Jack Viertel is the senior vice president of Jujamcyn Theaters, which owns and operates five Broadway theaters. He has been involved in dozens of productions presented by Jujamcyn since 1987. He has also helped shepherd six of August Wilson’s plays to Broadway. He is the artistic director of New York City Center’s acclaimed Encores! series. He conceived the long-running Smokey Joe’s Cafe, as well as the 2018 hit Prom, and has been a creative consultant on many shows, including Hairspray, A Christmas Story, and Dear Evan Hansen.
We talked about the terrific reviews for Prom, and his thoughts on original musicals, as well as . . .
- How working as a critic made him a better Producer.
- What every single musical absolutely needs in order to work . . . and his example of a show that gets away without it.
- The role of the theater owner – how it has changed over the years.
- What former NEA Chair and Jujamcyn Theater President Rocco Landesman said to him after a flop that he still takes with him to this day.
- What made him want to give it all up years ago . . . and how he got through that.
After you listen in, make sure you pick up his book, The Secret Life of the American Musical (a great holiday gift) to read more.
This week's episode is brought to you by Copacabana Coffee, a well-known online, high quality coffee store. Check them out at: copacabanacoffee.com
Keep up with me: @KenDavenportBway