Music and Lyrics: George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin
Book: Peter Stone and Timothy S. Mayer
Sept. 5 - 17, 2006
Reprise! Broadway's Best
UCLA Freud Playhouse, Westwood, CA
Director & Choreographer: Dan Mojica
Musical Director: Gerald Sternbach
Michael portrayed Billy Buck Chandler
Rachel York and Michael Gruber
"The engaging Gruber devours tap-happy Billy with assured finesse,
sending his Act 1 interpolation of 'Strike Up the Band' past the
parking lot."--Los Angeles Times
photos © Michael Lamont
Michael and Rachel
"You'd be hard-pressed to find a better duo to sing these classics
than the charismatic York and Gruber. Their voices are timeless and
enchanting."--Torrance Daily Breeze
"Gruber offers an emotionally charged first-act closer in 'Strike Up the Band.'"--Variety
"Ms. York and Mr. Gruber have lovely voices and really can sing, holding notes for long seconds and blending their styles with each other very nicely."--Show Magazine
Betty Garrett and Michael rehearsing
Also starring: Rachel York, Larry Cedar, Clinton Derrickes-Carroll, Vicki Lewis and Betty Garrett as Madam Magix
With: Megan Bayha, Bradley Benjamin, Richard Bulda,
Suzanne Carlton, Venny Carranza, Sascha Childers,
Steven Donahue, Wilkie Ferguson, Craig M. Lucas,
Amber Owens, Aaron Pomeroy, Erin Stoddard
"Gruber rouses the crowd with the stirring first-act finale,
'Strike Up the Band.'"--Torrance Daily Breeze
Ms. Garrett, Michael, and Rachel
Bio:
MICHAEL GRUBER (Billy Buck Chandler) On Broadway, Michael starred as Mike in A Chorus Line, (final co.) Munkustrap in Cats, (both on B'way and in the film) the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz (with Roseanne), both Bill and Hortensio in Kiss Me, Kate and the original companies of Swing!, Miss Saigon, Laughing Room Only and My Favorite Year. Favorite Regional roles include: Jesus in Godspell, Saul in Rags (Walnut Street), Phil Davis in Irving Berlin's White Christmas (Boston 2005), Stanley Donen in the world premier of What a Glorious Feeling (Mason Street Warehouse), Billy in Anything Goes (Stratford Festival, CA), Don Lockwood in Singin' in the Rain, Young Ben in Follies, Fingers in Red, Hot and Blue (Paper Mill Playhouse), Whizzer in Falsettos (Alliance, Atlanta), Jud in Oklahoma (Arizona Theater Co.), Sky in Guys and Dolls (Maltz Jupiter Theatre), Cousin Kevin in Tommy ('99 Concert tour), Lucky in Dames at Sea (Goodspeed), and Bobby in Crazy for You (PCPA Theaterfest). Recordings include: Follies, 42nd Street, Singin' in the Rain, Wonderful Town, The Most Happy Fella, Good News, Swing!, My Favorite Year and The Music Man.
Vicki Lewis, Michael, Richard Israel
Synopsis
Publicity photos
Preview from TheaterMania.com
Review from the Los Angeles Times
Review from the Los Angeles Daily News
Ms. Garrett and Michael
Review from the Torrance Daily Breeze
Review from Variety
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