Michael Greif
Latest News on Michael Greif:
BIO
Greif attended Northwestern University and graduated from the University of California, San Diego graduate directing program. He was the Artistic Director of the La Jolla Playhouse, LaJolla, California from 1994 to 1999.
He was an Artistic Associate at the New York Theatre Workshop where he directed, among others, Bright Lights, Big City (1998–99) and the original production of Rent for which he received the Obie Award for direction of a musical and which he later directed on Broadway.
Greif has directed several original Broadway musicals and been nominated for the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical four times. In addition to Rent, his Broadway credits include If/Then (also at the National Theatre in Washington, D.C.), Next to Normal (also at Second Stage Theatre and Arena Stage), Grey Gardens (also at Playwrights Horizons), Dear Evan Hansen (also at Arena Stage and Second Stage), and War Paint (also at the Goodman Theatre, Chicago).
In August 2023, it was announced that his Chicago Shakespeare Theater production of The Notebook would transfer to Broadway in March 2024 and in September 2023, it was announced that he would transfer his Off-Broadway production of Days of Wine and Roses to Broadway in January 2024.
Among his many directing credits Off-Broadway are Alicia Keys' autobiographical musical Hell's Kitchen, Katori Hall's Our Lady of Kibeho, John Guare's Landscape of the Body and A Few Stout Individuals at Signature Theatre, Beauty of the Father for the Manhattan Theatre Club, the 2009 Playwrights Horizons production of Mrs. Sharp (with music and lyrics by Ryan Scott Oliver and starring Jane Krakowski), and Romeo and Juliet, The Winter's Tale, and The Tempest at the New York Shakespeare Festival at the Delacorte Theater (2007, 2010, 2015).
Photos
RENT Family: Victoria Leacock, Lisa Zinni, Michael Greif, Martha Banta, Natalie Venetia Belcon, Marcus Paul James, Yassmin Alers, Fredi Walker-Browne, Schele Williams, Rodney Hicks, Maya Days, Tim Weil, Julie Larson, Destan Owens, Jeremy Kushnier, Karmine Alers and Michael McElroy
From: Photos: Museum of Broadway Hosts Special RENT Event With Tim Weil
Productions
Awards and Nominations
Michael Greif, Days of Wine and Roses
Michael Greif, Hell's Kitchen
Michael Greif, The Low Road
winner
Michael Greif, Dear Evan Hansen
Michael Greif, Dear Evan Hansen
Michael Greif, Dear Evan Hansen
Michael GreifOur Lady of Kibeho
Michael Greif, Next to Normal
Michael Greif, Grey Gardens
Michael Greif , Grey Gardens
winner
Michael Greif, Dogeaters
winner
Michael Greif, Dogeaters
Michael Greif, Dogeaters
winner
Michael Greif, Rent
Michael Greif , Rent
Videos
Video: 'I Can Hear the Stars' from BASURA at Alliance Theatre
by Joshua Wright - 2026-05-28 16:39:59
Video: Alex Lacamoire and BASURA Pay Tribute To Michael Greif On RENT 30th Anniversary
by A.A. Cristi - 2026-04-29 23:30:20
Video: Go Inside the First Rehearsal For BASURA at Alliance Theatre
by Michael Major - 2026-04-24 15:58:42
Video: Alysha Deslorieux Sings 'My Days' from THE NOTEBOOK Tour
by Joshua Wright - 2026-02-18 12:37:27
Video: Yolanda Adams Recalls First Meeting with HELL'S KITCHEN Creator Alicia Keys
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-12-23 11:21:22
Video: Ne-Yo Takes His First Bow in HELL'S KITCHEN on Broadway
by Michael Major - 2025-12-05 11:59:01
Video: Jessica Vosk Departs HELL'S KITCHEN With An Explosive 'Pawn It All'
by A.A. Cristi - 2025-12-01 21:34:50
Exclusive: Hannah Corneau Sings 'Built to Last' From 'Beautiful Little Fool' Concept Album
by Michael Major - 2025-11-28 10:00:40
Video: Yolanda Adams Says HELL'S KITCHEN Broadway Debut is a 'Bucket List' Moment
by Backstage Live with Richard Ridge - 2025-11-20 15:30:27
Video: Durrell 'Tank' Babbs and Amanda Reid Perform 'If I Ain’t Got You' From HELL'S KITCHEN
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-11-17 14:17:29
Video: THE NOTEBOOK Tour Cast Hears Orchestra For The First Time
by Joshua Wright - 2025-09-04 17:31:58
Video: Watch HELL'S KITCHEN Perform 'Girl on Fire' & 'No One' on GOOD MORNING AMERICA
by Michael Major - 2025-06-13 14:09:08
Video: Tank and Amanda Reid Perform 'If I Ain't Got You' From HELL'S KITCHEN; Deluxe Album Out Next Week
by Stephi Wild - 2025-05-16 05:37:09
Video: Watch Jessica Vosk Sing 'Love Looks Better' From HELL'S KITCHEN
by Michael Major - 2025-05-14 12:23:44
Video: Tank Discusses Broadway Debut in HELL's KITCHEN with Sherri Shepherd
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-03-11 16:47:03
Video: Behind The Scenes of the 2024 Macy's Thanksgiving Parade with Broadway’s HELL'S KITCHEN
by Blair Ingenthron - 2025-01-05 15:38:00
News
by Marissa Faith Curley - Jun 20, 2026
Performing Arts Fort Worth, the non-profit owner and operator of Bass Performance Hall, has announced a digital lottery for THE NOTEBOOK, powered by Broadway Direct.
by Joseph Harrison - Jun 20, 2026
Featuring music and lyrics by Gloria Estefan and Emily Estefan, a book by Karen Zacarías, and direction by Michael Greif, BASURA is a vibrant, uplifting new musical filled with heart, hope, and the transformative power of music.
by - Jun 18, 2026
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is June 18, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
by Michael Gioia - Jun 17, 2026
Following the new musical BASURA’s opening in Atlanta, BroadwayWorld exclusively checks in with director Michael Greif to discuss its ‘exciting’ and ‘informational’ journey.
by Joshua Wright - Jun 15, 2026
Get a first look at BASURA, the world premiere musical now running on the Coca-Cola Stage at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre, now on stage through July 12, 2026. BASURA features music and lyrics by eleven-time Grammy Award winner Gloria Estefan and her daughter, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Emily Estefan, with a book by Karen Zacarías.
by Elizabeth Cortes - Jun 13, 2026
The beloved novel-turned film remains precisely *for* the faint of heart in stage form.
by Joshua Wright - Jun 12, 2026
Get a first look at production photos from Basura, the new Gloria and Emily Estefan musical now in its world premiere at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre through July 12, 2026.
by Evan Henerson - Jun 3, 2026
As substantial as its built-in assets are, the two-time Tony Award winner, musical is lacking in other areas. Book writer Kristoffer Diaz has crafted an exciting leading character, and an even more interesting supporting player. Alas, he has also included a rather perfunctory family triangle that gums up the play’s second act
by Stephi Wild - Jun 3, 2026
Ashley Blair and Drew Reilly, alumni of The Second City, bring their experimental comedy concert MEGASQUIRT: FULLY LOADED to Underbelly Cowgate for its UK premiere, blending original songs, sketch comedy, and audience interaction rooted in queer internet culture.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 1, 2026
Tickets for Rent, the 30th Anniversary Concert sold out in minutes and a livestream option will now be available for fans around the world to tune in to the gala celebration.
by Marissa Faith Curley - May 30, 2026
AKW Entertainment and producers of the Grammy and Tony Award-winning musical HELL’S KITCHEN have announced that tickets will go on sale for the Portland engagement that premieres at the Keller Auditorium.
by Marissa Faith Curley - May 30, 2026
In an inventively accurate live puppet parody of the quintessential 90s classic about leaving your kid alone at home, a five-person ensemble works in tandem to condense the full film into a high-energy hour of theatrical ingenuity in KEVIN!!!!!
by Stephi Wild - May 29, 2026
Recent Cutbacks will return to Pleasance Courtyard at Edinburgh Fringe with FLY, YOU FOOLS!, a live parody compressing 178 minutes of iconic fantasy cinema into 60, featuring three actors and a Foley artist.
by Joshua Wright - May 28, 2026
Alliance Theatre has released a sneak peek of Zack Calderon (Nunu), Nathan Diaz (Dani), and Dario Alvarez (José) performing 'I Can Hear the Stars' from BASURA, the world premiere musical now playing through July 12, 2026 on the Coca-Cola Stage.
by Deborah Bostock-Kelley - May 28, 2026
Prepare to cry. The Notebook musical was quietly powerful, beautifully performed, emotionally shattering, and enriched by thoughtful new creative choices that deepen the story without distracting from it.
by Deborah Bostock-Kelley - May 26, 2026
Anne Tolpegin steps into two pivotal roles as The Notebook opens tonight at the Straz Center, portraying both Allie’s protective mother and the no‑nonsense Nurse Lori. “Her mother really is only looking after Allie’s best interests,” she says, while Nurse Lori is “just a very busy, very sort of can’t catch up nurse” doing her best inside a care facility where love and memory collide.
by Perry Tannenbaum - May 22, 2026
THE NOTEBOOK The Musical was a charming chamber piece when I first read Bekah Brunstetter's adaptation of Nicholas Sparks' breakout bestseller. But the touring version is now playing to bigger houses than either its original Chicago premiere or its New York engagement. With Broadway-extravaganza pretensions. Call me back when a local company decides to mount this musical at an appropriate scale.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 20, 2026
Orfeh will join Harbour Lights Theatre's summer production of Dear Evan Hansen in the role of Heidi Hansen, Evan's mother. The production is directed by Adam Pascale.
by Stephi Wild - May 19, 2026
The North American Tour of THE NOTEBOOK announced 26 new cities for its upcoming season, including stops in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, and Houston, after welcoming over 500,000 patrons since its launch.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 14, 2026
The Public Theater will kick off this summer’s Free Shakespeare in the Park season with ROMEO & JULIET, beginning performances at the newly revitalized Delacorte Theater in Central Park at the end of May.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Outstanding Direction of a Musical (Broadway or Off-Broadway) (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Days of Wine and Roses, Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Hell's Kitchen, Outstanding Director (The Lortels) for The Low Road, Best Direction of a Musical (BroadwayWorld Awards) for Dear Evan Hansen, Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Dear Evan Hansen, Outstanding Director of a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Dear Evan Hansen, Outstanding Director (The Lortels) for Our Lady of Kibeho, Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Next to Normal, Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Grey Gardens, Outstanding Director of a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Grey Gardens , Outstanding Director - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Dogeaters, Direction (Obie Awards) for Dogeaters, Outstanding Director (The Lortels) for Dogeaters, Special Citations (Obie Awards) for Rent and Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Rent.
Best Direction of a Musical (BroadwayWorld Awards) for Dear Evan Hansen; Outstanding Director - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Dogeaters; Direction (Obie Awards) for Dogeaters; and Special Citations (Obie Awards) for Rent.
