Thanks to Kelley Teahen Stratford Festival of Canada All production photos ©David Hou Avon Theatre - Stratford, ON Previews May 8 - June 5, 2004 June 6 - Oct. 31, 2004 Director & Choreographer: Anne Allan Musical Director: Berthold Carriere

"...boyishly charming Michael Gruber as leading man Billy Crocker..."--Cleveland Plain Dealer "Bill comes on as everything from a sailor in ridiculously short pants to a Spanish nobleman in equally ridiculous fake whiskers. These characters happily highlight Gruber's great ability to appear a silly fool one moment and a convincing romantic lover the next."--Buffalo News "Michael Gruber and Elizabeth de Grazia are a perfect romantic duo. Together they're great in the loveliest number in the show, 'All Through the Night'."--Scene Changes "Michael Gruber's ardent Billy clicks with resistant romancer Elizabeth DeGrazia, especially on the melodically demanding 'Easy to Love.'" --culturevulture.net "Michael Gruber is excellent as Billy, with a strong, clear voice and an expressive face. His duets with Dale on 'I Get A Kick Out of You' and 'You're the Top' are excellent."--West Bloomfield Eccentric "Michael Gruber's singing and acting style is right out of a '30s movie, and he performs the role ideally."--Rochester City Newspaper Bio: On Broadway, Mr. Gruber has appeared in Jackie Mason's Laughing Room Only, Swing!, Miss Saigon and My Favorite Year (original companies) and in Kiss Me, Kate (Hortensio), The Wizard of Oz (Tin Man-with Roseanne), Cats (Munkustrap-reprised for the movie) and the final cast of A Chorus Line (Mike). Other favourites include Young Ben in Follies (with Ann Miller) and Don Lockwood in Singin' in the Rain (Paper Mill Playhouse), Wizzer in Falsettos (Alliance Theatre Co.), Bobby Child in Crazy For You (PCPA Theaterfest), Cousin Kevin in Tommy ('99 concert tour) and Riff in national and European tours of West Side Story. Cast recordings include 42nd Street, Singin' in the Rain, Wonderful Town, Good News!, Swing!, Follies and The Most Happy Fella. With his writing partner, Jennifer Allen, Mr. Gruber is the composer of three musicals: Hit It, Mike!, The Old Dead Five, and Vegas Organic. Two costume sketches for Michael's character Cast Michael and Jimmy Spadola (Moonface Martin) on the brig set Showbill cover Press Release from the Festival Preview from Playbill online Preview from The Detroit News Review from The Detroit Free Press Interview with Michael and two other performers about working at the Stratford Festival Review from The Detroit News Review from The Stratford Beacon Herald Review from The West Bloomfield Eccentric Review from Toronto's Scene Changes Review from Xtra Toronto Review from the Cleveland Plain Dealer Article from the Cincinnati Enquirer Review from the Buffalo News Review from the Ottawa Citizen Productions Index main Library Index