The bio…

Meridith C. Grundei is a New York-based multidisciplinary director, AEA performer, and educator with over 20 years of experience on and off the stage. Her work is rooted in physical storytelling and a deep investigation of the human condition—a craft she refined while earning her MFA in Contemporary Performance from Naropa University.

As a performer, Meridith has appeared with respected companies including the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, American Conservatory Theatre, and Third Rail Projects. Her recent creative focus includes the development of Nothing Further, a multimedia solo performance exhibit investigating generational trauma and family secrets, which evolved through a residency at Culture Lab LIC.

Meridith is a passionate director and producer with a particular interest in immersive and ensemble-driven work. Her directorial credits include the award-winning BITE-SIZE: An Evening of Micro Theatre and the internationally recognized musical Normal Heights, which was named "Best International Act" at the Brighton Fringe Festival.

What sets Meridith’s perspective apart is her ability to bridge diverse improvisational forms. She integrates the high-stakes physical precision of Suzuki and Viewpoints (studied with Anne Bogart and SITI Company) with the spontaneous, relationship-driven storytelling found in her training at iO Chicago and The Second City. This fusion of disciplines allows her to create work that is both physically grounded and emotionally resonant.

Her dedication to the craft led her to faculty positions at Naropa University, The PIT, and The Second City, where she was instrumental in developing their youth program. Beyond the theater, Meridith is a successful entrepreneur and the founder of Grundei Coaching. Using her background in improvisational theater, she helps leaders at organizations like Amazon AWS, Sotheby’s, and Google and many others simplify complex information and find their authentic presence on stage.