Michael Gruber, fast-stepping leading man in PCPA Theaterfest's "Crazy For You," dove into dance headfirst and tumbled into his first Broadway show.

He began springboard diving at age 11 and went on to win two silver Olympic medals, Gruber explained in a telephone interview. He attended the University of Michigan on a diving scholarship, and when he didn't qualify for the Olympics in 1984, turned his attention to theater arts.

His physical energy and gymnastic skills segued into dance, he said. "I had already been a singer and was in drama club and choir."

When he decided to get serious about theater and dance, Gruber moved to the College Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati.

"That was a more integrated program, with dancing, singing and acting, somewhat like PCPA," he said.

Because of his athletic skills, Gruber preferred to dance in the high-energy physical style of Gene Kelly.

"But as I get older, I can't kick up my heels as much," he said. "I find I'm beginning to dance in a more graceful style, more like that of Fred Astaire."

Gruber's gymnastic skills paid off again when he literally tumbled into his first Broadway show. While he was performing in summer stock in a tiny theater in Morgantown, W. Va., he met Nicky Harris, a dance captain with the national company of "A Chorus Line." Later, while he was in Alaska in "Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat," Harris hunted him down and called, saying she needed a replacement for the role of Mike Costa.

"She needed someone who could tumble, and she knew I could," Gruber said.

He was in the final company of "A Chorus Line" for 15 months.

"From then on it was a matter of connections, who you know."

Gruber tumbled again in the original company of "Miss Saigon" and went on to play Munkstrap in "Cats" and Hortensio in "Kiss Me Kate," among others.

Although he has been in many Broadway shows and other musicals, Gruber said this role in "Crazy for You" with PCPA is probably the most fun he has had acting.

In the show, he's not only the handsome, dancing Bobby Child, but masquerades as Bela Zengler, a funny theater producer.

"This is a rare role where you're both a character actor and a leading man," Gruber said. "I think of it as something Danny Kaye would do. He could be really goofy one minute and a romantic lead the next. I loved playing Don Lockwood in 'Singin' in the Rain', but he was strictly a straight man."

Gruber gets great support from the energetic, creatively choreographed dancing of the "Crazy for You" company. Although they look likeprofessionals, they are all PCPA students, he said.

"When PCPA knew they were going to do the show, they started to offer tap classes," he explained.

Choreographer Eric Hoit took a wise approach, he added. "Some choreographers do difficult for difficult's sake. Here, the steps aren't really that hard. Eric took basic tap steps and put them together in interesting ways."

Although most of them are young, the PCPA company members are very talented, Gruber said. "The difference between them and New York actors is basically how quickly you can do something. It takes longer to learn dance combinations and more rehearsal time. But they bring a freshness and enthusiasm to the show that New York actors might not have."

This freshness is particularly appropriate for the expanded style of "Crazy for You," which is almost cartoony, Gruber noted, and this is a challenge for the students.

"In PCPA's early training the focus is on realism, and the student actors had to know how far to go in this show before they were over the top. They looked to us - Melinda (Ann Parrett), David Studwell and me to get the tone, to see how far to extend reality."

Parrett, who plays the romantic lead, is a PCPA graduate and also a Broadway veteran. Gruber has high praise for her and sounded worried that he was getting the press attention, while she deserved it.

"Melinda is a real asset for PCPA. She's going to be major. They've got gold with her," he said.

When the PCPA musical is over, Gruber has an inside track on a role in a new New York show, he said.

"I can afford to be here right now," he said. But he also acknowledged that those in his profession "live on the edge of uncertainty."

The area is fortunate to have the caliber of theater that PCPA offers, Gruber noted. "People don't realize how special it is. I can't even afford to go to the theater in New York. Tickets to musicals are $80, $90 and $100, and for plays, $65. Here, theater can be an affordable
family experience."