Awards.

 

1985 - Thunder, Perfect Mind (Toronto Free Theatre)

Rock musical in 2 acts by Paul Gross. 

The story begins as the world ends. Sorting out what to do with all the souls becomes too much for the angels, who go into retreat to consider the problem. Without their divine presence, a struggle to dominate the universe breaks out between two groups of souls, one group representing Thought, the other Action. The challenge for both of them is to find an innocent soul to gain their ends. Jojo Rideout and Lake Dennison qualify.  In the disorder, these two are swept into the outer void and during the course of their search for the way back, they fall in love.  Jojo and Lake, played by Aggie Cekuta Elliot and Michael Riley, were the only flesh and blood actors.

 

1984 - You Can't Take It With You (Grand Theatre) 

Comedy in 3 acts by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman. 

The eccentric family of Grandpa Martin Vanderhof is put to the test when youngest granddaughter Alice asks them to behave more conventionally during the visit of her fiancé Tony (Michael Riley) and his staid parents. Tony intentionally brings his parents over on the wrong night whereupon they get the 'full family treatment', leaving shocked and disgusted.

 

1984 - Midsummer Night's Dream (Dream In Park) 

Play by Shakespeare. 

Michael Riley played Lysander in this magical exploration of love and mischief among humans and fairies.

 

1984 - Separate Doors (Young People's Theatre)

Michael Riley played a 12 year old boy whose parents are going through a bitter divorce. Susan Hogan played his mother.