Michael Thomas Gruber (born November 1, 1964) is an American actor. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, 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.[citation needed]
Michael Gruber | |
|---|---|
 Michael in Singin' In The Rain, Music Theatre Of Wichita, 2000 | |
| Born | November 1, 1964 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Spouse |
Tony Vierling
(m. 2013) |
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 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."
Theatre credits edit
New York edit
| Year | Title | Role | Theatre | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Stairway To Paradise | Joe | New York City Centre Encores! | Revue in Review An Original Encores! Production |
| 2006 | Applause for the Golden Boy: The Music of Charles Strouse | Performer | New York Historical Society, New York City | Benefit Tribute |
| 2005 | And Then I Wrote... The Songs of Steve Marzullo | Performer | Birdland Jazz Club, New York City | Concert |
| 2003 | Laughing Room Only | Standby | Lena Horne Theatre | Broadway |
| 2003 | A Manhattan Christmas | Performer | King Kong Room, New York City | Cabaret |
| 2001 | Kiss Me, Kate | Hortensio (Second Suitor) (replacement) Ensemble (replacement) |
Al Hirschfeld Theatre | Broadway |
| 2000 | 14th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition | Performer | New Amsterdam Theatre | BCEFA event |
| 1999-20 | Swing! | Performer | St. James Theatre | Broadway, part of the original cast |
| 1998 | Dreamgirls | Dave | Evening Dinner Theatre, Elmsford, NY | Dinner Theatre |
| 1997 | The Wizard of Oz | The Tin Man/Hickory | The Theatre at Madison Square Garden | Off Broadway |
| 1996-99 | CATS | Munkustrap | Winter Garden Theatre | Broadway, periodically left to do other shows |
| 1996 | Angela Lansbury - A Celebration | Me and My Town Dancer | Majestic Theatre | This benefit concert only had one performance on November 17, 1996 |
| 1995 | Little By Little | Man | Eighty-eights Club, New York City | Off-Off Broadway |
| 1993 | 7th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition | Broadway GI | Broadway Theatre | BCEFA event |
| 1992-93 | My Favorite Year (musical) | Ensemble | Vivian Beaumont Theater | Broadway, part of the original cast |
| 1991-94 | Miss Saigon | Ensemble | Broadway theatre | Broadway, part of the original cast. Periodically left to do other shows |
| 1989-90 | A Chorus Line | Mike | Sam S. Shubert Theatre | Broadway, part of the final cast. Michael's Broadway debut! |
Tours edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-09 | A Chorus Line | Zach | National and International Tours |
| 1999 | Tommy | Cousin Kevin | Concert Tour |
| 1990 | West Side Story | Riff | US National Tour |
| 1988 | West Side Story | Riff | European Tour |
Regional shows edit
| Year | Title | Role | Theatre | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | Jersey Boys | Gyp DeCarlo | Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Chanhassen, MN | |
| 2022-23 | Footloose | Rev. Shaw Moore | Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Chanhassen, MN | |
| 2020-22 | The Music Man | Harold Hill | Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Chanhassen, MN | The show stopped running because of COVID from January to July 2021 |
| 2019-20 | Mamma Mia! | Harry Bright | Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Chanhassen, MN | |
| 2018-19 | Holiday Inn | Jim Hardy | Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Chanhassen, MN | |
| 2018 | Newsies | Nunzio | Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Chanhassen, | |
| 2016 | South Pacific | Cmdr. William Harbison | Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis, MN | Wurtele Thrust Stage |
| 2015 | The Music Man | Ensemble | Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis, MN | Wurtele Thrust Stage |
| 2014 | My Fair Lady | Swing | Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis, MN | Wurtele Thrust Stage |
| 2013-14 | Fiddler On the Roof | Avram | Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Chanhassen, MN | |
| 2012-13 | Bye Bye Birdie | Albert Peterson | Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Chanhassen, MN | |
| 2012 | Roman Holiday | Ensemble | Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis, MN | McGuire Proscenium Stage |
| 2011-12 | Hairspray | Corny Collins | Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Chanhassen, MN | |
| 2011 | Jesus Christ Superstar | Judas/ James of Alphaeus | Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Chanhassen, MN | |
| 2010-11 | Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | Simeon | Ordway Center for the Performing Arts | |
| 2010 | Hairspray | Corny Collins | Theatre Under the Stars, Houston, TX | The Hobby Center Sarofim Hall |
| 2010 | Hits from The Music Man | Harold Hill | Benaroya Hall, Seattle, WA | Seattle Symphony, conducted by Marvin Hamlisch |
| 2009 | White Christmas | Bob Wallace | 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle, WA | |
| 2009 | Singin' in the Rain | Don Lockwood | Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, St. Paul, MN | |
| 2009 | Grey Gardens | George Gould Strong | Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, St. Paul, MN | |
| 2008 | White Christmas | Bob Wallace | Theatre Under The Stars, Houston | |
| 2007 | Irving Berlin's Easter Parade | Don Hewes | Chanhassen Theatres, Chanhassen, MN | World Premiere |
| 2007 | White Christmas | Bob Wallace | 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle and California Musical Theatre, Sacramento | |
| 2006 | My One and Only | Billy Buck | Reprise Concert Series, Freud Playhouse, Westwood, CA | |
| 2006 | Godspell | Jesus | Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia | |
| 2006 | Guys and Dolls | Sky | Maltz Jupiter Theatre, FL | |
| 2005 | White Christmas | Phil Davis | Wang Center Theatre, Boston Revival | |
| 2005 | What a Glorious Feeling | Stanley Donen | Mason Street Warehouse, MI | World Premiere |
| 2005 | Singin' in the Rain | Don Lockwood | Theatre Under The Stars - Houston, TX; 5th Avenue Theatre - Seattle, WA; California Musical Theatre - Sacramento, CA | A co-operative production with the theatres listed |
| 2004 | Anything Goes | Billy Crocker | Stratford Festival of Canada | |
| 2003 | Wizard of Oz | The Tin Man/Hickory | Stratford Festival of Canada | |
| 2003 | Crazy For You | Bobby Child | Marian Theatre and Solvang Festival, CA | |
| 2003 | Anything Goes | Billy Crocker | Riverside Theatre, FL | |
| 2002 | Dames at Sea | Lucky | Goodspeed Opera House-CT | |
| 2002 | Smokey Joe's Cafe | Sacramento, CA | ||
| 2002 | Dames at Sea | Lucky | Goodspeed Opera House | |
| 2001 | Red Hot and Blue | Fingers | Paper Mill Playhouse, Milburn, NJ | |
| 2000 | Anything Goes | Billy Crocker | 5th Avenue Theatre-Seattle | |
| 2000 | Rags | Saul | Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia | |
| 2000 | Singin' in the Rain | Don Lockwood | Music Theatre of Wichita (KS) | |
| 1999 | Floyd's Follies Flood Relief | Performer | Paper Mill Playhouse, Milburn, NJ | Benefit Concert |
| 1998 | Follies | Young Ben | Paper Mill Playhouse, Milburn, NJ | |
| 1998 | History of Sex | Narrator | Golden Nugget Casino, Las Vegas | |
| 1995 | West Side Story | Riff | Muny Theatre, St. Louis, MO | |
| 1995 | Curtain Raisers Salute New Year's | Performer | Paper Mill Playhouse, Milburn, NJ | Concert |
| 1995 | Oklahoma! | Jud Fry | Phoenix & Tucson, AZ | |
| 1994 | Kiss Me, Kate | Bill/Lucentio | Goodspeed Opera House-CT | |
| 1994 | West Side Story | Riff | Music Theatre of Wichita | |
| 1994 | Harvest of Stars Gala: An Autumn Evening with ArtsPower | Performer | Paper Mill Playhouse, Milburn, NJ | ArtsPower Benefit |
| 1994 | Singin' in the Rain | Don Lockwood | Paper Mill Playhouse, Milburn, NJ | |
| 1993 | Little Me | George Musgrove | Birmingham Theatre, Birmingham, MI | |
| 1993 | Falsettos | Whizzer | Alliance Theatre, Atlanta | |
| 1993 | Anything Goes | Billy Crocker | Music Theatre of Wichita | |
| 1993 | Good News! | Tom Marlowe | Music Theatre of Wichita | |
| 1993 | Singin' in the Rain | Don Lockwood | California Musical Theatre | |
| 1993 | Songs of Unlikely Lovers | Performer | Music Theatre of Wichita | A Valentine's Day Review |
| 1992 | Singin' in the Rain | Don Lockwood | Music Theatre of Wichita | |
| 1988 | Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | Joseph | Alaska Light Opera, Anchorage | |
| 1987 | My One and Only | Ensemble | Paper Mill Playhouse, Milburn, NJ |
Readings / Workshops edit
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Taboo | New York City |
| 2003 | Sammy Cahn | |
| 2002 | Ain't That a Kick in the Head | Workshop at The New 42nd Street Studios, New York City |
| 1997 | Dodsworth | Part of a New Works festival at National Alliance for Musical Theatre |
Filmography edit
Film edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Oz: The American Fairyland | Tin Man (uncredited) | Documentary |
| 1997 | CATS | Munkustrap | Filmed 1997, released 1998 |
Television edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | The Rosie O'Donnell Show | Self | Dated February 1st 2000 and June 1st 2000 |
| 1997 | The 51st Annual Tony Awards | Self | TV Special |
| 1991 | The 45th Annual Tony Awards | Self | TV Special |
| 1996 | As The World Turns | Ron | Dated March 8th 1996 |
Discography edit
| Year | Title | Record Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | A Midnight Queer | One Voice Mixed Chorus |
| 2001 | Carols For A Cure 2001 (BC/EFA) | Rock-It Science Records |
| 2000 | Swing! | Sony Classics |
| 2000 | The Most Happy Fella | Jay Records |
| 1998 | Wonderful Town | Jay Records |
| 1998 | Follies | TVT Soundtrax |
| 1996 | 42nd Street | Jay Records |
| 1996 | Singin' in the Rain | Jay Records |
| 1993 | My Favorite Year | BMG Classics |
| 1993 | Good News! | Jay Records |