Next big producer for theatre with Hollywood names

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 4/22/21 at 11:51am

Now that Scott Rudin seems to be completely wiped from any future producing. Im curious if there are any big producers out there to bring big Hollywood names to broadway. As over the last couple decades Rudin had almost become synonymous.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/22/21 at 12:45pm

Theatrefanboy1 said: "Now that Scott Rudin seems to be completely wiped from any future producing. Im curious if there are any big producers out there to bring big Hollywood names to broadway. As over the last couple decades Rudin had almost become synonymous."

I do wonder if Ryan Murphy will ever make the jump. He clearly loves theatre having now directed a couple stage-to-film adaptations. But he might be too entrenched in film/tv at this point.

Brian Grazer is another person who might have a remote chance. He hasn't produced any Broadway but he's producing Lin's Tick, Tick...Boom! directorial debut, so maybe that will give him the itch to produce theatre.

That being said, I would expect Hollywood producers are going to stay the hell away from Broadway for a while after seeing what happened to Rudin. Broadway is not a solid enough investment and its wokeness has reached such a fever pitch that if I were a producer, and I valued my life, I would stay away for the foreseeable future. As long as Karen Olivo is up in her perch with her sniper rifle from Wisconsin, I would keep my head down.

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 4/22/21 at 1:05pm

Tyler Perry?

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 4/22/21 at 1:40pm

I'd say Perry probably feels he doesn't need Broadway, honestly. He already made a bundle in the national touring black theater market, then went Hollywood and made even more money. Every property of his that would've been worth doing on Broadway would probably be a hard sell for the typical Broadway crowd; it already went to everybody who was going to see it, and then landed in the homes of everyone else who "doesn't go to plays." Broadway would only be a distraction from a career trajectory in full bloom.

Updated On: 4/22/21 at 01:40 PM

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 4/22/21 at 2:49pm

g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "I'd say Perry probably feels he doesn'tneedBroadway, honestly. He already made a bundle in the national touring black theater market, then went Hollywood and made even more money. Every property of his that would've been worth doing on Broadway would probably be a hard sell for the typical Broadway crowd; it already went to everybody who was going to see it, and then landed in the homes of everyone else who "doesn't go to plays." Broadway would only be a distraction from a career trajectory in full bloom."

Not to mention that Tyler Perry is pretty anti-union. He resisted all efforts to unionize his tours and currently he IS on the Do Not Work list

[Dolly80]

Posted: 4/22/21 at 2:52pm

God no, please not Ryan Murphy.

It will just be lots of twinky chorus boys wearing no clothes dancing around.

His output is patchy to say it nicely.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/22/21 at 2:54pm

Tyler and Ryan are both laughable suggestions. 

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/22/21 at 2:56pm

Sutton Ross said: "Tyler and Ryan are both laughable suggestions."

Laughable because they are unlikely, or laughable because their productions would be bad?

Murphy has produced two plays in the last five years, both of which had Hollywood stars, and he's won a Tony for producing. It doesn't seem unreasonable to think he might increase his Broadway productions once his Netflix contract expires and he wants a change of pace.

But also, I don't know anything, so please explain yourself instead spouting empty negativity. Updated On: 4/22/21 at 02:56 PM

[NameGreg]

Posted: 4/22/21 at 3:07pm

Dolly80 said: "God no, please not Ryan Murphy.

It will just be lots of twinky chorus boys wearing no clothes dancing around.

His output is patchy to say it nicely."

I’ll agree that Murphy’s had his fair share of crap, but when he’s also struck gold several times. And when it comes to already written shows, we’re in the clear. So long as David Corenswet doesn’t want to do Broadway.

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 4/22/21 at 3:12pm

Easy answer: Scott Rudin.  Just because shows are "distancing themselves" and he's "stepping back" doesn't mean he's not about to still be producing from afar with actors still lining up to work for him.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 4/22/21 at 3:40pm

With Rudin taking up so much space, and having such a distinct, easily-recognizable producing style, it can be easy to forget just how many productions with celebrities were NOT his. For example, I would say that Jeffrey Richards has successfully carved out a space for his own celebrity-driven play productions. And unless we hear otherwise, we have no reason to suspect that he's due for a "cancelling." David Binder is also in the mix there. Sonia Friedman is also pretty prominent, though her situation is slightly different, as she mostly brings things over from London. 

Of course, we should be encouraging new producers to get their foot in the door, especially producers with a wider variety of backgrounds. But there can be room for them along with the established producers, many of whom are already providing high-quality (or at least interesting) Broadway plays, often with big names.

It's also worth mentioning that the non-profits have managed to score some pretty big names for recent Broadway productions. Maybe not as big as Denzel, Hugh, Bette, etc. But still some big Hollywood names. It still astounds me that Second Stage was able to score Captain America for their first Broadway production, and it barely got any attention. Not to mention some other stars who have done non-profit productions in recent years like Mark Ruffalo, Ewan McGregor, Jake Gyllenhaal, Anette Benning etc. 

[Wick3]

Posted: 4/22/21 at 4:07pm

I agree with David Binder being in the mix. He produced some of my favorite shows in the last decade: Hedwig and the Angry Inch starring Neil Patrick Harris, Michael C Hall, etc., Network starring Bryan Cranston, Burn This starring Keri Russell & Adam Driver, etc. 

Not sure if he likes producing over songwriting/acting but if he does, I think Lin-Manuel Miranda has the clout and connections to get Hollywood stars to Broadway in future productions.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 4/22/21 at 9:00pm

The bigger issue is producers willing to do new plays and "classy" revivals that might not make money.

Broadway is in vogue now for stars. Agents view it as something that every "good" actor should try. The director and their agent are much more important than the producer. Even the nonprofits can attract Captain America, Jessica Lange, and Keira Knightly.

In addition to the aforementioned producers you also have folks like Daryl Roth & son, David Stone, Tom Kirdahy & Hunter Arnold, Arielle Tepper, Frankel/Viertel, Stephen Byrd, Colin Callender, Jeffrey Finn, and the theatre owners. Now...some of the folks mentioned by others and/or myself are long overdue for a major reckoning, but Rudin was not the only producer in town. And new folks will step up.

Updated On: 4/22/21 at 09:00 PM

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 4/22/21 at 10:10pm

Wick3 said: "I agree with David Binder being in the mix. He produced some of my favorite shows in the last decade: Hedwig and the Angry Inch starring Neil Patrick Harris, Michael C Hall, etc., Network starring Bryan Cranston, Burn This starring Keri Russell & Adam Driver, etc.

Not sure if he likes producing over songwriting/acting but if he does, I think Lin-Manuel Miranda has the clout and connections to get Hollywood stars to Broadway in future productions."

Lin already has a producing credit on one show (Freestyle Love Supreme) and has produced a few films already. I could definitely see him going the route of Hal Prince and producing his own artistic ventures.

[InTheBathroom1]

Posted: 4/24/21 at 2:59am

Although he doesn’t produce a ton of theatre, he’s got some theatre credits (big ones) and a huge resume of films, my vote would be Marc Platt.