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Home , Daryl Roth, How I Learned to Drive

PURPOSE Highlighting Women’s Stories

An Interview with , Daryl Roth Productions

EDITORS’ NOTE Daryl Roth is a ORGANIZATION BRIEF Daryl Roth seen and heard within the play and they com- theatrical producer working in New Productions (darylrothproductions.com) ment on life experiences, many of which are York who is proud to hold the sin- has produced more than 120 either told by men in the audience or women gular distinction of producing Broadway and off-Broadway plays talking about their fathers, brothers and sons, seven Pulitzer Prize-winning plays: and musicals since its first produc- and how opening up lines of conversation has ; August: Osage tion in 1988. The Daryl Roth Theatre, made such a difference. County (2008 Tony); Clybourne which opened in 1996 in the land- Gloria always said that we live in a patri- Park (2012 Tony); ’s marked former Union Square Savings archy. That patriarchy lives within us, but we ; Bank, is home to the 299-seat main have to create a world that is focused on accep- (2001 Tony); ’s stage; the DR2, an intimate 99-seat tance and parity and equality. The job of all ; and . The theater that welcomes new plays as well genders is to open a dialogue and come to an recipient of 12 and as programming for young audiences; understanding. London’s Olivier Award, her over Daryl Roth and the D-Lounge, an intimate caba- The beauty of theater is that it can really 120 award-winning productions ret space. change our minds about things and enlighten both on and off Broadway include: Angels in and educate us, as well as entertain us. America; on Broadway; Buyer and Are there strong opportunities for women How valuable has it been to have a Cellar; Caroline, or Change; A Catered Affair; in theater and the arts? venue like the Daryl Roth Theatre that is so ; ; Curtains; The That subject is very timely. Until somewhat appropriate for telling these stories? Divine Sister; Driving Miss Daisy; Fela!; Gloria: recently, I was one of the few women produc- It has been a great gift for me to have the A Life; The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? (2002 Tony ers around the table and, happily, that is now theater venue. It has been an inspiration in Award); Harlem Song; (2016 Tony changing. terms of what I can choose to produce there. Award); Paula Vogel’s Indecent; By mentoring other women and bringing It has an intimate feel and is an open space, and Delia Ephron’s Love, Loss, and What I more women onto creative teams, we are work- so we can confi gure it in the appropriate way Wore; (2011 Tony Award); ing towards parity. We still have far to go. for each different production that we produce Old Wicked Songs; One Man, Two Guvnors; I feel a responsibility to highlight women’s there. Our Lady of 121st Street; The Play About the stories by the plays I choose to present, encour- For Gloria, we have made the seating in Baby; (2014 Tony Award); aging my daughter and granddaughters and the round so that the second act Talking Circle Shuffl e Along; Sunset Boulevard; The Tale of the the generations that follow to fi nd their own is indeed that. People feel comfortable sharing Allergist’s Wife; The Temperamentals; Twilight: strength, confi dence and independence. their stories with one another and, in the words Los Angeles, 1992; I am currently producing a play about of Gloria, “we are all linked, not ranked.” (2016 Tony); (2011 Tony Award); Gloria Steinem’s life. She’s such an icon and For other plays, we have used a more tra- Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?; Wiesenthal; The visionary, and we all stand on her shoulders in ditional, presentation design. Year of Magical Thinking; and De La Guarda ways that we never fully appreciated. The play It’s wonderful to also have the DR2, the and Fuerza Bruta, which ran for 14 years at the itself, written beautifully by Emily Mann and 99-seat theater next door. In March, we are Daryl Roth Theatre on Union Square. directed by Diane Paulus, is a project I’m very opening a new play Accidentally Brave, a Roth was recently named to Crain’s 2017 proud of, primarily because I’m honored to be true story written by the actress performing “50 Most Powerful Women in New York.” She telling Gloria Steinem’s story but also because, it. This smaller space is ideal for intimate is a Trustee of the Kennedy Center, the New as a way to pay tribute to her, I made the deci- storytelling. York City Police Foundation, and the Mayor’s sion to have only women on the creative and This wonderful venue is also where we Theater Sub-district Council, and an Honorary producing teams. introduce young children to theater under our Trustee for Lincoln Center Theater, having We started developing this play over three DR2 Kids programming umbrella. It’s welcom- served on the Board for 21 years. Recent honors years ago, and I never expected it would be ing and hopefully starts them on a theater-lov- include: the Lucille Lortel Lifetime Achievement a play that was so needed at this moment in ing journey. Award; the Town Hall Friend of the Arts Award; time – for both women and men. What advice do you offer young people The New Dramatists Outstanding Career When you’re telling women’s stories, interested in building a career in the arts? Achievement Award; The Elly Award from the is it important that the shows also reach It’s important for people that love theater NY Women’s Forum; and the New York Living men to bring them into the conversation? to expose themselves to as much theater as Landmarks award. She was inducted into the Yes, it has to be intersectional on all lev- they can, as they can learn something new from 2017 Theater Hall of Fame. The Daryl Roth els. With Gloria: A Life, for example, we have every production. Creative Spirit Award, now in its 20th year, done that very well because Act One is about I also tell people who are interested in pro- annually honors a gifted theater artist or Gloria’s life and work, and the activism that she ducing to trust their instincts, be tenacious, and organization, providing them with finan- has inspired in all of us; Act Two is a Talking choose projects that are meaningful to them. At cial support as they develop new works in an Circle, which is a conversation among all audi- the end of the day, what one produces becomes artistic residency. ence members. They respond to what they have their legacy.• VOLUME 42, NUMBER 2 POSTED WITH PERMISSION. COPYRIGHT © 2019 LEADERS MAGAZINE, INC. LEADERS 83