Michael Gruber (actor)

Last updated
Michael Gruber
Michael Gruber - Singin' in the Rain.jpg
Michael in Singin' In The Rain , Music Theatre Of Wichita, 2000
Born (1964-11-01) November 1, 1964 (age 59)
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1987–present
Spouse
Tony Vierling
​
​
(m. 2013)​

Michael Thomas Gruber (born November 1, 1964) is an American actor.

Contents

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 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 1998 Cats proshot. He quotes regarding Cats, "It is sort of the signature of my career."


Theatre credits

New York

YearTitleRoleTheatreNotes
2007Stairway To ParadiseJoeNew York City Centre Encores!Revue in Review An Original Encores! Production
2006Applause for the Golden Boy: The Music of Charles StrousePerformerNew York Historical Society, New York CityBenefit Tribute
2005And Then I Wrote... The Songs of Steve MarzulloPerformerBirdland Jazz Club, New York CityConcert
2003 Laughing Room Only StandbyLena Horne TheatreBroadway
2003A Manhattan ChristmasPerformerKing Kong Room, New York CityCabaret
2001 Kiss Me, Kate Hortensio (Second Suitor) (replacement)
Ensemble (replacement)		Al Hirschfeld TheatreBroadway
200014th Annual Easter Bonnet CompetitionPerformerNew Amsterdam TheatreBCEFA event
1999-20 Swing! PerformerSt. James TheatreBroadway, part of the original cast
1998 Dreamgirls DaveEvening Dinner Theatre, Elmsford, NYDinner Theatre
1997The Wizard of OzThe Tin Man/HickoryThe Theatre at Madison Square GardenOff Broadway
1996-99 CATS MunkustrapWinter Garden TheatreBroadway, periodically left to do other shows
1996Angela Lansbury - A CelebrationMe and My Town DancerMajestic TheatreThis benefit concert only had one performance on November 17, 1996
1995Little By LittleManEighty-eights Club, New York CityOff-Off Broadway
19937th Annual Easter Bonnet CompetitionBroadway GIBroadway TheatreBCEFA event
1992-93 My Favorite Year (musical) EnsembleVivian Beaumont TheaterBroadway, part of the original cast
1991-94 Miss Saigon EnsembleBroadway theatreBroadway, part of the original cast. Periodically left to do other shows
1989-90 A Chorus Line MikeSam S. Shubert TheatreBroadway, part of the final cast. Michael's Broadway debut!

Tours

YearTitleRoleNotes
2008-09 A Chorus Line ZachNational and International Tours
1999TommyCousin KevinConcert Tour
1990 West Side Story RiffUS National Tour
1988 West Side Story RiffEuropean Tour

Regional shows

YearTitleRoleTheatreNotes
2023-24 Jersey Boys Gyp DeCarloChanhassen Dinner Theatres, Chanhassen, MN
2022-23 Footloose Rev. Shaw MooreChanhassen Dinner Theatres, Chanhassen, MN
2020-22 The Music Man Harold HillChanhassen Dinner Theatres, Chanhassen, MNThe show stopped running because of COVID from January to July 2021
2019-20 Mamma Mia! Harry BrightChanhassen Dinner Theatres, Chanhassen, MN
2018-19 Holiday Inn Jim HardyChanhassen Dinner Theatres, Chanhassen, MN
2018 Newsies NunzioChanhassen Dinner Theatres, Chanhassen,
2016 South Pacific Cmdr. William HarbisonGuthrie Theater, Minneapolis, MNWurtele Thrust Stage
2015 The Music Man EnsembleGuthrie Theater, Minneapolis, MNWurtele Thrust Stage
2014 My Fair Lady SwingGuthrie Theater, Minneapolis, MNWurtele Thrust Stage
2013-14 Fiddler On the Roof AvramChanhassen Dinner Theatres, Chanhassen, MN
2012-13 Bye Bye Birdie Albert PetersonChanhassen Dinner Theatres, Chanhassen, MN
2012 Roman Holiday EnsembleGuthrie Theater, Minneapolis, MNMcGuire Proscenium Stage
2011-12 Hairspray Corny CollinsChanhassen Dinner Theatres, Chanhassen, MN
2011 Jesus Christ Superstar Judas/ James of AlphaeusChanhassen Dinner Theatres, Chanhassen, MN
2010-11 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat SimeonOrdway Center for the Performing Arts
2010 Hairspray Corny CollinsTheatre Under the Stars, Houston, TXThe Hobby Center Sarofim Hall
2010Hits from The Music ManHarold HillBenaroya Hall, Seattle, WASeattle Symphony, conducted by Marvin Hamlisch
2009 White Christmas Bob Wallace5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle, WA
2009 Singin' in the Rain Don LockwoodOrdway Center for the Performing Arts, St. Paul, MN
2009 Grey Gardens George Gould StrongOrdway Center for the Performing Arts, St. Paul, MN
2008 White Christmas Bob WallaceTheatre Under The Stars, Houston
2007Irving Berlin's Easter ParadeDon HewesChanhassen Theatres, Chanhassen, MNWorld Premiere
2007 White Christmas Bob Wallace5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle and California Musical Theatre, Sacramento
2006 My One and Only Billy BuckReprise Concert Series, Freud Playhouse, Westwood, CA
2006 Godspell JesusWalnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia
2006 Guys and Dolls SkyMaltz Jupiter Theatre, FL
2005 White Christmas Phil DavisWang Center Theatre, Boston Revival
2005What a Glorious FeelingStanley DonenMason Street Warehouse, MIWorld Premiere
2005 Singin' in the Rain Don LockwoodTheatre Under The Stars - Houston, TX; 5th Avenue Theatre - Seattle, WA; California Musical Theatre - Sacramento, CAA co-operative production with the theatres listed
2004 Anything Goes Billy CrockerStratford Festival of Canada
2003 Wizard of Oz The Tin Man/HickoryStratford Festival of Canada
2003 Crazy For You Bobby ChildMarian Theatre and Solvang Festival, CA
2003 Anything Goes Billy CrockerRiverside Theatre, FL
2002 Dames at Sea LuckyGoodspeed Opera House-CT
2002 Smokey Joe's Cafe Sacramento, CA
2002 Dames at Sea LuckyGoodspeed Opera House
2001 Red Hot and Blue FingersPaper Mill Playhouse, Milburn, NJ
2000 Anything Goes Billy Crocker5th Avenue Theatre-Seattle
2000 Rags SaulWalnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia
2000 Singin' in the Rain Don LockwoodMusic Theatre of Wichita (KS)
1999Floyd's Follies Flood ReliefPerformerPaper Mill Playhouse, Milburn, NJBenefit Concert
1998 Follies Young BenPaper Mill Playhouse, Milburn, NJ
1998History of SexNarratorGolden Nugget Casino, Las Vegas
1995West Side StoryRiffMuny Theatre, St. Louis, MO
1995Curtain Raisers Salute New Year'sPerformerPaper Mill Playhouse, Milburn, NJConcert
1995 Oklahoma! Jud FryPhoenix & Tucson, AZ
1994 Kiss Me, Kate Bill/LucentioGoodspeed Opera House-CT
1994 West Side Story RiffMusic Theatre of Wichita
1994Harvest of Stars Gala: An Autumn Evening with ArtsPowerPerformerPaper Mill Playhouse, Milburn, NJArtsPower Benefit
1994 Singin' in the Rain Don LockwoodPaper Mill Playhouse, Milburn, NJ
1993 Little Me George MusgroveBirmingham Theatre, Birmingham, MI
1993 Falsettos WhizzerAlliance Theatre, Atlanta
1993 Anything Goes Billy CrockerMusic Theatre of Wichita
1993Good News!Tom MarloweMusic Theatre of Wichita
1993 Singin' in the Rain Don LockwoodCalifornia Musical Theatre
1993Songs of Unlikely LoversPerformerMusic Theatre of WichitaA Valentine's Day Review
1992 Singin' in the Rain Don LockwoodMusic Theatre of Wichita
1988 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat JosephAlaska Light Opera, Anchorage
1987 My One and Only EnsemblePaper Mill Playhouse, Milburn, NJ

Readings / Workshops

YearTitleNotes
2003TabooNew York City
2003Sammy Cahn
2002Ain't That a Kick in the HeadWorkshop at The New 42nd Street Studios, New York City
1997DodsworthPart of a New Works festival at National Alliance for Musical Theatre

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1997Oz: The American FairylandTin Man (uncredited)Documentary
1997 CATS MunkustrapFilmed 1997, released 1998

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2000The Rosie O'Donnell ShowSelfDated February 1st 2000 and June 1st 2000
1997The 51st Annual Tony AwardsSelfTV Special
1991The 45th Annual Tony AwardsSelfTV Special
1996 As The World Turns RonDated March 8th 1996

Discography

YearTitleRecord Label
2013A Midnight QueerOne Voice Mixed Chorus
2001Carols For A Cure 2001 (BC/EFA)Rock-It Science Records
2000 Swing! Sony Classics
2000 The Most Happy Fella Jay Records
1998Wonderful TownJay Records
1998 Follies TVT Soundtrax
1996 42nd Street Jay Records
1996 Singin' in the Rain Jay Records
1993 My Favorite Year BMG Classics
1993Good News!Jay Records

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