COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — From piano lessons to the pulpit choir to the battlefield to the stage — now to the theater. Michael Ung, aka THE SARGE, has announced he is auditioning for a part in Stephen Sondheim's COMPANY, the UCCS theater production slated for this spring.

Auditions are being conducted through the end of September, with casting callbacks to follow. The full production will be announced publicly at a later date.

Music has always been a thing for him. Classically trained in piano from a young age until 7th grade, raised on school and church choirs — the foundation was there long before the stage name.

His military years were brief by design in this story: he served, got out, and came back to start his music career. Starting as a hip-hop artist, then transforming to pop-punk-rock, and now pushing into an even wider range of music while attending college at UCCS.

That range is the point. Ung is currently a Music Major at UCCS, studying voice, choir, and theater — and this audition is the next stretch. His first serious play audition in nearly 20 years. He isn't hiding the nerves.

"I'm nervous as all hell. I haven't performed in a play since high school — almost 20 years ago. I've never done a serious audition for a play, so I honestly have no clue what I'm doing," Ung said. "But we're going to do this! Because that's what we do as artists. We can't limit ourselves to just one skill as true entertainers — even though I'm terrified. I am surrounded by such an amazing circle of motivated peers, so I have confidence this will turn out good either way."

It's the same ethos that runs through everything he does: purpose, direction, motivation. Step into the unknown, prepare, perform — whether that's a Colorado Springs stage, a studio session, or a Sondheim audition room.

ABOUT THE SARGE: THE SARGE (Michael Ung) is a U.S. Army Infantry veteran turned hip-hop and pop-punk-rock artist, producer, and sound designer (BS in Audio Production, Full Sail University; currently a Music Major at UCCS). CEO of The Sarge LLC, promoter 2016–present. Published and featured artist on Billboard Hip Hop and HipHopSince1987.com. Founder of BUST OUT THE BOX, the monthly multi-genre music residency at Wagon Wheel Sports Bar & Concert Hall in Colorado Springs. https://thesargellc.blogspot.com — Stay Different.

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