Did Michael Greif break a record?

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 1/20/24 at 10:37pm

I just realized that between Hell's Kitchen, Days of Wine and Roses, and The Notebook (which he co-directed with Schele Williams), Michael Greif is directing THREE new musicals in the same season. That has to be a record, right? I can't remember the last time a director helmed more than two shows in one year.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 1/20/24 at 10:57pm

Amazing, especially that his direction has never been a highlight of any of the shows he's done to date.  I am not saying that he is not competent...just very lucky.  I had to look up the shows he has directed thus far, just to remind myself.  I just haven't seen anything special about his direction.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 1/20/24 at 11:58pm

I think Michael Greif is fantastic. RENT, next to normal, and Grey Gardens are some of my favorite productions ever. I hope he finally gets a well deserved Tony.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/21/24 at 12:19am

3 is not a record. George Abbott regularly had 3 shows in the span of a year, sometimes as many as five. Also Scott Ellis (3 shows in the 2014-15 season), Jerry Zaks (3 shows between Dec 2016-Nov 2017), Kenny Leon (3 between Oct 2022-Sept 2023).

I don't know if anyone has opened 3 in 4 months, but what's notable is he has a co-director on one of them and all played Off-Bway or regionally prior to Broadway. It would be quite different if he was opening all 3 cold on Broadway.

What's also rare, but not unheard of, is someone making their Broadway directorial debut with two shows in one season, as Schelle Williams is doing. Tripp Cullman and Ivo Van Hove also did it recently.

As for the Tonys this year, I expect Maria Friedman, Rebecca Frecknall, and Alex Timbers will be the leading contenders.

Updated On: 1/21/24 at 12:19 AM

[binau]

Posted: 1/21/24 at 2:41am

I completely disagree that Michael Greif got ‘lucky’. Sorry but you can’t turn out as many iconic performances as he has with simply ‘luck’ and Alice Ripley has been clear that behind the scenes it was Michael Greif who did indeed strongly direct her to get to the outcome they got. Similarly, he worked with the authors of next to normal and dear evan Hansen to actually shape the material not just simply stage what was on the page. This is what good directors do - and what Hal Prince did with Sondheim, and Kander & Ebb. I double down that Michael Greif is the closet thing we have to Hal Prince today and the most accomplished musical theatre director we have right now. 

[GottaGetAGimmick420]

Posted: 1/21/24 at 6:44am

I hated his direction in Wine and Roses so far this season, so I’m going into HK with tampered expectations.

maybe multiple directors bringing in multiple shows of theirs in the same season isn’t a good thing? Imagine that

[Kad]

Posted: 1/21/24 at 10:01am

Greif strikes me as an actor’s director first and foremost. His productions tend not to be about massive staging or spectacle or big showy technical moments or high concept, and his track record of getting really good performances in his productions is extremely impressive. I mean- his productions gave us the original cast of Rent, Christine Ebersole as Big and Little Edie, Alice Ripley as Diana Goodman, and Ben Platt and Rachel Bay Jones in DEH. Even his weaker productions like War Paint and If/Then were anchored by strong central performances. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 1/21/24 at 10:43am

Kad said: "Greif strikes me as an actor’s director first and foremost."

Aah! That’s a perfect description of how I feel about his work.

On the flip side Alex Timbers is an example of a “designers director.” 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 1/21/24 at 11:35am

I’d agree. His stagings just always feel a bit simple and lazy. (Dear Evan Hansen). And same with the Notebook. Not bad per se but nothing groundbreaking. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/21/24 at 12:14pm

I don't think there's anything wrong with being an actors-director who is also an author-whisperer and can help shape a musical into a presentable, commercial format. 

Greif has the important distinction of helping to lead multiple shows to a Pulitzer Prize win, along with directors like Dan Sullivan, George Wolfe, Lloyd Richards, and Kate Whoriskey.

A director's job is more than just what's on stage, as we know from folks like Hal Prince and Mike Nichols and Susan Stroman who basically function as an uncredited co-bookwriter and are instrumental in shaping the shows they direct. (And to that end, pretty crazy that Nichols, Nicholaw, Tim Hately and the other original Spamalot creators aren't credited on this revival production which so "lovingly rips off" the original)

Updated On: 1/21/24 at 12:14 PM

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 1/21/24 at 11:51pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "3 is not a record. George Abbott regularly had 3 shows in the span of a year, sometimes as many as five. Also Scott Ellis (3 shows in the 2014-15 season), Jerry Zaks (3 shows between Dec 2016-Nov 2017), Kenny Leon (3 between Oct 2022-Sept 2023)."

I don't believe any of those opened 3 new musicals in the same season though. They all had some combination of plays or revivals included in those years (or in Abbott's case, there were times where he may have directed 1 or 2 and produced a 3rd in the same year, but not directing all 3).

Those others are still impressive, of course, but it's typically a much greater challenge to direct a brand new musical than it is a brand new play or revival, so it is noteworthy what Greif is doing.