| “ | Sage, you know me better than anyone else in the world. (Sage: No, I'm looking at a stranger in a football jersey.) Okay, you're right. I faked my resume to Lakeview. I've never studied in New York. But I had to keep up the lie to get through the summer. (Sage: Why would you lie to ME about it? I wouldn't have told anyone.) I know. I wish I hadn't. (Sage: Now that you got caught.) Sage. You already liked that version of me. Fancy dancer with a scholarship, not some small town jock. (Sage: You do NOT get to decide my feelings for me. You don't know that.) Okay, no, you're right. Let's try it, right now. Hi, I'm Tony Michaels. I love dancing, but I'm so terrified to talk to anybody about it, that I do it privately in the tool shed in the backyard. I come from a town where everyone is so obsessed with breaking this 25-year football curse, and apparently, I'm the only guy to do it. | „ |
| ~ Tony telling Sage the truth about who he really is. |
| “ | Did I ever tell you that my dad and Coach were best friends? Right. Coach was kind of like an uncle to my brother and me, so, you know when my parents d- Anyways. Coach kind of stepped in and helped support us, and it's not that I don't like playing football, that's not it. It's just not the only thing I'm passionate about. And I feel like I woke up one day and I was this football star, and that's all I ever do, and that's never really what I wanted. (Sage: Why don't you just tell him?) Tell him what? (Sage: How you feel. What YOU want.) I'm scared, I guess. | „ |
| ~ Tony revealing his backstory to Sage. |
| “ | Let me ask you something. Have you ever once thought about what I might want? Not one time. Homecoming or bust, though, right? | „ |
| ~ Tony arguing with Coach over his chosen future. |
Anthony "Tony" Michaels is the main male protagonist of Zeno Mountain Farm's first feature-length film, Best Summer Ever, and the 2016 play that inspired it. He is a star high school football player who dreams of becoming a dancer but must cope with the pressures of his upbringing.
Tony is played by Caileb Jade Dengkim as a child and Rickey Wilson, Jr. as a teenager.
Biography[]
As a child, Tony inherited his passion for dancing from his mother, which led him to pursue his dream of becoming a dancer. But after his parents passed away, his high school coach, a friend of his father's, became his father figure. Since then, Tony has been burdened by the responsibilities of being the star kicker on his football team at Mount Abe High School.
18-year-old Tony is first introduced at Lakeview Dance Camp practicing for a dance. He bids the rest of the camp goodbye before celebrating his summer with his girlfriend, Sage. The following day, Sage gives him some sunflower seeds to plant in a special place, while he gives her his Mount Abe Eagle necklace. As soon as he returns home, Tony plants the seeds in front of a memorial for his late parents. He is greeted by his big brother, Kevin, who is happy to see him, and the school coach, who relies on him to help his football team win the upcoming Homecoming game, which Mount Abe hasn't done in twenty-five years.
The next day, Tony is interviewed by a reporter, who reminds him not to let down his team, his school and his town. At school, Beth, the high school mean girl, attempts to seduce him to make him her Homecoming King. Afterwards, Tony meets with the other jocks and tells them about his meeting with Sage at dance camp and his love for her, longing to see her again. Consumed by his jealousy for Tony, Cody Humphreys, the school meathead, discovers that Tony and Sage met at the same camp and plots with Beth to drive a wedge between the two lovers. At the pep rally, Beth humiliates Sage in front of the whole school. As Tony and the jocks charge in, Sage is shocked to see Tony. He tells Sage to meet him in the library for a talk. Tony runs into Beth, who hands him his stolen phone and threatens to send photos of him dancing on blast if he refuses to join her for Homecoming. In the library, Tony admits to Sage that he faked his resume to Lakeview and had been lying to get through the summer and cope with his upbringing. Heartbroken and furious, Sage confronts him for his lies and leaves the school.
The following day, Sage returns to Mount Abe, where Tony asks her for another chance. He takes her into the tool shed in his backyard and reveals his backstory, that football isn't his only passion and he is afraid of being honest with his coach. Sage shows Tony the weed she and her moms are growing and selling, which is why she and her family are constantly on the move, as well as a garden of sunflowers she planted. The two rekindle their bond and as Homecoming approaches, Sage helps Tony practice for his dance.
At school, Coach catches Tony looking at a video of Sage on his cell phone and takes it from him. After giving Tony his phone back, he reprimands him for not paying attention, reminding him that it is his duty to win the Homecoming game for his school. That night, Tony proposes to Sage that they run off together. The next day, Beth, having taken pictures of the weed, threatens to post them if he doesn't take her to Homecoming. Not wanting to turn Sage over to the police, Tony takes Beth's side. Later, Coach confronts Tony after learning that he went to dance camp. Tony argues with Coach over choosing his future for him. He attempts to kick the football, but fails, which results in Tony picking a fight with the other jocks and running into town to vent his frustrations.
The next day, Tony discovers that Sage tore up her garden out of anger. As Kevin shows Coach a video of Tony and his late mother to show him why his brother dreams of becoming a dancer, Tony, fearing the police would arrest Sage, switches the weed with the sunflowers, outwitting the town cop. That night, Tony and Sage come together and head to the Homecoming game, just in time for Tony to put on his dance act, reconcile with his coach, and win the game. Afterwards, the whole school, with Tony, celebrates their victory.
Personality[]
Tony is a sensitive and passionate teen with a love of music and dancing, but is forced to stifle his identity due to the pressure of his responsibility to win the Homecoming game for his high school. He starts off being afraid to reveal his true intentions to his coach, but grows stronger and more proactive as the story progresses. Tony also has a soft heart, especially when it comes to his girlfriend, Sage, and his big brother, Kevin.
Quotes[]
| “ | (Alec: Hey Tony, you got a girlfriend?) I did meet a girl this summer, and guys, she's pretty awesome. | „ |
| ~ Tony explaining his meeting with Sage at dance camp to the other jocks. |
| “ | How about we just go off somewhere together? We can be like Bonnie and Clyde! | „ |
| ~ Tony proposing he and Sage run off. |
| “ | You gotta walk through your shadow
Sometimes to see the light The stars come out But they don’t always shine so bright I’ve been afraid of looking To see what’s inside Am I ready to ride? No longer content, trying to just get by Something is stirring, I can’t take the lies Going through the motions Aching for a change I’m ready to ride Tonight, I’m dancin’ free Gonna let the whole world come and dance with me I got no reason to hold it all inside Sun is going down on a west side swing Warming up a place that I’ve never been Take it or leave it I’m making up my mind I’m ready to ride! |
„ |
| ~ Tony singing "Ready to Ride" as he vents his frustrations and prepares for his dance. |
| “ | I didn't know where lies could end
And where I should begin I didn't know where I was knockin' 'Till you let me in (Sage: My bucket list of scattered dreams Washed me down the stream I've traveled far enough to see This is where I'm meant to be) |
„ |
| ~ Tony singing as he finally fulfills his dream of becoming a dancer and wins the Homecoming game. |
Trivia[]
- In the play that inspired the film, Tony was played by Jeremy Vest, who also played Bulletproof Jackson in Bulletproof.
- Tony has some similarities to Troy Bolton in the High School Musical franchise, as both are star athletes in high school with a passion for musical arts and are torn between doing what's expected of them and following their hearts.
Gallery[]
