Michael Greif
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.
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
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Michael Greif
Connection
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 Greif, Our 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: Alicia Keys Surprises Audiences at HELL'S KITCHEN Opening in San Diego
by Stephi Wild - 2026-08-12 05:40:12
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
News
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 8, 2026
HELL'S KITCHEN, the musical from 17-time Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys, has revealed new cast members for the second year of the North American tour. The tour will welcome its new cast members beginning in Toronto, Ontario.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 6, 2026
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS revealed that the Gates Foundation will match donations received from every livestream ticket purchase for Rent, the 30th Anniversary Concert, up to $525,600.
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 5, 2026
Tickets for Alicia Keys' Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical HELL'S KITCHEN will go on sale for its Dallas premiere at the Music Hall at Fair Park, with prices starting at $45.
by Greg Kerestan - Oct 2, 2026
It's almost a rite of passage that every theatre kid goes through a loving RENT phase and a hating RENT phase. The memes of 'Benny is a hero, the Bohemians are trash' have circulated for years, and I won't deny there are little grains of truth in there; this IS after all a show where killing rich people's pets is treated as effective praxis and a good prank.
by Stephi Wild - Sep 29, 2026
Beat Street, the Broadway-bound musical based on the 1984 film, has assembled its principal creative team, joining the previously announced GRAMMY Award-winner Nas.
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 22, 2026
Alicia Keys' Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical HELL'S KITCHEN will make its Austin premiere at Bass Concert Hall. Tickets go on sale Sept. 25.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 22, 2026
Twelve original cast members and three decades of alumni will light up Broadway at Rent, the 30th Anniversary Concert, a benefit performance in celebration of the landmark Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical.
by Stephi Wild - Sep 21, 2026
All new production photos have been released from the second year of THE NOTEBOOK North American Tour, ahead of the tour’s opening at the Fisher Theatre in Detroit, MI. Check out the photos here!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 15, 2026
Single tickets for THE NOTEBOOK, a new musical based on the best-selling novel that inspired the iconic film, will go on sale to the general public. THE NOTEBOOK will make its Houston premiere for a limited one-week engagement at the Hobby Center.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 15, 2026
Broadway Grand Rapids will launch a $30 rush ticket offer for educators and students to see Alicia Keys' Hell's Kitchen, providing discounted access to the musical's engagement in Grand Rapids.
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 2, 2026
THE NOTEBOOK musical will play Cobb Great Hall as part of the Broadway Series at Wharton Center, bringing the story of Allie and Noah to East Lansing for a limited engagement.
by Stephi Wild - Aug 31, 2026
Tickets are now available for HELL'S KITCHEN, Alicia Keys' Tony- and Grammy-winning musical, running November 3-8 at West Herr Auditorium Theatre in Rochester as part of RBTL's 2026-2027 Broadway season.
by Stephi Wild - Aug 31, 2026
New casting has been announced for the second year of the North American Tour of THE NOTEBOOK, including John Rubinstein, Angela Birchett, Makena Jackson, and more.
by Stephi Wild - Aug 24, 2026
Tickets went on sale for HELL'S KITCHEN, Alicia Keys' Tony and Grammy-winning musical, for a limited engagement at Shea's Buffalo Theatre as part of the venue's Broadway season.
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 21, 2026
The Tony and Grammy-winning musical featuring the music of Alicia Keys will make its Columbus debut with eight performances at the Ohio Theatre. Tickets start at $41.78 and go on sale Friday, August 21 at 10 a.m.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 21, 2026
The North American Tour of HELL'S KITCHEN, the Broadway musical from 17-time Grammy Award winner, Alicia Keys, will premiere in Hartford at The Bushnell.
by Michael Gioia - Aug 22, 2026
Thirty years since 'Rent' premiered on Broadway, Adam Pascal still worries about flubbing the lyrics to 'One Song Glory.' At The Festival, he also recalled going 'completely blank' and forgetting some of the song while on live TV.
by Zach Wetzel - Aug 20, 2026
The songs by Alicia Keys are catchy, the dancing is electric, and the pacing is fast.
by Aidan O'Connor - Aug 20, 2026
The Notebook at The National Theatre remarkably utilizes Allie & Noah’s lifelong love as an emotional smokescreen for the underlying calamity, time. Guided by a sweeping score, the beloved story is somehow even more impactful in musical form.
by Stephi Wild - Aug 12, 2026
Alicia Keys' HELL’S KITCHEN recently opened at the San Diego Civic Theatre. In a surprise to the audience members in attendance, Keys took the stage following the show and gave a post-show speech. Check out the video here
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.
