Broadway Biz with Hal Luftig

What a thrill to welcome Cyndi Lauper to the podcast for its first season finale! In their illuminating conversation, Cyndi and Hal speak about her very personal process writing "Not My Father's Son” for Kinky Boots and the importance of her glass ceiling-breaking Tony win for Best Original Score. Cyndi reflects on the roles of women in her family and their influence in shaping her idea of womanhood. Finally, Cyndi shares the creative freedom she feels while writing for Broadway and the importance of recognizing each of our own authentic selves. Cyndi Lauper is a groundbreaking Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award-winning songwriter and performing artist with global record sales in excess of 50 million. Her iconic voice, influential punk glamour, and infectious live shows have catapulted her to stardom. Lauper won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist with her first album, She's So Unusual, and became the first woman in history to have four top-five singles from a debut album. Since then, Lauper has released ten additional studio albums, yielding timeless classics like “Time After Time” and “True Colors,” and the anthemic “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.” She’s been nominated for 15 Grammy Awards, two American Music Awards, seven American Video Awards, and 18 MTV Awards. In 2013, Cyndi Lauper became the first solo woman to win Best Original Score (music and lyrics) for Kinky Boots. She contributed a Tony-nominated song to the score of the Broadway musical SpongeBob SquarePants and is currently writing the score for the Broadway adaptation of the 1988 feature film Working Girl. A pillar of female success, Lauper was inducted to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015, released a New York Times best-selling memoir, and continues to collect impressive accolades across the music industry and beyond. In 2018, Lauper designed and launched a sold-out Home Decor Collection with Grandin Road and added a guest starring role on CBS’ hit TV show Magnum PI to her acting resume. She closed out 2018 by receiving the “Icon Award” from Billboard at its 13th annual Women In Music event and brought down the house with a rousing tribute to Cher at Kennedy Center Honors. In addition, Lauper is tireless in her advocacy work. She has been an activist since day one, always fighting for the underdog - especially women, people living with HIV/AIDS, and LGBTQ people. Her commitment runs so deep that she started her own charity, the True Colors United in 2008 to bring an end to homelessness amongst LGBTQ youth, who make up to 40% of the youth homelessness population. Over the past 10 years, the True Colors United has had an indelible impact on ending youth homelessness in America. From playing a lead role in securing $167.5 million in new annual federal funding from Congress to invest in 46 communities across the country, which Cyndi powerfully testified in support of in the U.S. Senate, to training close to 2,000 homeless youth service providers for free over the past year to inclusively work with LGBTQ youth, Cyndi and the True Colors United are fundamentally changing how the country is working to prevent and end youth homelessness for the 4.2 million youth who experience it each year. Follow Cyndi on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram @CyndiLauper and stay informed on the advocacy of True Colors United on Facebook, Twitter (@TrueColorsUnite), and Instagram (@TrueColorsUnited). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What an honor to spend some time in conversation with legendary costume designer, Jane Greenwood! Jane and Hal spoke about how she approaches the same show twice, the ethos for design she imparts on her students, and how American theatre has changed over her nearly sixty years in the industry. Jane Greenwood has been designing on Broadway for more than fifty years. Originally from Liverpool, England, Ms. Greenwood was educated at the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London. She began her career at the Oxford Playhouse. She has designed for theater, opera, dance, film and television, including 130 productions for Broadway since The Ballad of The Sad Café in 1963. Recent Broadway credits include Long Day’s Journey into Night, Bright Star, Act One, You Can’t Take It With You, and A View From The Bridge. Her Off-Broadway credits include Belle Epoque, A Man of No Importance, Burn This, House/Garden, Vita and Virginia andThe Lisbon Traviata. Films include Arthur, Glengarry Glen Ross, Oleanna and the cult classic Can’t Stop the Music. She has designed over a dozen productions at the American Shakespeare Festival Theater in Stratford, CT, The Public Theater, and Shakespeare in the Park. Ms. Greenwood has also done extensive work at the Metropolitan Opera, Center Theatre Group, The Guthrie Theater, the Shakespeare Theatre Company, Playwrights Horizons, The Dallas Opera, the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Opera Theatre of St. Louis. Her awards include 21 Tony nominations (winning for Little Foxes), a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, the Irene Sharaff Lifetime Achievement Award, the Maharam/Henry Hewes Design Award for Tartuffe and Sylvia, the Lucille Lortel Award for Sylvia and Old Money, and the Helen Hayes Lifetime Achievement Award. Ms. Greenwood was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2003. She has also served as a Professor of Design at Yale School of Drama since 1976. Jane’s next design for Broadway, a revival of Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite, is due to open early 2022. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Such an illuminating conversation with David Rockwell today. David shared with Hal the importance of community theater in his childhood, his approach to designing the factory space for Kinky Boots, and why he thinks theater is miraculous. David Rockwell, FAIA, is the founder and President of Rockwell Group, an interdisciplinary architecture and design firm based in New York, with satellite offices in Los Angeles and Madrid, that merges theater, performance and architecture to create extraordinary experiences and built environments across the globe. Notable projects include the Hayes Theater (New York); Union Square Cafe and Daily Provisions (New York); TED Theater (Vancouver, BC); the headquarters for Warner Music Group (Los Angeles); Nobu restaurants and hotels worldwide(including Nobu Downtown and Nobu Hotel Barcelona); The Shed (Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Lead Architect and Rockwell Group, Collaborating Architect); Equinox Hotel (New York); Moxy hotels (Times Square, Chelsea, East Village and South Beach); and set designs for more than 60 productions, including Kiss Me Kate, Tootsie, She Loves Me, Kinky Boots, and Hairspray. Honors include a Tony Award for Best Scenic Design for She Loves Me; the 2015 AIANY President’s Award; the 2008 National Design Award from the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum for outstanding achievement in Interior Design; the 2009 Pratt Legends Award; and the Presidential Design Award. To see David’s latest projects, visit RockwellGroup.com or follow them on Instagram @RockwellGroup. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What a full, and at times bittersweet, conversation with Jenny Steingart today about her life in the arts. Jenny spoke about how her mentor, the late Margo Lion, paved the way for her in producing, what most nourishes her about the arts, and the poignant inspiration behind her founding Arts Nova. Jenny produces theater, film, and television. Recent productions include Freestyle Love Supreme on Broadway, a limited engagement of Sir Patrick Stewart's A Christmas Carol, Tina Fey’s Mean Girls, Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish and Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 starring Josh Groban. She most recently produced the documentary We Are Freestyle Love Supreme, which premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, and is now available on Hulu. Jenny produced the cult film Black Dynamite and the subsequent animated television series on Adult Swim, and is the co-founding partner of the Japanese animation studio Ultra Super Pictures (Trigger, Sanzigen, Ordet and Liden Films). She is a partner in FLS Academy, a music, improvisation and rap school founded by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tommy Kail and Anthony Veneziale. Jenny is also the co-founder of Ars Nova, New York City’s premier theater for emerging artists and new work. For 18 years, Ars Nova has launched the careers of such artists as Beau Willimon (House of Cards), Liz Meriwether (New Girl), Billy Eichner, Tommy Kail (Hamilton), Alex Timbers (Moulin Rouge!) along with Pulitzer Prize winners Annie Baker and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Visit ArsNovaNYC or follow Ars Nova on Instagram @ArsNovaNYC for the latest and greatest artists on the rise. Be sure to keep up with Jenny on Instagram @JennySteingart. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Such a pleasure to sit down with Nick Salmon, who has had an incredible career in theatrical producing and managing. Hal and Nick discuss touring in the UK versus in the US, subscription models, mentoring the next generation of producers. Although Nick’s interest in theatre dates back to his school days, he learned the West End business during his time as a theatrical agent. He also worked on several films including The Go Between and The Railway Children, before returning to theatre. During his career he has managed and produced for HM Tennent, Churchill Theatre Bromley and Theatre of Comedy at the Shaftsbury Theatre, as well as producing in his own right in the West End and on tour – over eighty productions in total. Whilst at Act Productions, he programmed their nine West End theatres and set up their production company, which he ran as Executive Producer until launching Playful Productions with Matthew and Nia. For over twenty years he was Chief Executive of Stage One, a registered charity supporting new UK theatre producers. He has served on several theatre boards including the Board of The Society of London Theatre, of which he was president for three years, and currently is on the League of Independent Producers board. Check out what’s playing next on www.playfuluk.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So wonderful to catch up with Dede Ayite, who made her Broadway debut in the 2018 revival of Children of a Lesser God. On the podcast today, Dede and Hal explore how to use design to construct character, how she imparts the value of transformation on her students, and the creative benefit of embracing failure. Dede Ayite is a two time tony nominated costume designer whose Broadway credits include A Soldier’s Play, Slave Play, American Son, and Children of a Lesser God. Select Off-Broadway credits include Secret Life of Bees, Marie and Rosetta, (Atlantic); By The Way, Meet Vera Stark, (Signature); BLKS, School Girls… (MCC); Bella: An American Tall Tale (Playwrights Horizons); The Royale (Lincoln Center); Toni Stone (Roundabout). Regionally, Ayite’s work has appeared at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Steppenwolf, Arena Stage and more. She has worked in television with Netflix, Comedy Central, and FOX Shortcoms. Ayite earned her MFA at the Yale School of Drama and has received an Obie, Lucille Lortel, Helen Hayes, Theatre Bay Area, and Jeff Awards, along with four Drama Desk Nominations. To catch a glimpse of what she's dreaming up next, follow Dede on Instagram @DedeAyiteDesign. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s conversation with friend and collaborator Nick Scandalios is incredibly informative. As a theatre owner and producer, Nick’s expansive understanding of what it takes to put on a show on Broadway and beyond is so valuable. He and Hal talk the history of the Nederlander Organization, Nick’s approach to touring, and what makes the theatre industry so unique. Nick is the Executive Vice President of the Nederlander Organization, one of the largest owners of legitimate theatres in the world, as well as one of the largest theatrical producing organizations in North America. He is the recipient of the 2018 Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award. He is also a past Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Broadway League, and past chair of the Board of Family Equality. He also serves on the Board of Trustees for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Nederlander owns or operates theatres in New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA; Chicago, IL; San Diego, CA; San Jose, CA; Tucson, AZ; North Charleston, SC; Durham, NC; Oklahoma City, OK; Greensboro, NC and London, England.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was an absolute delight to speak with Annaleigh Ashford today on how she constructs a character, her advice for auditioning, and her favorite memories of performing in Legally Blonde. Annaleigh Ashford is a Tony Award-winning actress for theatre, film, and television. Her Broadway credits include: Sunday in the Park With George, You Can’t Take It With You (Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, and Outer Critics Circle Award), Sylvia, Kinky Boots (Clarence Derwent Award, Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle nominations), Wicked, Hair, Legally Blonde the Musical. Off Broadway: Sunday in the Park with George (Encores!), Midsummer Night’s Dream (The Public Theatre’s Shakespeare in the Park), Rent (New World Stages), Dogfight (Second Stage). Betty on Showtime’s critically acclaimed Masters of Sex. Other TV/Film: Bad Education, Unbelievable, Younger, Late Night, Annaleigh Ashford Live from Lincoln Center, American Crime Story: Versace, Second Act, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Law & Order SVU, Smash, Unicorn Store, Sex and the City, Better Off Single, Top Five, Rachel Getting Married, Frozen. Upcoming for Annaleigh: B Positive (CBS); American Crime Story: Impeached. To catch Annaleigh in her latest role, follow her on Instagram @AnnaleighAshford. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What an incredible opportunity to speak to Brooke Ishibashi this week and learn about the historic arts advocacy of Be An Arts Hero. The intersectional grassroots campaign champions proportionate relief to the Arts & Culture sector of the American economy. Brooke, the Co-founder and Director of Talent Outreach and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for BAAH, shared the mission, inspiration, and successes for this essential organization born out of the pandemic. A fourth-generation Japanese American, Brooke hails from a showbiz family. As a professional actor/singer, she originated/developed the role of “Neary” in Cambodian Rock Band and is passionate about exploring anti-racism, social justice, and trans-generational trauma. Brooke has clowned with Taylor Mac at The Public, been plucked by DJ Nash and Pam Fryman to star in an NBC comedy, crashed American Idol as sketch character “AKIKO!” and performed at La Jolla Playhouse, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Geffen Playhouse, Joe’s Pub & many more. Brooke is a core member of Fair Wage Onstage and National Councilor for Actors’ Equity Association. Brooke has a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. To become an advocate for the arts, visit BeanArtsHero.com to take action. You can follow and participate in the latest campaigns on Facebook (Be an Arts Hero), Twitter (@BeAnArtsHero), and Instagram (@BeAnArtsHero). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Such a moving conversation with Lonny Price, actor and director, on the podcast this week. Lonny spoke about his life in the theatre beginning in legendary producer Hal Prince’s office, acting in Stephen Sondheim’s “Merrily We Roll Along,” transitioning to directing, and even revealing moments and memories he hasn’t shared before. In the fall of 2019, Lonny directed the world premiere of the Mitnick/Gwon collaboration, SCOTLAND PA., for the Roundabout Theatre (produced in association with Hal Luftig). On Broadway, he directed Sunset Boulevard, (starring Glenn Close) Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill, (Starring Audra McDonald) 110 in the Shade, 'Master Harold'... and the Boys, (starring Danny Glover) Sally Marr and Her Escorts (co-written with Joan Rivers and Erin Sanders), Urban Cowboy, and A Class Act (Tony Award nominated book co-written with Linda Kline). West End credits include Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill at the Wyndham’s, as well as Carousel, Sunset Boulevard, Sweeney Todd, and Man of La Mancha, all for the English National Opera. Film and television credits include his film version of the New York Philharmonic’s Sweeney Todd (Emma Thompson and Bryn Terfel), and Company, (Neil Patrick Harris, Stephen Colbert, etc). He also directed the stage and filmed versions of his tribute to Stephen Sondheim, Sondheim: The Birthday Concert! (Emmy Award). Other Philharmonic collaborations include the “Live From Lincoln Center” broadcast of Camelot, Candide, Sweeney Todd (George Hearn and Patti LuPone, Emmy Award), and Sondheim’s Passion (Emmy Award). Additional television credits include Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill for HBO, as well as episodes of “2 Broke Girls,” “Desperate Housewives,” and the upcoming ‘Plan Z.' For his first feature, ‘Master Harold’ ... and the Boys, he received a Best Director Award from the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival. His documentary, Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened premiered at the New York Film Festival and was named one of New York Times’ Top 10 Films of 2016, and his other documentary Hal Prince: The Director’s Life (PBS) was released to critical acclaim as well. With Hal, Lonny has two projects in development, a musical adaptation of the cult-classic film, Scotland, PA, and a new play. Stay tuned for news of these projects as they further develop! For all things Broadway Biz, visit our Instagram @BroadwayBizPodcast or our website broadwaybizpodcast.com. Have a question for Hal or a topic you'd like him to explore? Send Hal an email at broadwaybiz@halluftig.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Such a treat to speak with Nell and Larry, the hilarious duo behind Legally Blonde, the Musical. We spoke about identifying a musical moment, the creative benefits of going away to “Camp Blonde”, and of which Legally Blonde moment they’re most proud. Nell Benjamin is a Laurence Olivier-winning and Tony-nominated composer and lyricist. For Broadway, with Larry, Nell wrote Legally Blonde: The Musical. Also for Broadway, Mean Girls. Off-Broadway, Nell’s credits include: The Explorers Club; Dave The Musical; Because of Winn Dixie; and Half Time. In development: Huzzah!; Life of the Party. Nell is also working on an original musical movie for Universal and three new animated films for Netflix. Larry O’Keefe is a Laurence Olivier and Lucille Lortel Award-winning composer and lyricist for Broadway musicals, film, and television. His credits include: Bat Boy: The Musical; Legally Blonde: The Musical; Heathers: The Musical; and Sarah Plain & Tall. In development, with Nell, are Life of the Party and Huzzah! To follow their projects in development, follow Larry on Twitter @LarryisOKeefe. For all things Broadway Biz, visit our Instagram @BroadwayBizPodcast or our website broadwaybizpodcast.com. Have a question for Hal or a topic you'd like him to explore? Send Hal an email at broadwaybiz@halluftig.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What a joy to sit down with Kate Maguire this week. As the CEO and Artistic Director of the Berkshire Theatre Group, Kate lends incredible insight to the importance of developing new work and how to balance the artistic and financial needs of any production. Kate and Hal also share their magical first memories in the theatre. Kate Maguire is Artistic Director and CEO of Berkshire Theatre Group (BTG). In 2010, she oversaw the merger of two historic organizations: Berkshire Theatre Festival in Stockbridge, where Kate began in 1995, and The Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, culminating in the creation of Berkshire Theatre Group. She is passionate in her belief that the arts open doorways to growth, that the experience of watching theatre, hearing music, seeing dance or visual art helps us all to understand the mystery of the human heart and ultimately transforms a community. In July 2020, Kate collaborated with Actor's Equity Association (AEA), state/local legislatures and healthcare leaders to earn Berkshire Theatre Group approval from AEA to produce the first musical in the United States (Godspell) followed by an outdoor production in December of Truman Capote’s Holiday Memories in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. To keep up with theatre in the Berkshires, visit https://www.berkshiretheatregroup.org/. For all things Broadway Biz, visit our Instagram @BroadwayBizPodcast or our website broadwaybizpodcast.com. Have a question for Hal or a topic you'd like him to explore? Send Hal an email at broadwaybiz@halluftig.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What a detailed conversation today with Stephen Lindsay and Brett Sirota, co-founders of The Road Company. Stephen and Brett lay the groundwork for building and planning a tour and map out their own journeys to becoming bookers. This is an essential conversation for understanding how producing extends beyond Broadway. Stephen has enjoyed over two decades of distributing, producing and presenting touring productions throughout North America. As the co-owner and primary sales agent at The Road Company, he directly books all First National tours and oversees the company’s touring product, including shows such as Wicked, Kinky Boots, Catch Me If You Can and Moulin Rouge. Stephen has also successfully booked family attractions, one-person shows, symphony orchestras, and world-class magic into venues around the world. Brett oversees all operational aspects of The Road Company, including finances, technology and legal matters. Brett has more than 20 years of experience in theatrical booking, plus additional background in company and general management as well as arts administration. He is also a retired attorney. Brett hails from Baltimore, MD and is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. To keep up with what’s on the road, visit www.theroadcompany.com. For all things Broadway Biz, visit our Instagram @BroadwayBizPodcast or our website broadwaybizpodcast.com. Have a question for Hal or a topic you'd like him to explore? Send Hal an email at broadwaybiz@halluftig.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What an incredible conversation with Korean Producer Yoonha Choi! As head of international producing operations for CJ ENM’s performing arts department, Yoonha has overseen a Korean production of Kinky Boots, which successfully ran during the COVID pandemic. Yoonha also shares how Kinky’s popularity has impacted the musical theatre genre in Korea, what most inspires him to take across oceans, and his biggest hope for the business side of Broadway. CJ ENM is Korea’s leading entertainment company in theatre (Moulin Rouge, Kinky Boots), media and television (Mr. Sunshine, Sweet Home), films (Parasite, The Handmaiden), music (K-Con) and animation (The Haunted House).  Yoonha’s main role is to produce CJ ENM’s theatrical productions on Broadway and the US as well as the West End and the UK. Other roles include acquiring shows for the Korean and Asian market. Main credits include Moulin Rouge, Kinky Boots, Back to the Future, Big Fish, Side Show, The Bodyguard and 42nd Street. Yoonha is based in New York City and is a member of the Broadway League. For all things Broadway Biz, visit our Instagram @BroadwayBizPodcast or our website broadwaybizpodcast.com. Have a question for Hal or a topic you'd like him to explore? Send Hal an email at broadwaybiz@halluftig.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was such a treat to sit down with Jeffrey Finn, the Vice President of Theater Producing and Programming at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. As the curator, commissioner, producer and presenter of all aspects of the theater for the "Cadillac" of institutions, he opened a Pandora's box of questions sharing his keen insight on how he communicates with this subscribers and what he's done to adapt their programming during an uncertain time. You'll see why I'm such a fan of Jeffrey, and the iconic Kennedy Center, when you listen in! Jeffrey is an award-winning Broadway producer and a five-time Tony Award nominee. At the Kennedy Center Jeffrey created and produces the Broadway Center Stage series with a mission to showcase popular musicals produced exclusively for DC audiences with stars and the talent direct from Broadway. He is a lecturer on strategic fundraising, investor relations, and developing new works for the stage. Jeffrey received the 2013 Robert Whitehead Award for Outstanding Achievement in commercial theatre producing. Current and upcoming productions on Broadway include Ain’t Too Proud - The Life and Times of The Temptations, Company, and Plaza Suite. His Broadway credits include the recent revival of Sunday in the Park with George starring Jake Gyllenhaal; Hughie; An Act of God starring Jim Parsons and (subsequently) Sean Hayes; The Elephant Man starring Bradley Cooper; The Realistic Joneses; I’ll Eat You Last starring Bette Midler; Dead Accounts; Seminar starring Alan Rickman; Scandalous; American Idiot; A View From The Bridge; Oleanna; Blithe Spirit starring Angela Lansbury; and On Golden Pond starring James Earl Jones. London: The Elephant Man starring Bradley Cooper. National Tour highlights include The Music Of Andrew Lloyd Webber; The Who’s Tommy; Leader Of The Pack; Tell Me On A Sunday; Company; Chess; and numerous Broadway Songbooks concert tours. Follow Jeffrey on Twitter @JeffreyFinn and keep up with the Kennedy Center @KenCen. For all things Broadway Biz, visit our Instagram @BroadwayBizPodcast or our website broadwaybizpodcast.com. Have a question for Hal or a topic you'd like him to explore? Send Hal an email at broadwaybiz@halluftig.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Colleen Jennings-Roggensack, arts leader and visionary, is Vice President for Cultural Affairs for Arizona State University and Executive Director of ASU Gammage. In this inspiring and warm conversation, Colleen speaks with Hal about the safety measures she’s implementing for ASU’s audiences, the educational and outreach programs she is championing for children and families, and the thing she’s most hoping will change about the theatre in her lifetime. Colleen has artistic, fiscal and administrative responsibility for the historic Frank Lloyd Wright designed ASU Gammage, ASU Kerr Cultural Center, with responsibility for Sun Devil Stadium and Desert Financial Arena for non-athletic activities. She oversees the activation and transformation of Sun Devil Stadium into a year-round hub of cultural activity as ASU 365 Community Union. Colleen was also appointed by ASU President Michael Crow to co-lead the Advisory Council on African American Affairs. The council will enhance diversity, growth and opportunity for Black undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff. She serves on The Broadway League's Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee, Government Relations Committee, the Executive Committee and the Board of Governors, Labor Committee and co-chairs the Legislative Council and Road Presenters/Intra-Industry Committee and is Arizona's only Tony voter. Colleen is a founding and current member of the Creative Capital Board and Senior Advisor to Women of Color in the Arts, former Association of Performing Arts Professionals board president, served on the National Council on the Arts at the bequest of President Clinton and is a Life Director of the Fiesta Bowl. She is a consultant to universities, international governments and a featured speaker at conferences. In 2020, she has served on multiple panels addressing human rights, justice, diversity, equity and inclusion and the future of Broadway; including interviews with W. Kamau Bell and Tony Award director Kenny Leon related to the pandemic of racism; and participated in the TheaterMakers Summit on getting Broadway touring productions back on the road. Colleen is the recipient of numerous awards including the 2020 National Coalition of 100 Black Women Education Legend, 2019 Valley Leadership Woman of the Year, 2019 ASU West Pioneer Award, National Society of Arts and Letters Medallion of Merit, Valle del Sol’s Mom of the Year, APAP Fan Taylor Award, Black Philanthropy Initiative Honor, The Broadway League's Outstanding Achievement in Presenter Management and Arizona's Governor’s Arts Award. In 2012, The Arizona Republic recognized Colleen for Arizona’s 100th Anniversary as one of the individuals who had the greatest impact in the era. Follow Colleen on Instagram @CJRoggensack. Look out for ASU’s upcoming season of performances at https://www.asugammage.com/. For all things Broadway Biz, visit our Instagram @BroadwayBizPodcast or our website broadwaybizpodcast.com. Have a question for Hal or a topic you'd like him to explore? Send Hal an email at broadwaybiz@halluftig.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Victoria Bailey, Executive Director of the Theatre Development Fund (TDF), speaks with Hal about making the arts welcoming for all audiences. She and Hal discuss the beauty of a child’s first visit to Broadway, how producers can support contemporary American playwrights, and the healing power of storytelling. Victoria Bailey has been the executive director of TDF since 2001. The not-for-profit organization is dedicated to bringing the performing arts to everyone. TDF sustains live theatre and dance by engaging and cultivating a broad and diverse audience and eliminating barriers to attendance and envisions a world where the transformative experience of attending live theatre and dance is essential, relevant, accessible, and inspirational. TDF fulfills its mission by expanding access through ticketing, accessibility, and information initiatives; by cultivating communities through school and community engagement programs and by supporting theatre makers through training, professional development programs, and national audience research.  Highlights of Ms. Bailey’s tenure included playing a key role in the construction of the award winning new TKTS booth at Duffy Square, expansion of TDF’s award winning education programs, and the introduction of sensory friendly Broadway performances. Ms. Bailey recently completed a national research project in co-partnership with Brad Erickson from Theatre Bay Area titled Triple Play, examining ways to strengthen the relationship between playwrights, theatres, and audiences as a means to increase audience appetite for new and risky work. Previously, she was instrumental in the execution of a comprehensive study of the lives of American playwrights and the production of new American Plays. The study culminated in Outrageous Fortune: The Life and Times of the New American Play. Prior to her appointment at TDF, she had a nearly 20-year association with Manhattan Theatre Club. Ms. Bailey is Theatre Management and Producing Advisor and Adjunct Professor at the School of the Arts at Columbia University, and a member of the board at the Times Square Alliance. She recently completed a three-year term on the Tony Awards Nominating Committee. Ms. Bailey received a B.A. in history from Yale College. TDF is the only not-for profit organization dedicated to serving the entire spectrum of the performing arts with programs that touch the lives of millions of New Yorkers and visitors each year. Learn more about TDF’s programs and outreach at tdf.org or on Instagram @tdfnyc. For all things Broadway Biz, visit our Instagram @BroadwayBizPodcast or our website broadwaybizpodcast.com. Have a question for Hal or a topic you'd like him to explore? Send Hal an email at broadwaybiz@halluftig.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Isaacson, artistic director and executive producer of the iconic MUNY in St. Louis, shares his producing philosophy. From his beginnings as a theatre critic to the Broadway stage, Mike chats with Hal about his key to success, the importance of giving young artists command of the stage, and what it means to be part of St. Louis’ summer ritual. Mike Isaacson is in his ninth season, and he is only the third person to hold this position in The Muny’s 101-year history. To date, he has produced 56 Muny shows, 23 of which had never been produced at The Muny before including Dreamgirls, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jersey Boys, Kinky Boots and Matilda. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch named him “Theatre Artist of the Year,” noting that by “staging one impressive production after another, he made The Muny simultaneously hip and – believe it – important to our community.” During its record-breaking 100th season, The Muny became the first theatre in the world to produce the legendary Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, doing unprecedented archival work on both the artistic and the business side to make it happen. With Kristin Caskey, Isaacson has produced more than 23 Broadway musicals and plays, national tours, and off-Broadway and London productions. All told, his productions have received more than 122 Tony Award nominations and 34 Tony Awards. Most recently on Broadway, he and Caskey produced the highly acclaimed David Byrne’s American Utopia; opening this fall at The Hudson Theatre will be their production of Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite, starring Mathew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker. Spring of 2019, the duo co-produced the Tony-nominated Lanford Wilson’s Burn This, starring Adam Driver and Kerri Russell. Other career highlights for Isaacson include: Fun Home (2015 Tony Award, Best Musical; 2018 Olivier Award nominee, Best Musical); Legally Blonde the Musical (2011 Olivier Award, Best Musical); Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002 Tony Award, Best Musical); Red (2010 Tony Award, Best Play); The Humans (2016 Tony Award, Best Play); If/Then, starring Idina Menzel; Bring It On: The Musical (2013 Tony nomination for Best Musical); A Doll’s House 2 (2017 Tony nomination for Best Play); You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (1999 Tony nomination for Best Revival of a Musical); The Seagull; Caroline, or Change; One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (2001 Tony Award, Best Revival of a Play); and Death of a Salesman (1999 Tony Award, Best Revival of a Play). For the Independent Presenters Network, Isaacson served as producer for the Broadway shows Spamalot (2005 Tony Award, Best Musical), Ragtime (revival), and The Color Purple. He has received the St. Louis Arts and Education Council’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, and in 2018, he was awarded The Broadway League’s and Theatre Development Fund’s Commercial Theater Institute “Robert Whitehead” Award for excellence in producing. He has served on the board of governors and executive committee of The Broadway League and received the Samuel J. L’Hommedieu Award. In 2016 he received the Equality Award from the St. Louis Chapter of Human Rights Campaign.  To see the latest news on the MUNY, visit MUNY.org. Follow America’s oldest and largest outdoor musical theatre on instagram @TheMuny. For all things Broadway Biz, visit our Instagram @BroadwayBizPodcast or our website broadwaybizpodcast.com. Have a question for Hal or a topic you'd like him to explore? Send Hal an email at broadwaybiz@halluftig.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Broadway Biz, Hal welcomes Sandy Block to the podcast. Sandy is one of the best marking minds in the business, and shares his knowledge on how to identify a show's personality, what kind of artwork catches his attention, and the lessons he and Hal have learned from each other. Sandy Block is Communications Strategist at New York’s Roundabout Theatre Company. In addition, in recent seasons, he served as associate producer and marketing director for Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish at Stage 42 and the 2018 Broadway revival of Children of a Lesser God and as a consultant on Groundhog Day, The Musical. From 2012–16, Sandy served as Producer & Vice President/Theater at Scott Sanders Productions, whose projects included the development of such new musicals as Houdini, Tootsie, Up Here, as well as the Broadway production of After Midnight and the revival of The Color Purple, for which he won the 2016 Tony Award. Prior to that, he served as Chief Creative Officer at the ad agency Serino Coyne; in his 25 years there, he developed campaigns for hundreds of Broadway shows, including Jersey Boys, The Producers, The Lion King, Aida, Les Misérables, The Addams Family, Hairspray, and two productions each of How To Succeed, Into the Woods, and 42nd Street. Before Serino Coyne, Sandy created marketing programs for Tinactin athlete's foot powder, Afrin nasal spray, and Melitta coffeemakers, all at Ketchum Public Relations. He holds a degree in journalism and theater from Lehigh University. To learn more about the Roundabout Theatre Company, visit roundabouttheatre.org or follow them on Instagram @roundaboutnyc. For all things Broadway Biz, visit our Instagram @BroadwayBizPodcast or our website broadwaybizpodcast.com. Have a question for Hal or a topic you'd like him to explore? Send Hal an email at broadwaybiz@halluftig.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our first episode for 2021, Hal welcomes Kenny Leon to the podcast. During their chat, Kenny shares with Hal how he approached directing the same play for Broadway twice, why he believes the arts are such an important part of education, and the positive ways the pandemic has forced us to be better listeners for each other. Kenny Leon is a Tony and Obie Award-winning and Emmy-nominated Broadway and Television director. Most recently, he directed Lifetime’s Robin Roberts Presents: The Mahalia Jackson Story set to air this spring. Last year, he directed the Broadway premiere of Charles Fuller's Pulitzer Prize winning masterpiece, A Soldier's Play. He also directed The Underlying Chris at Second Stage Theatre Company and the acclaimed production of Much Ado About Nothing at the Delacorte/Shakespeare in the Park. Broadway: A Soldier’s Play; American Son; Children of a Lesser God; Holler If Ya Hear Me; A Raisin in the Sun (Tony Award; 2014); The Mountaintop; Stick Fly; August Wilson’s Fences, Gem of the Ocean and Radio Golf. Off-Broadway: Everybody’s Ruby, Emergence-See! (The Public), Smart People (Second Stage). Television: “American Son” (adapted for Netflix), “Hairspray Live!,” “The Wiz Live!,” “Steel Magnolias,” “Dynasty,” “In My Dreams.” Author, Take You Wherever You Go. Artistic Director Emeritus, Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company.  Follow Kenny on Twitter @iamKENNYLEON and see his latest projects on KennyLeon.com. To support Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company, please visit truecolorstheatre.org. For all things Broadway Biz, visit our Instagram @BroadwayBizPodcast or our website broadwaybizpodcast.com. Have a question for Hal or a topic you'd like him to explore? Send Hal an email at broadwaybiz@halluftig.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Hal sits down with Charlotte St. Martin, President of The Broadway League. Charlotte and Hal chat about which program Charlotte’s most proud of starting, what she thinks makes a good producer, and why Broadway shows are so magical. Charlotte came to the Broadway League in 2006 from Loews Hotels, where over three decades she became one of the highest-ranking women in the hospitality industry. Charlotte St Martin was named President of the Broadway League in 2015, where she had been serving as its Executive Director. Outside of the League, Charlotte serves on the Board of Trustees for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDs and the Actors Fund. To learn more about The Broadway League, visit TheBroadwayLeague.com or follow the League on Twitter and Instagram @BroadwayLeague. For the latest updates on Broadway, visit Broadway.com. For all things Broadway Biz, visit our Instagram @BroadwayBizPodcast or our website broadwaybizpodcast.com. Have a question for Hal or a topic you'd like him to explore? Send Hal an email at broadwaybiz@halluftig.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode, Hal invites Jerry Mitchell to the podcast. Jerry a two-time Tony Award-winning choreographer and director for Broadway. In today’s conversation, Hal and Jerry discuss the beginnings of Broadway Bares, which to date has raised over $20 million for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDs, how to identify a star in the audition room, and what he thinks makes a story perfect for Broadway. Jerry has been involved in over 50 Broadway, Off-Broadway, West End, and touring productions. As a choreographer, his credits include: Hairspray; Gypsy (starring Bernadette Peters); La Cage aux Folles (Tony Award Best Choreography); Catch Me if You Can. Also as a director: Legally Blonde; and Kinky Boots (Tony Award Best Choreography), which spawned numerous international companies. Most recently, Jerry directed and choreographed Pretty Woman: The Musical. Jerry and Hal are working together on new musicals in development Becoming Nancy and My Very Own British Invasion. You can find Jerry on Instagram and on Twitter @JammyProd. For more information on Broadway Bares, visit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDs at BroadwayCares.org. For all things Broadway Biz, visit our Instagram @BroadwayBizPodcast or our website broadwaybizpodcast.com. Have a question for Hal or a topic you'd like him to explore? Send Hal an email at broadwaybiz@halluftig.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode, Hal invites Maggie Brohn to the podcast. Maggie is the Executive Producer for Hamilton worldwide and Chief Operating Officer of Adventureland LCC, the lead producer for Hamilton and other Broadway shows. Hal and Maggie break down the roles and responsibilities of a general manager, reveal the story behind Legally Blonde's infamous "party bike", and try to answer that age old question, why are Broadway tickets so expensive? Maggie's other recent productions include Derren Brown: Secret and The Cher Show. Previously, Maggie was a partner at Bespoke Theatricals where she general managed over 20 productions on Broadway and tour, such as MOTOWN the Musical, Hugh Jackman: Back on Broadway, After Midnight, A Behanding In Spokane, and Venus in Fur. Maggie is on the Board of Governors and Executive Committee for The Broadway League, and a former Co-Chair of the Labor Committee, which represents producers in collective bargaining negotiations. For all things Broadway Biz, visit our Instagram @BroadwayBizPodcast or our website broadwaybizpodcast.com. Have a question for Hal or a topic you'd like him to explore? Send Hal an email at broadwaybiz@halluftig.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode, Hal sits down with Rick Miramontez, press guru and President of DKC/O&M, the PR powerhouse for everything Broadway and Off Broadway. Hal and Rick chat Tony parties, strategies for any review, and identifying a show’s best asset.  Rick’s Broadway clients include Hadestown, To Kill a Mockingbird, Ain’t Too Proud, and Dear Evan Hansen. From 2011-2014, O&M Co. executed the most famous press campaign inBroadway history when it represented SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark.   For all things Broadway Biz, visit our Instagram @BroadwayBizPodcast or our website broadwaybizpodcast.com. Have a question for Hal or a topic you'd like him to explore? Send Hal an email at broadwaybiz@halluftig.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Broadway Biz hosted by Hal Luftig! In Hal's very first episode, he chats with his good friend Dori Berinstein, producer extraordinaire and the Co-Founder and CEO of the Broadway Podcast Network. Hal and Dori discuss Dori's path to producing, how she navigates Broadway budgets, and why she loves podcasts. Dori is a four-time Tony-winning Broadway producer (“Fool Moon”, “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest”, “Thoroughly Modern Millie” and “Virgina Woolf”), an Olivier winner (Legally Blonde) and an Emmy-award-winning director, producer and writer of film and television. Dori most recently was Lead Producer on “The PROM” for Broadway, and is the host of her very own podcast "Deep Dive Broadway". For all things Broadway Biz, visit our Instagram @BroadwayBizPodcast or our website broadwaybizpodcast.com. Have a question for Hal or a topic you'd like him to explore? Send Hal an email at broadwaybiz@halluftig.com. A proud member of the Broadway Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Broadway Biz! a new podcast on the Broadway Podcast Network hosted by Hal Luftig launching on Wednesday, November 18th. Every Wednesday morning, Hal will welcome an industry insider to his show to talk about the business of Broadway. Upcoming guests include: Tony and Emmy Award-winning producer Dori Berinstein, Broadway Press Agent Rick Miramontez (DKC/O&M), general manager Maggie Brohn (Executive Producer, Hamilton), Tony Award-winning Director and Choreographer Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, Pretty Woman, Legally Blonde), Broadway League President Charlotte St. Martin, Tony Award-winning director Kenny Leon (A Raisin in the Sun, Children of a Lesser God), Tony Award-winner Annaleigh Ashford (Kinky Boots, You Can't Take it with You, Sunday in the Park with George), and Tony Award-nominated costume designer Dede Ayite (Slave Play, A Soldier's Play). Follow Hal on Instagram @BroadwayBizPodcast and learn more by visiting BroadwayBizPodcast.com. Subscribe today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices