Barry Weissler is a Tony Award-winning American theatrical producer. He met his wife, Fran, in 1964 during an engagement of a touring theatrical production in New Jersey. The two then started a touring theatrical group, The National Theatre Company, which presented classic plays to High School, College and adult audiences with professional casts. After years of touring Shakespearean plays on the east coast, they brought Othello and Medea to Broadway in 1982. The two plays earned them their first two Tony Award nominations. As of 2014 the pair have earned 28 Tony or Drama Desk nominations. They have won 7 Tony Awards and 4 Drama Desk Awards. The couple also received the Olivier Award for Outstanding Musical Production for their production of Chicago in the London West End. In 2010, they were given a lifetime achievement award by the New York Musical Theatre Festival.
I’ve been waiting since 1993 and that first day of rehearsal of My Fair Lady to pick his brain. Took me 23 years, but I finally got my chance! Listen to Barry tell me all about . . .
- His journey from Actor to Director to Bullfighter (!) to Producer.
- How they turned the Encores! production of Chicago into the second longest-running Broadway show of all time.
- What he thinks about movie studios entering the Broadway game.
- His process of picking shows to produce and how that has changed.
- Why he doesn’t think Broadway is better off now than it was 20 years ago.
I got a chance to learn a heck of a lot from Barry as a PA on My Fair Lady, as one of his Company Managers on Chicago . . . and now, you’re gonna get a chance to learn from one of the best too.
Keep up with me: @KenDavenportBway