Daryl Roth Speaks

Daryl Roth at the League of Professional Theatre Women

As evidence that the one percent do give back, I surrendered to the trickle down effect today at a round-table at which Daryl Roth discussed the business of theatrical producing. Having spent some of her husband's spare change on her first few productions, she won seven Pulitzer Prizes and eleven Tony Awards partly by reviving Edward Albee ("he was not wanted in Manhattan") and mostly by following her instinct for plays that reflect people's lives and help to transform them. She proved her point earlier this year when she tore down the closing notice of "Indecent" ("I ripped it to shreds with my bare hands") and told the cast to spruik the audience for return visits with their friends. It worked and her investment paid off. But then, as she said, she has made enough from "Kinky Boots" alone to fly a few kites for a little while yet.