Why I'm Co-Producing Othello on Broadway

The two primary types of Producers on Broadway are Lead Producers and Co-Producers.? (For the 3rd type, click here .)

Lead producing is what I spend most of my time focusing on . . . like A Beautiful Noise , Once on this Island , and the upcoming Joy , The Griswolds’ Broadway Vacation , and a soon-to-be-announced-something-that-gets-me-excited-just-dreaming-about-it (which I’ve done for a decade).

But I sometimes co-produce . . . when the right Lead Producer and the right opportunity present themselves.? (For you business folks out there, this is just like when Founders of Companies join the boards of other friends’ startups.)

I always announce the shows, so you can understand why I make the choices I do . . . because let me tell you . . . each decision is different, because each show is different . . . oh, and also, the times are different.? Decisions I made ten years ago or twenty years ago (yikes, I can say that now), are not necessarily the same decisions I’d make today.

The decision to be a Co-Producer on Othello was easy.

First, I’ve been looking to work with Lead Producer Brian Moreland for some time now.? (I’ve also been trying to get him to come to my golf outing for some time now, but that’s another story, right, Brian?? ??)

But second?? Can you guess???

You’re probably going to say the stars.? Denzel Washington.? Jake Gyllenhaal.? Shakespeare (He counts).? And yes, Director Kenny Leon (who DOES come to my golf outing !) . . . because he really counts.??

But you’d only be half-right.? Of course, all those boldfaced names are a big reason for me to invest in the show.? However, if you asked me why I was co-producing Othello, I’d boil it down to one word . . . EVENT.

Of course, it IS an event because of Denzel. Jake.? Shakes.? Kenny, etc, etc.??

But it’s the combination of those people that makes it unmissable for SO many different types of fans.? And it's a limited run - which means people only have 15 weeks or just over 100 performances to see these massive stars in a historic play.

It’s an event.

I mean . . . think about it . . . it’s not often that stars like this gather together to perform in a play like this, directed by a man like this.??

In fact - one could make a good bet that Denzel and Jake might never be on stage performing Shakespeare again.

And when you have that kind of rare experience, combined with a limited run, well, I think it’s something that people will prioritize seeing . . . and pay the prices that a premium experience like this in a limited run requires to make it even work.??

To boil my decision down?? When I look at shows, I throw all the elements into a pot, mix it up and see what I’ve got.

For this one, it came up tasting like a once-in-a-theatergoer’s-lifetime event that people would have to see.

Hopefully, you’ll be one of them.? Click here to get tickets.

Oh, and if you’re producing a show . . . what elements can you throw into YOUR pot to make your show unmissable?? And don’t think just stars . . . there are plenty of other things you can do to make your show stand out.?