Annual Report 2011-2012 MISSION CONTENTS Roundabout Theatre Company is committed to producing the highest quality theatre with the finest artists, sharing stories that endure, and providing accessibility to all audiences. A not-for-profit company, Roundabout fulfills its mission each season through the production of classic plays and musicals; development and production Letter from the Chairman ...........................................................................................4 of new works by established and emerging writers; educational initiatives that enrich the lives of children and adults; and a subscription model and audience outreach programs that cultivate and engage all audiences. Letter from the Artistic director .................................................................................5 BoARd oF diReCToRs The Classics ..............................................................................................................6 ChAiRMAn sylvia Golden Cynthia Nixon Todd haimes Thomas e. Tuft patricia R. Goldstein Katheryn patterson Kempner Artistic Director new Works ..............................................................................................................18 ViCe ChAiRMAn John R. Gordon Laura pels harold Wolpert Mary C. solomon Managing Director harry e. Gould, Jr. Charles Randolph-Wright Readings and Workshops ........................................................................................22 pResidenT Julia C. Levy perry B. Granoff steven A. sanders Todd haimes Executive Director Roundabout underground: Celebrating Five Years ..................................................23 Jeanne hagerty steven schroko TReAsuReR Scott Ellis samuel R. Chapin Meryl d. hartzband Beryl snyder Adams Associate Education at Roundabout ........................................................................................25 Maureen A. hayes Johs Worsoe Artistic Director seCRetary Lawrence Kaplen Abby F. Kohnstamm Adam Zurofsky Welcoming new Audiences .....................................................................................26 Gene R. Korf engaging Loyal Audiences ......................................................................................27 James J. Burke, Jr. Stephanie Kramer ChAiRMen eMeRiTi Jim Carter Carole s. Krumland Christian C. Yegen steven F. Goldstone Roundabout Archives ..............................................................................................28 Mary Cirillo-Goldberg Cathy Lasry Michael T. Cohen diReCToRs eMeRiTi she Loves Me: A Benefit Concert Reading ..............................................................29 Mark J. Manoff Bob donnalley Mike de Graffenried david e. Massengill Carol Mitchell spring Gala 2012 .....................................................................................................30 douglas durst John p. McGarry, Jr. LeAdeRship CounCiL Our Supporters ........................................................................................................31 ChAiRMAn Barbara Mcintyre hack Christopher plummer our staff ..................................................................................................................35 Yolanda R. Turocy Jeannette hobson Ron Rifkin polly Bergen Bob howe Laura s. Rodgers Linda L. d’onofrio h. Brett humphreys patricia A. stockhausen Christopher M. Formant Cherry Jones Janis Ing Strauss For a copy of our most recent audited financial statement, please contact development by phone at (212) 719-9393, Boyd Gaines Frank Langella Cynthia C. Wainwright or by email at [email protected]. To view the financial statement online, please click here. The ned Ginty helen Mirren Barry C. Waldorf FY12 audit will be available beginning January 2013. Bill Giove Brian Murray Tony Walton Front cover photo: Frank Langella and Adam driver in Man and Boy Jodi Glucksman Liam Neeson Back cover photo: Kieran Campion and Lucas near-Verbrugghe in The Common Pursuit 2 3 LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN LETTER FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR As Roundabout marked its 20th anniversary of producing on Broadway, the 2011- Audience members and artists alike are always asking me one question: How do you 12 season was a celebration of the past, and a reaffirmation of Roundabout’s choose the work you put on your stages? Trying to answer this query is no small feat. influence and importance in new York’s cultural life. under the leadership of My mind is constantly spinning with lists of plays, of actors and directors, of theatre Artistic director Todd haimes, Managing director harold Wolpert, and executive availability, and scheduling logistics. These details, however, are only the surface level of director Julia Levy, Roundabout has achieved many milestones both on- and off-stage. how i create a season at Roundabout. My goal each season is to fulfill the mission that has brought so many wonderful people to Roundabout both on-stage and in the audience over the years – and that is to do great productions with stories Roundabout’s variety and artistic depth this year was no exception to seasons past. We saw revivals of powerful that we can relate to, empathize with, and in which we recognize ourselves. Classic shows and new works that endure, plays like Man and Boy, The Road to Mecca and Look Back in Anger, as well as the Broadway premiere of the because they are a vital part of who we are. hilarious farce Don’t Dress for Dinner. Roundabout was recognized with 38 award nominations, among them The classic plays we revived this past season are timeless stories, written decades ago yet still relevant today. Man and four Tony® nominations, and a dozen drama desk nominations. in July, after 554 performances and three Boy is about how finances and the economy greatly affect our lives – a theme which is possibly more relevant today than extensions, we said bon voyage to our Tony-winning revival of Anything Goes. The show will live on, however, the day it was written. Frank Langella and i wanted to revisit this play and bring it to a new generation. Combining Frank when a north American tour launches in october 2012. Harvey was our third-best selling straight play ever, and with the fresh, young talent of Adam driver and getting the brilliant Maria Aitken to direct gave this explosive play a new we were thrilled by its instant success. Roundabout underground, our program for championing the work of life. The Road to Mecca, a meditation on art and aging by south African agitator Athol Fugard, similarly explores themes emerging playwrights, commemorated its fifth year. Given Roundabout’s prominence, its impact on the careers fundamental to the human condition – legacy, individuality, and personal expression. The play offered us the chance to of these playwrights has been profound. And we’re proud that one of this year’s most acclaimed (and pulitzer- share the main character’s deliberations while allowing us to work with beloved veteran actors Rosemary harris and Jim shortlisted) plays, Sons of the Prophet, was written by stephen Karam, whose Speech and Debate was our first dale. underground production. during the 2011-12 season, more people than ever – 672,806 to be exact – saw a We also revived Look Back in Anger, and i was thrilled that the director, our Associate Artist sam Gold, chose to present Roundabout production. the play with a new, stark spin, rather than using the expected historical context we’ve seen before. i thought it was incredibly satisfying to see this combination of young artist and classic play coming together in a completely new way. Beyond the stage, Roundabout made important strides in expanding our digital presence with increased social media marketing and a new website. it’s easier to buy tickets and make donations, and social media is integrated For me, one of the proudest moments this season came from seeing the success of stephen Karam’s Sons of the throughout the site. We also created a searchable website for our growing, institutional archives of photographs, Prophet at the steinberg Center’s Laura pels Theatre. not only did Roundabout commission and develop this play, but videos, and documents from our 46-year history. stephen was the first playwright ever produced in our Roundabout underground program. Five years ago we took a risk starting a program that supported emerging playwrights, and watching stephen and all of our underground writers Roundabout continued its commitment to new York City’s public school students and their teachers. due to advance their careers has been an exciting sign that our efforts in nurturing the next generation of great writers have budget cuts, our schools are constantly challenged to do more with less. education at Roundabout’s goal, been worthwhile. therefore, is to help bring theatre arts into our city’s classrooms. Thanks to Board member Larry Kaplen, who i want these productions to stay with our audiences long after they leave the theatre, and i try to provide variety in tone, generously matched each gift designated to our education program, we were able to raise $251,063 towards style, and genre. i try to give opportunities to artists i consider to be part of the Roundabout family, whom i greatly restoring our Teaching Artists hours to pre-2008 levels. in fact, across the board, fundraising efforts have respect and admire, and want to continue to work with. Just as important for our company, i also try to give opportunities remained strong over the last fiscal year with the addition of a Benefit Concert Reading to support the Musical