Michael McGrinder is a veteran of Off-Off-Broadway’s early years, having worked primarily at The Old Reliable Theatre Tavern in New York’s Alphabet City on East 3rd Street between Aves B & C. As a popular actor-director, Neil Flanagan, once said, “It’s easy to find. Just turn left at the burning automobile.” And playwright-actor Jeanine O’Reilly: “No wonder we get such good crowds. Everyone’s afraid to come here alone.”
McGrinder’s one-act play, The Foreigners, was cited by Other Stages as “One of Off-Off’s Best”. His work has also been seen at La MaMa, Miranda, The Playwrights Workshop Club, Bastiano’s Cellar, Gallery Players, Boston Conservatory, and in Fragments—the walking tour of the East Village (Peculiar Works Project). His No Sale toured correctional institutions under the aegis of Theatre for the Forgotten with Terrence McNally’s Next. He was, with Stanley Nelson, editor-publisher of Proscenium: The Theatre Newsletter. They were also co-hosts of an early cable public access show, called Proscenium, later when Nelson resigned called, Michael McGrinder Presents.
He is Publisher/Editor of The Old Reliable Press, which clearly takes its name from and honors his favorite theatrical venue. He is better known as a poet in England where he lived for several years prior to the Off-Off experience.
Awards include: The Scene Playwright’s Award, Writers Forum Poetry Competition (London), and a USAF Short Story Award judged by Agatha Christie; part of the award included having dinner with that grand dame.
Michael McGrinder 
Leave a comment