Daryl Roth
Daryl Roth (born December 21, 1944) is an American theater producer recognized for her extensive contributions to Broadway and Off-Broadway productions over more than three decades.[1][2] She has produced over 130 shows, including innovative and thought-provoking works that have earned her 13 Tony Awards, one Olivier Award, and the distinction of producing seven Pulitzer Prize-winning plays such as Proof, Wit, How I Learned to Drive, and August: Osage County.[3][4] Notable commercial successes under her banner include Kinky Boots, which secured six Tony Awards, Angels in America, and revivals like Funny Girl and Into the Woods.[3][4] Roth founded the Daryl Roth Theatre in 1996, further establishing her as a leading innovator in American theater, with additional honors including induction into the Theatre Hall of Fame and the Lucille Lortel Lifetime Achievement Award.[4][3]
Early Life and Education
Childhood and Family Origins
Daryl Roth was born Daryl Atkins on December 22, 1944, to a Jewish family in New Jersey. Her father, Jerome Atkins, operated a Chevrolet dealership, while her mother, Sylvia Atkins, served as a homemaker.[5][6] Roth grew up in Wayne, New Jersey, a suburban environment where her family emphasized cultural pursuits. As the only Jewish child in her public school during that period, she experienced a distinct sense of religious and ethnic isolation in a predominantly non-Jewish community.[7] From an early age, Roth's parents fostered an appreciation for the performing arts by regularly taking her and her sister, Dale, to local theaters, including the Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey. Both parents shared a passion for theater, music, and dance, which exposed Roth to live performances and instilled a lifelong affinity for stage productions.[5][8][9]Academic Background
Daryl Roth attended Syracuse University in the mid-1960s, where she began her higher education.[10] [11] She subsequently studied at New York University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in art history in 1966.[10] [12] Roth's academic focus on art history emphasized theoretical analysis of visual culture, providing a foundation in aesthetic evaluation rather than practical training in theater production or business management.[10] This theoretical orientation aligned with broader humanities studies, fostering critical skills in interpreting artistic intent and historical context, which later informed her selections in producing works with intellectual depth.[11] No records indicate formal involvement in campus theater productions or related extracurricular activities during her university years.[10]Personal Life
Marriage and Immediate Family
Daryl Roth is married to Steven Roth, the founder and non-executive chairman of Vornado Realty Trust, one of New York City's largest commercial real estate owners and operators.[13] [14] Steven Roth's success in real estate, with Vornado managing properties generating billions in annual revenue, has afforded Daryl Roth financial independence from theater's inherent commercial uncertainties, enabling her to finance ambitious productions without sole reliance on box-office returns or public subsidies.[15] [13] The couple has two children: Jordan Roth, born in 1975, a theater producer who served as president of Jujamcyn Theatres from 2012 to 2019 and has co-produced Broadway hits including Kinky Boots and Angels in America; and Amanda Roth, a social worker who has chaired boards for arts-related nonprofits.[16] [5] [17] Jordan's active role in Broadway production demonstrates familial alignment with Daryl Roth's professional pursuits, while the family generally shields non-public details about their children's lives from media scrutiny.[16] [5]Lifestyle and Residences
Daryl Roth leads a New York-centric lifestyle centered on the city's theater ecosystem, where her professional commitments shape daily routines and social interactions. As a disciplined producer, she prioritizes immersion in Broadway and Off-Broadway activities, with theater occupying the majority of her time and attention, leaving little room for extraneous pursuits.[12] She maintains two pet Lowchen dogs, reflecting a longstanding affinity for animals that extends to producing the 2009 documentary My Dog: An Unconditional Love Story, with proceeds benefiting shelters.[12] Roth's residences underscore a pragmatic approach to assets, blending urban accessibility with selective retreats. Her primary home is in New York City, facilitating proximity to production hubs.[5] Previously, she and her husband owned a ten-room co-op at 834 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, sold in 2007 for $25 million.[18] Complementing this, they maintained a secondary oceanfront property on Long Island's East End near East Hampton, renovated in 2016 by architect Thierry Despont into a minimalist beach house emphasizing natural light, maritime motifs, and serene views—designed as a family weekend escape for Roth, her husband, children, and grandchildren, while serving as a private sanctuary for the couple.[19] The home, which withstood Hurricane Sandy unscathed, features elements like a barrel-vaulted ceiling and driftwood accents, aligning with Roth's expressed desire for "peace" amid her high-stakes career.[19] In 2024, the couple listed a Hamptons compound for $19.5 million.[20] Roth's habits exemplify a business-like discipline, such as her longstanding Sunday tradition of baking cookies for theater staff and personally delivering them with embraces, fostering loyalty without compromising operational focus.[21] Occasional travel provides respite, though non-theater reading is confined to scripts rather than leisure novels, reinforcing her investment in discerning projects over diversion.[12] Her ownership of the Daryl Roth Theatre at 101 East 15th Street functions as a strategic extension of personal holdings, prioritizing venue control as a hedge against industry volatility within her broader asset strategy.[22]Career Beginnings in Theater
Initial Entry and Motivations
Daryl Roth transitioned into theater producing in 1988, marking her entry from a non-arts professional background into the industry. After six months of actively seeking viable projects, she identified her debut as the off-Broadway musical revue Closer Than Ever, with lyrics by Richard Maltby Jr. and music by David Shire, which originated from a cabaret performance that captured her attention.[9][5] Roth's initial motivations centered on a deliberate, market-driven strategy, emphasizing the selection of scripts and concepts with inherent commercial viability alongside artistic merit. She approached producing as a business venture, prioritizing undervalued properties that demonstrated potential for both intellectual provocation—such as challenging audience perspectives—and broad profitability through critical success and audience draw.[9][15] This pivot reflected resilience amid entry barriers, including skepticism in the male-dominated field, where Roth faced questions about her viability as a producer; she persisted by focusing on hands-on evaluation of material with strong emotional and commercial resonance.[9][5]Early Productions and Hurdles
Roth's producing career commenced in 1988 with the Off-Broadway musical revue Closer Than Ever, featuring lyrics by Richard Maltby Jr. and music by David Shire, which premiered at the Cherry Lane Theatre and achieved a respectable run of 312 performances through 1990.[9][23] This initial venture marked her entry into theater production after years of avid attendance, though it preceded more substantial commercial risks. Subsequent early efforts in the early 1990s included Off-Broadway works such as The Baby Dance in 1991, a drama by Tina Howe that explored adoption themes, and Shmulnik's Waltz, a musical with score by David Shire, both reflecting her focus on intimate, character-driven pieces amid the era's competitive landscape.[24] Her Broadway debut came with the musical Nick & Nora in 1991, a $5.5 million adaptation of the Thin Man characters starring Barry Bostwick and Joanna Gleason, which opened at the Marquis Theatre on December 8 but closed after just nine performances on December 15 due to poor reviews and weak audience reception.[25][26] This flop incurred significant financial losses, emblematic of the high-stakes gambles in her nascent phase, where multiple productions failed to recoup amid rising costs and unpredictable market dynamics. Early endeavors often yielded mixed results, with Off-Broadway successes like Closer Than Ever providing modest returns but Broadway forays exposing vulnerabilities to capitalization shortfalls and critical backlash. These hurdles were mitigated by Roth's diversification into commercial theater backed by her husband Steven Roth's substantial real estate holdings through Vornado Realty Trust, which generated independent revenue streams to offset theater deficits.[27] Unlike peers in subsidy-reliant nonprofit institutions, this private financial buffer—stemming from Vornado's control of over $20 billion in assets by the 2010s—enabled sustained risk-taking without external grants, allowing Roth to weather flops like Nick & Nora and pivot to future investments rather than curtailing output.[27] This causal separation from public funding dependencies distinguished her trajectory, fostering resilience in an industry where 70-80% of productions historically fail to break even.[9]Theatrical Productions
Broadway Productions
Daryl Roth has produced over two dozen Broadway shows, with several achieving commercial longevity and critical acclaim through extended runs and prestigious awards. Her productions often feature a mix of new musicals and revivals of landmark plays, emphasizing works that resonate with broad audiences via compelling narratives and star power. Financial success is evidenced by recoupment and high box office grosses in hits like Kinky Boots, which capitalized on market demand for upbeat, inclusive stories.[28][29] A standout is Kinky Boots, which Roth co-produced and which opened on April 3, 2013, at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, running for 2,507 performances until April 7, 2019. The musical, based on the 2005 British film, earned six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and recouped its $13.5 million capitalization within months, ultimately grossing over $150 million on Broadway alone through strong weekly sales averaging $1 million in peak periods.[30] Roth also spearheaded the 2018 revival of Tony Kushner's Angels in America, directed by Marianne Elliott, which premiered Millennium Approaches on February 23, 2018, followed by Perestroika on March 25, 2018, at the Neil Simon Theatre. The production ran for 325 performances, winning three Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Play, and grossed approximately $20 million, buoyed by its timely exploration of politics and identity amid a polarized cultural landscape.[31] In the 2020s, Roth's Broadway efforts include Life of Pi (2023), which opened March 30, 2023, at the Schoenfeld Theatre and ran for 115 performances before recouping via touring extensions, praised for its innovative puppetry and box office draw exceeding $1 million weekly at times; Appropriate (2024 revival), a Pulitzer-winning play that transferred successfully with strong attendance; and Our Town (2024 revival), directed by Danya Taymor, which debuted September 26, 2024, at the Barrymore Theatre, generating buzz for its fresh take on the American classic. These underscore Roth's focus on revivals with proven appeal, often achieving profitability through critical momentum and audience turnout rather than niche experimentation.[32]| Production | Premiere Date | Performances | Key Achievements and Financial Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kinky Boots | April 3, 2013 | 2,507 | 6 Tony Awards; recouped $13.5M investment; $150M+ Broadway gross.[30] |
| Angels in America (revival) | February 23, 2018 | 325 | 3 Tony Awards; ~$20M gross, strong per-performance averages. |
| Life of Pi | March 30, 2023 | 115 (Broadway) | Olivier transfer; recouped via extensions; weekly grosses >$1M.[33] |