Masters of the Stage

At its 2003 Directing Symposium, SDCF hosted a panel moderated by Rubén Polendo and featuring producer Jordan Roth (The Rocky Horror Show, The Donkey Show), Artistic Director Jim Nicola (New York Theatre Workshop), and former artistic director and current director Michael Greif (Rent). The discussion centers on the role of the producer in modern American theater. Topics covered include how to determine what projects are the right fit for the different producing models (commercial, not-for-profit, and regional), the involvement of the producer as a collaborator in the artistic process, trends in the theater, and what audiences are looking for when they buy tickets to a show. This conversation helps to demystify the role of the producer for any aspiring theater professional or audience member and provides some terrific insight into how works are chosen to be produced.