About Sulyma Productions

About Sulyma Productions

MICHAEL H. SULYMA, PRODUCER

A leading, independent arts and entertainment/cultural producer. Michael Sulyma began his personal company, Sulyma Productions Inc. (SPI), while exploring the realm of stage, television and film production in 1987, starting with his work at the National Screen Institute of Canada.  Combining his arts background with his degree in business from the University of Alberta and years of experience with the accounting firm Coopers & Lybrand, Michael became a busy production manager, producing numerous projects for Stage West, television and London’s West End.  Michael has also produced over 25 years of international tours of The Kyiv Ballet of the National Opera of Ukraine, Canada’s Ukrainian Shumka Dancers and Beijing’s, Chun Yi: The Legend of Kung Fu.  In 2005, Michael Sulyma became Co-Producer with Beijing’s China Heaven Creation of the new Chinese multi-discipline production, Chun Yi: The Legend of Kung Fu, a unique integration of modern dance, ballet and Kung Fu.  Chun Yi made its first six-month/150 performance showcase tour in North America followed by tours to Russia, and Japan. Chun Yi had its West End premiere in London with an 8 week summer run in 2009 at The London Coliseum.  Chun Yi continues its open-ended run in Beijing, with over 10,000 performances to date.  It is currently the longest running theatrical production in China.  In addition to Michael’s 20-year trusted relationship with China Heaven Creations, he has also similar long-term relationships with 4 other Chinese production companies, Bravo (Beijing) International Culture Exchange Co., Ltd., China Performing Arts Agency and Beijing Beiao Yitong Culture and Arts Development Co., Ltd. and Beijing Poly Theatre Management Co., Ltd.  Michael was instrumental in helping place the spectacular equestrian productions, Cavalia and Odysseo, in mainland China.

In the early years of his business, Michael produced a number of television shows, Rattle Of A Simple Man, starring Juliet Mills, the science fiction series, Ray Bradbury Theatre, Canadian Champions on Ice, from the World Expo in Korea, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream skating drama on ice starring world champion Yuko Sato and a performing arts video with Christopher Plummer.  SPI’s award-winning performing arts specials have been broadcast nationally by CBC television and in 37 countries around the world: Shumka – Return of the Whirlwind (Shumka’s monumental tour to Ukraine and Moscow), Shumka’s Katrusia, Cycles of the Sun and Night of Perun.

Michael has produced 11 national and international tours for Canada’s Ukrainian Shumka Dancers.  Sulyma Productions Inc. (SPI) toured their 50th anniversary production of Shumka at 50, over a 7-week China tour to 14 cities for 23 shows in mainland China, as well as 10 Canadian cities thereafter.   Artists of the Kyiv Ballet from the National Opera of Ukraine and Shumka joined forces for SPI’s THE NUTCRACKER, a ballet fantasy (which toured North America for over 7 years)Excerpts of The Nutcracker were produced for the seasonal arena touring spectacular, A Royal Christmas produced by Princeton Entertainment and starring, Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Andrea Bocelli, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and principal dancers from Royal Ballet Covent Garden, Bolshoi Ballet, Kyiv Ballet and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.  SPI’s full-length ballet, Shumka’s Nutcracker enters into its 10th consecutive year in Edmonton at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium.  This unique and ground-breaking Canada-Ukraine production brings an entirely new concept to the world of Ukrainian dance, as well as dance in general. This is the first time The Nutcracker story has been created in the Ukrainian folk ballet style.

All the while SPI’s 35 years in the arts and entertainment business, having produced award winning performing arts tv specials and drama series, has been staying current in the 3-D, 4K Video and Virtual Reality world of entertainment with recent award-winning productions.