Broadway's 50 Most Powerful People

Who are Broadway’s most powerful people? We put the question to a handful of industry insiders who, on condition of anonymity, ranked Broadway’s movers and shakers for a final and decidedly unscientific list of 50. Is power the ability to get a show up with the scratch of a pen? Is it the person at the very top of the game, or the person you wouldn’t dare put on hold? We let everyone define "power" for themselves and let the chips fall as they may.

50. JULIE TAYMOR

The visionary director of Disney’s cash cow “The Lion King” whose “Spider-Man” seems to have free-fallen. “She got someone to greenlight a 45 million dollar Broadway show,” said one insider. “That’s what I call getting people to drink the Kool-Aid.” But another insider wondered: does that make her powerful, or them foolish?

49. DAMIAN BAZADONA

His creative, out-of-the-box marketing company Situation Interactive has been dragging Broadway out of the marketing stone age since 2001.

48. ARIELLE TEPPER

One of the last and the most prolific of the independent producers who can finance a show single-handedly, her first-look deal with the Donmar brought “Frost/Nixon,” “Mary Stuart” and now the Jude Law “Hamlet” our way. “Plus she founded SPF,” one insider pointed out, “which is designed to nurture tomorrow’s Broadway talent.”

47. OSKAR EUSTIS

The Artistic Director of The Public Theater, not the Broadway producing force it was decades ago. Nonetheless, it’s the pre-Broadway home most recently to “Passing Strange” and the “Hair” revival.

46. MARGO LION

Whoever said to never put your own money in a show probably never met this producer of the upcoming “Catch Me If You Can,” who mortgaged her apartment to put on one of her first shows. Of late, that passion extends to public service as co-Chair on President Obama’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.

45. BARTLETT SHER

Equally brilliant with plays and musicals, this respected and well-liked director “is 4 for 4 with artistic successes on Broadway” as one insider noted. Another said Sher would be even more powerful “if he didn’t hide in non-profit land.”

44. ROCCO LANDESMAN

The maverick, cowboy-boot wearing producer who began his career with “Carrie,” one of Broadway’s most infamous flops, now Chairs the National Endowment For The Arts.

43. SIR CAMERON MACKINTOSH

The boy-faced Brit super-producer who built an empire on “Les Miz” and “Cats” isn’t as active as he once was, but, according to one insider, “when he says jump people still say how high. Even Disney.”

42. JOHN CONNOLLY

While stage actors are not thought to have the strongest of unions, the charismatic, flesh-pressing Connolly is thought to have what it takes to bring Actors’ Equity into the 21^st century.

41. LYNNE MEADOW

The Artistic Director of Manhattan Theatre Club, which has its own Broadway house to play with. Unfortunately “they haven’t had a hit in it for ages and ages” lamented one insider. Will “The Royal Family” change that?

40. BROADWAY.COM

What’s in a domain name? While many strategize to sell tickets at a discount, this powerhouse moves them at full price even without giving exact seat locations.

39. MARY LANDOLFI

As head of the Local 802 (the musicians’ union), Landolfi presides over the organization that led two of Broadway’s last three labor strikes.

38. NATHAN LANE

Is it because of “The Producers” that Broadway’s most bankable clown, soon to star in “The Addams Family,” is that rare theatre-centric performer with name recognition among the general public?

37. MICHAEL RIEDEL

The Post’s theatre gossip columnist, and the person least likely to be on Donna Murphy’s gift list, is unsurprisingly controversial among our insiders. Depending on who you ask he either “keeps Broadway in the news” or “does damage on a regular basis.”

36. STEPHEN SONDHEIM

The Great Master’s name is afforded a level of respect usually bestowed on heads of state, even by those who question his box office cache.

35. JACK O’BRIEN

“Impressionism” may not have been a masterpiece, but the popular, versatile director whose credits are a study in contrasts (“Hairspray” and “The Coast of Utopia”) remains one of the go-to guys for class, professionalism, and prestige. “With O’Brien at the helm,” said one insider, “the ‘Phantom’ sequel might actually be good.”

34. ALAN WASSER

After Liz McCann was canned, this powerful General Manager of various Broadway and touring shows was plucked to produce a more entertaining Tony Awards. More were entertained, said Nielsen.

33. TED CHAPIN

The hills aren’t alive with the sound of music and Bali Ha’i won’t be calling you any night, or any day, if you don’t clear it with the man who heads up the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization. Chapin is also Chair of the American Theatre Wing, which slugs it out every year with the League to co-pro The Tonys.

32. JACK VIERTEL

Jujamcyn’s Producing Director and the Artistic Director of City Center’s “Encores!” series which tempts a Broadway transfer once or twice a season. Next potential pot o’ gold: “Finian’s Rainbow.”

31. DAVID MAMET

Last season’s revival of “American Buffalo” was shot down on sight, but that doesn’t keep David Mamet from being Broadway’s most wanted living playwright with both “Oleanna” and “Race” scheduled on Broadway this season.

30. JOE MANTELLO

His “9 to 5” punched out quickly, but the “Wicked” helmer is one of Broadway’s most employable directors.

29. JOHN BREGLIO

Partner and entertainment division head at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, LLP, Breglio is “Broadway’s top lawyer” who has repped or been involved with hundreds of shows. He also controls Michael Bennett’s estate and recently produced the Broadway revival of “A Chorus Line.”

28. BEN BRANTLEY

As chief theater critic of the New York Times, Brantley has been directing The Gray Lady’s graying, ticket-buying readership to Broadway’s snob dramas and diva-driven musicals for thirteen years, and counting. As newspapers fade one insider had this prediction: “The huge power of the Times critic ends with Ben Brantley.”

27. BOB BOYETT

After enormous success producing TV sitcoms for Paramount, Boyett is one of Broadway’s busiest and most powerful producers. His first-look deal with the National (first in association with Bill Haber, now exclusively his own) allowed him to bring shows like “The Pillowman,” “The History Boys” and the upcoming “Pitmen Painters” across the pond.

26. HUGH JACKMAN

Thunderous advance sales for "A Steady Rain" prove that Broadway audiences will open their wallets for the Tony-winning star of “Boy From Oz”, even when the three-time Tony host doesn’t sing, dance or bare his chest.

25. BERNIE TELSEY

The most powerful Casting Director on the street, whose name is almost mythical to thousands upon thousands of fresh-faced Broadway hopefuls, is also the co-founder of MCC Theater Company.

24. 23. 22. ADRIAN BRYAN-BROWN/CHRIS BONEAU, MICHAEL HARTMAN

When Broadway shows are in the market for press representation and publicity management they usually come calling on either Boneau/Bryan-Brown or The Hartman Group (formerly Barlow/Hartman).. Collectively, these big guys rep 23 of the 29 shows currently running on Broadway. Insider said: "They definitely control the press access to the biggest stars and the biggest shows. It's not a good long-term strategy to go around them even if you can."

21. DREW HODGES

Head of SpotCo, the newer of Broadway’s two ad houses and “the go-to ad agency for anything that needs a non-traditional touch,” according to one insider. Current clients include “Superior Donuts,” “Ragtime” and both the Roundabout Theatre Company and Manhattan Theatre Club.

20. NANCY COYNE

Head of Serino-Coyne, Broadway’s biggest ad agency where many long-running hits like “Phantom” spend their ad dollars. Also on the client list: Lincoln Center Theatre and The Metropolitan Opera.

19. CHARLOTTE ST. MARTIN

The Executive Director of The Broadway League who also happens to make a fine mouthpiece for the organization. According to one effusive insider: “She does more than anyone to promote Broadway as a national brand.”

18. MATTHEW LOEB

IATSE President as of July 2008, Loeb is “aggressive and serious” according to one insider.

17. THOMAS SCHUMACHER

“The Little Mermaid” flopped but Disney Theatrical Group, headed up by Schumacher, is still a big fish on Broadway as both “Mary Poppins” and the now and forever “The Lion King” continue as money streams for Mickey Mouse.

16. JOHN GORE

Has power all across the country as chief of Broadway Across America, the largest presenter of touring shows in North America.

15. JEFFREY RICHARDS

Lead producer Richards gets a fresh round of respect for bringing “Hair” back to life. “Even in this economic climate he doesn’t seem to have any trouble raising money,” said one envious insider.

14. DAVID STONE

The wiz producer uses his power for good leading the industry’s greening eco-efforts while raking in the green from “Wicked.” Stone is also, as one insider pointed out, “probably the only producer with the clout and resources to open ‘Next to Normal’ to poor reviews, then take it out of town and then bring it back to Broadway to great reviews and box office success.”

13. ANDRE BISHOP/BERNARD GERSTEN

The two big wheels at Lincoln Center Theater, the country's cultural standard-bearer and its most successful non-profit theatre company. Both Bishop, as Artistic Director, and Gersten, as Executive Producer, get high marks from our insiders for keeping it vital.

12. JEFFREY SELLER

Half of The Producing Office that “Rent” built alongside #11.

11. KEVIN McCOLLUM

McCollum and Seller’s recently brokered deal to move “Avenue Q” to a smaller off-Broadway house could very well be the start of something big for the industry. One of the friendliest of Broadway’s producers to new music theatre talent, McCollum also gets praise for turning dreams of a “White Christmas” on Broadway into an economically viable reality.

10. GEORGE LANE

Broadway’s most powerful theatrical agent, known for his tough negotiating style and the loyalty of his clients, heads up the theatrical division at CAA. Just a few in his pocket: Joe Mantello, Doug Hughes, and James Lapine.

9. NINA LANNAN

One of the busiest General Managers on the street, Lannan is often seen at the industry’s most important negotiating tables as Chairman of The Broadway League, the first woman to hold that position in the organization’s 80 year history.

8. NICK SCANDALIOS

A Nederlander except by name (“he’s their adopted son” quipped one insider) Executive Vice President Scandalios is responsible for most Nederlander deal-making.

7. TODD HAIMES

Now in control of 3 Broadway theatres for his Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes is inarguably the most prolific producer of non-profit theatre on Broadway.

6. JORDAN ROTH

Producer Roth’s stock shot way up when he was announced as the new head of Jujamcyn Theaters, acquiring 50% ownership of the company with 5 Broadway houses under its roof. Not too shabby for the guy who produced his first Broadway show at the age of 24.

5. JIMMY NEDERLANDER JR.

The heir apparent to #2.

4. JAMES CLAFFEY, JR.

If Broadway was run on a giant extension cord it would be Claffey’s hand at the plug. “As head of Local One, he’s one of a very few people who could shut Broadway down overnight with a phone call.”

3. BOB WANKEL

President and co-CEO of the mighty Shubert Organization.

2. JIMMY NEDERLANDER SR.

Old-school patriarch of New York’s most prominent theatre family, which controls the city’s second largest theatre chain. Oh yeah, and he also owns a piece of a little sports franchise called The New York Yankees.

1. PHIL SMITH

Chairman and co-CEO of The Shubert Organization, which controls not only 17 Broadway theatres but also Telecharge, the industry’s biggest ticket distribution system. “Phil Smith,” said one insider definitively, “is the King of Broadway.”

By: Patrick Lee

What do you think? Anybody we missed?