Spotlight on Meridith Crosley Grundei

Meridith C. Grundei is an award winning performer and holds an M.F.A. in Contemporary Performance from Naropa University in Boulder, CO. Prior to moving to Colorado, Meridith worked as Associate Faculty for The Second City Training Center in Chicago, IL. Currently, she owns a presentations and media training business called Red Ball Communications, is adjunct faculty at Naropa University in Boulder, CO where she teaches Improvisational Theatre, is an instructor for the Rocky Mountain Theatre Conservatory at Denver University and is a private coach to a variety of professionals who are actors and public speakers. As an actor, Meridith has performed with companies such as the American Conservatory Theatre (The Misanthrope), iO Chicago, Baby Wants Candy, Sprung Movement Theatre, The Evergreen Players (16 Wounded), square product theatre (The House of Yes), WreckingBall Theater Lab (Good Girls Don’t, But I Do), Playback Theatre West and many others.

How were you first introduced to improv comedy?

In college at Colorado State University. I was a member of the improv group, Clownbox in Ft. Collins, Colorado where we performed Keith Johnstone short-form games. Later when I moved to San Francisco, CA I was introduced to long form and performed regularly at a café on Taylor St. with a group called Adnauseum.

You studied at iO and worked for the Second City in Chicago. What did you take away from that experience?

A lot! Improvisation has taught me how to be a better actor and a better person. I have used my skills not only to help develop work but to also help others in communication and team oriented relationships. I feel that teaching improvisation to very diverse groups of people has taught me a tremendous amount about myself. Teaching is the best education I will ever get. Did I answer the question?

Both iO and the Second City inspired me in different ways. I feel fortunate to have experienced them both.

You currently teach improv in Denver and Boulder. What is the main message or theme you try to convey to your students?

That YOU are enough!

To trust yourself, to perform at the height of your intelligence, to know what your objective is and to stay present. There is more, but you should take my classes to find out...tee hee.

Oh yeah, AND have fun!

You are currently performing with Playback Theatre West. How would you describe Playback’s form?

Playback Theatre is a long form style that was developed through theatrical improvisation, story telling and psychodrama. The form itself is comprised of smaller forms called pairs, fluids, chorus and story. One member is a conduit between the audience and the players. This person is called the conductor. The conductor elicits stories from the audience that the remaining players then playback. It is an amazing community experience and I feel extremely honored to be apart of this group. It has been a very freeing experience for me to improvise in this way. I feel like it combines the funny with the truth and the sorrow that we all embody.

Last month Playback Theatre West hosted a show at the Dairy in Boulder focusing on Fourmile Canyon fire stories. How did those stories translate through improvisation?

Surprisingly, we had very little fire stories. We had many people in the audience who had been displaced because of the fire and they mostly shared their frustrations during our short form styles. One woman shared that she was in Boston for vacation and all she wanted to do was to sit down and enjoy a lobster dinner. When she received the call that she may have to evacuate she was mad. She was even more frustrated when she flew home, without her lobster dinner, to find that her house was still standing.

One of our company members was also displaced and this stirred up a lot for him.
It was amazing to have that represented in the group during the time of the performance. He could relate to the audience in a way the rest of us couldn’t.

We also raised $338.00 that night by passing the boot. We donated the funds to the local fire department.

Tell us about Hippieman’s Plan for America?

It is a sketch comedy pilot that is currently in production starring; myself, John "Hippieman" Novosad, Bill LeVasseur and Ash Albiniak. So far we have had two special guest appearances by Gary Grundei and Kristin Keating. Hippie Man is directed by Tom Parkins.

The show is very Cobert Report meets SNL, meets Kids in the Hall, meets Mr. Show etc., etc., etc. Very fun cast and group of people! I can’t wait to see the final product!

Are you currently working on any other projects?

Currently, I am directing Paul Sills’ Story Theatre for the Evergreen Players in Evergreen, CO and I am working on a show called Songs of Meat and Cake with square product theatre in Boulder. Songs of Meat and Cake opens at the end of October and Story Theatre opens in January.