Michael Gruber (actor)
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Michael Thomas Gruber is an actor, born on November 1, 1964 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Michael is the youngest of four children, two sisters and one brother. At an early age, Michael showed great interest in gymnastics and diving. He became the 2nd best diver in his age class in the world at the age of fourteen.
Michael was an All-American diver who graduated from Indian Hill High School in 1982 and attended the University of Michigan on an athletic scholarship as an Olympic diving hopeful training under then Olympic coach Dick Kimball.
His passion was acting and he decided to study theatre at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He made his Broadway debut in the final company of A Chorus Line, 1989-90.
Michael is a composer and co-lyricist, with long-time collaborator Jennifer Allen, of three musicals: The Old Dead Five, Vegas Organic and Hit It, Mike!. He has also composed music for poems, currently working on a series set to children's poetry.
Michael was nominated for the 2000 FANY (Friends of NY Theatre) award for "Best Individual Performance."
Michael has performed the roles of Munkustrap both on Broadway and in the Cats video. He quotes regarding the Cats video, "It is sort of the signature of my career."
His Broadway credits:
A Chorus Line revival 2007
Laughing Room Only 2003
Kiss Me, Kate Hortensio 2001
Swing! Original cast member 1999-2000
CATS Munkustrap 1996-1999, periodically left to do other shows
My Favorite Year Original Company Ensemble 1992-1993
Miss Saigon Original cast member. Periodically left to do other shows Ensemble 1991-1994
A Chorus Line Final Company Mike 1989-1990
National Tours:
West Side Story US and European Tours Riff US tour 1990
Off-Broadway Shows:
Wizard of Oz The Theatre at Madison Square Garden The Tin Man/Hickory 1997
Regional Shows:
Irving Berlin's Easter Parade - Chanhassen Theatres, Chanhassen, MN - Don Hewes - World Premier - 2007
Irving Berlin's White Christmas - 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle and California Musical Theatre, Sacramento - Bob Wallace - 2006-2007
My One and Only - Reprise!, Los Angeles - Billy Buck - 2006
Godspell - Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia - Jesus - 2006
Singin' in the Rain - 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle - Don Lockwood - 2005
Singin' in the Rain - California Musical Theatre, Sacramento - Don Lockwood - 2005
What a Glorious Feeling - Saugatuck, MI - Stanley Donen - 2005 - World Premier
White Christmas - Wang Theatre, Boston - Phil Davis - 2005
Anything Goes Stratford Festival of Canada Billy Crocker 2004
Singin' in the Rain Houston's Theatre Under The Stars Don Lockwood 2004
Crazy For You PCPA-CA Bobby Child 2003
Anything Goes FL Billy Crocker 2003
Dames at Sea Goodspeed Opera House-CT Lucky 2002
Smokey Joe's Cafe Sacramento, CA 2002
Red Hot and Blue Paper Mill Playhouse Fingers 2001
Singin' in the Rain Music Theatre of Wichita (KS) Don Lockwood 2000
Anything Goes 5th Avenue Theatre-Seattle Billy Crocker 2000
The Who's Tommy DE, CT, MA, IL Cousin Kevin 1999
Follies Papermill Playhouse Young Ben 1998
Oklahoma! Phoenix & Tucson, AZ Jud Fry 1995
Kiss Me, Kate Goodspeed Opera House-CT Bill/Lucentio 1994
West Side Story Singin' in the Rain Papermill Playhouse Don Lockwood 1994
Music Theatre of Wichita Riff 1994
Good News! Music Theatre of Wichita (KS) Tom Marlowe 1993
Falsettos Alliance Theatre-Atlanta, GA Whizzer 1993
Singin' in the Rain Sacramento, CA Don Lockwood 1993
Anything Goes Music Theatre of Wichita (KS) Billy Crocker 1993
Singin' in the Rain Music Theatre of Wichita (KS) Don Lockwood 1992
Readings / Workshops:
Taboo 2003
Sammy Cahn 2003
Films:
CATS Munkustrap Filmed 1997, released 1998
Recordings:
Singin' in the Rain Jay Records
Follies TVT Soundtrax
The Most Happy Fella Jay Records
My Favorite Year BMG Classics
Good News! Jay Records
Swing! Sony Classics
Wonderful Town Jay Records -
Carols For A Cure 2001 (BC/EFA) Rock-It Science Records
For complete and accurate information visit Michael's official website [1]
