Minnesota theater icon Michael Brindisi, a Broadway actor-turned-director-turned-theater owner, died Wednesday at his home in Chanhassen after a brief illness.
Brindisi served as artistic director and co-owner of Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, the nation’s largest theater of its kind and a company he helped save by joining a group that purchased it in 2010.
“Michael has been under the weather for the last couple of days, but this is a total shock,” said theater spokesperson Kris Howland.
Brindisi, 76, was finishing rehearsals this week of a new revival of “Grease,” which is slated to open Friday.
The show had deep meaning for him.
In 1977, he went on a 56-week national tour with “Grease” as an understudy for four parts. That engagement would lead to his Broadway debut in “Once in a Lifetime,” where he acted with John Lithgow and Treat Williams and shared a dressing room with legendary director Jerry Zaks.
“Grease” will open at CDT as planned Friday, Howland said.
“He would have not had it any other way. Michael was our inspiration, our mentor, our role model, our everything.”