©Cincinnati Enquirer July 18, 2004 Actor dives into 'Anything Goes' by Jackie Demaline
Heading for Ontario's Stratford Festival this summer? If your summer isn't complete without a weekend at North America's largest repertory festival, be sure to grab two on the aisle (if you can) to see Cincinnati native Michael Gruber playing the singing, dancing, romantic lead in Cole Porter's Anything Goes. Gruber grew up in Indian Hill where his stage was the diving board. A national competitor, he didn't turn to musical theater until 1984, when he was on a diving scholarship and majoring in vocal performance at the University of Michigan. "The Olympic trials came and went and I didn't qualify." He came home and completed his education at University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music. Things couldn't have worked out better, he says. He was in the legendary 1984 CCM production of The Rocky Horror Show, had his first professional gig aboard Showboat Majestic when it was under CCM management and earned his Equity card performing in Carnival at Playhouse in the Park in 1986. The diving did come in handy in his early career, Gruber says. His first two Broadway jobs were in the final cast of A Chorus Line when the venerable show closed its 15-year Broadway run and as a dragon acrobat in Miss Saigon. "I got both roles because I could tumble." Gruber's Billy Crocker has been praised by Canadian critics. It's his fourth time in the role he enjoys in the musical about gangsters, young lovers and a nightclub singer aboard a ship. The loony and light show also puts a spotlight on some of Porter's snappiest numbers. He's finding working in rep in the pastoral, small town Stratford Festival "rejuvenating and a pleasant surprise." The Stratford Festival continues into November, Anything Goes plays through Oct. 31. For reservations, information and a 2004 visitor's guide call (800) 567-1600 or visit www.stratford-festival.on.ca. main Anything Goes 2004 page

©Cincinnati Enquirer
July 18, 2004

Actor dives into 'Anything Goes'
by Jackie Demaline

Heading for Ontario's Stratford Festival this summer? If your summer isn't complete without a weekend at North America's largest repertory festival, be sure to grab two on the aisle (if you can) to see Cincinnati native Michael Gruber playing the singing, dancing, romantic lead in Cole Porter's Anything Goes.

Gruber grew up in Indian Hill where his stage was the diving board. A national competitor, he didn't turn to musical theater until 1984, when he was on a diving scholarship and majoring in vocal performance at the University of Michigan. "The Olympic trials came and went and I didn't qualify."

He came home and completed his education at University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music.

Things couldn't have worked out better, he says. He was in the legendary 1984 CCM production of The Rocky Horror Show, had his first professional gig aboard Showboat Majestic when it was under CCM management and earned his Equity card performing in Carnival at Playhouse in the Park in 1986.

The diving did come in handy in his early career, Gruber says. His first two Broadway jobs were in the final cast of A Chorus Line when the venerable show closed its 15-year Broadway run and as a dragon acrobat in Miss Saigon. "I got both roles because I could tumble."

Gruber's Billy Crocker has been praised by Canadian critics. It's his fourth time in the role he enjoys in the musical about gangsters, young lovers and a nightclub singer aboard a ship. The loony and light show also puts a spotlight on some of Porter's snappiest numbers.

He's finding working in rep in the pastoral, small town Stratford Festival "rejuvenating and a pleasant surprise."

The Stratford Festival continues into November, Anything Goes plays through Oct. 31. For reservations, information and a 2004 visitor's guide call (800) 567-1600 or visit www.stratford-festival.on.ca.

main Anything Goes 2004 page