James M. Nederlander
Born(1922-03-31)March 31, 1922
Detroit, Michigan, US
DiedJuly 25, 2016(2016-07-25) (aged 94)
New York City, US
Occupation(s)Live theater owner and operator
Known forChairman of the Nederlander Organization
Spouse(s)Barbara Smith (divorced)
Charlene Saunders
ChildrenJames L. Nederlander
FamilyRobert Nederlander (brother)
Joseph Z. Nederlander (brother)

James M. Nederlander (March 31, 1922 – July 25, 2016)[1] was an American theatrical producer who served as chairman of the Nederlander Organization,[2] one of the largest operators of live theaters and music venues in the United States.[3][4][5] He was a 10-time Tony Award winner and was nominated for 37 Tony Awards.[6]

Early life and education

Nederlander was born in Detroit to a Jewish family, one of six children of Sarah (née Applebaum) and David T. "D.T." Nederlander.[1][3][7] His father bought his first live theater in 1905, the Fisher Theater in Detroit (which is no longer owned by the family) and founded the family company, the Nederlander Organization.[1] He has four brothers: Harry, Robert, Fred, and Joseph; and one sister, Frances.[1]

Career

James M. Nederlander Theatre. Originally the Oriental Theatre. George L. and Cornelius W. Rapp, 1926.

Jimmy was the first of the brothers to go into the family business.[3] He dropped out of the pre-law program at the Detroit Institute of Technology,[8] took a job in the box office of the Lafayette Theater, and then worked as the treasurer in the traveling Air Force production of Moss Hart's Winged Victory which played on Broadway where he made valuable connections. After his father's death in the 1960s, the Nederlander brothers continued to purchase theaters[1] expanding nationally with Jimmy moving to New York City, Harry to San Francisco, and Joey remaining in Detroit.[3] Their largest rivals were the Shubert family, the founders of Broadway theatre district in New York City. From 1965 to 1985, Jimmy purchased ten theaters in New York City and produced hundreds of plays forming close relationships with producers David Merrick, Alexander H. Cohen, and Emanuel Azenberg.[3] In 1973, Nederlander and his brothers joined with George Steinbrenner as limited partners when Steinbrenner purchased the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball.[1]

The Nederlander Organization controls nine Broadway theaters and is the second largest owner, of the three companies that dominate Broadway after the Shubert Organization (which owns sixteen theaters) and ahead of Jujamcyn (which owns five). The Nederlander Organization owns a larger number of theater houses than the others with an additional fifteen theaters nationwide.[3] They are the only one of the three that is still run by its owners.[3]

Personal life

Nederlander was married twice. His first wife was Barbara Smith[9][10] with whom he has a son, James L. Nederlander.[3] In 1969, he married his second wife Charlene Saunders (born 1934).[11]

Broadway in Chicago announced on November 13, 2018, that the Oriental Theater was to be renamed in honor of James, the founder of Broadway In Chicago. On February 8, 2019 the venue unveiled its newly renovated marquee, vertical blade sign and signage as the James M. Nederlander Theatre.[12]

Awards and nominations

Tony Awards

Year Nominated work Role Category Result
1974 Seesaw Producer Best Musical Nominated
1977 Otherwise Engaged Producer Best Play Nominated
1979 Whose Life Is It Anyway? Producer Best Play Nominated
1980 West Side Story Producer Best Revival Nominated
1981 Woman of the Year Producer Best Musical Nominated
1982 The Dresser Producer Best Play Nominated
1982 The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby Producer Best Play Won
1982 Nine Producer Best Musical Won
1983 Merlin Producer Best Musical Nominated
1984 Noises Off Producer Best Play Nominated
1984 La Cage aux Folles Producer Best Musical Won
1985 Strange Interlude Producer Best Revival Nominated
1985 Cyrano de Bergerac Producer Best Revival Nominated
1985 Much Ado About Nothing Producer Best Revival Nominated
1985 Grind Producer Best Musical Nominated
1986 Sweet Charity Producer Best Revival Won
1986 The Iceman Cometh Producer Best Revival Nominated
1986 Benefactors Producer Best Play Nominated
1987 Les Liaisons Dangereuses Producer Best Play Nominated
1987 Me and My Girl Producer Best Musical Nominated
1989 Cafe Crown Producer Best Revival Nominated
1991 Peter Pan Producer Best Revival Nominated
1991 Shadowlands Producer Best Revival Nominated
1991 The Will Rogers Follies Producer Best Musical Won
1993 The Goodbye Girl Producer Best Musical Nominated
1994 She Loves Me Producer Best Revival of a Musical Nominated
1995 How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Producer Best Revival of a Musical Nominated
1996 The King and I Producer Best Revival of a Musical Won
1998 A View From the Bridge Producer Best Revival of a Play Won
1998 1776 Producer Best Revival of a Musical Nominated
1999 Peter Pan Producer Best Revival of a Musical Nominated
2000 Copenhagen Producer Best Play Won
2002 Private Lives Producer Best Revival of a Play Won
2004 Special Tony Award Recipient Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre Won
2013 Annie Producer Best Revival of a Musical Nominated
2016 Fiddler on the Roof Producer Best Revival of a Musical Nominated
2016 School of Rock Producer Best Musical Nominated

Drama Desk Awards

Year Nominated work Role Category Result
1975 London Assurance Producer Unique Theatrical Experience Won
1977 Otherwise Engaged Producer Outstanding New Play (Foreign) Won
1980 Night and Day Producer Outstanding New Play Nominated
1981 Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music Producer Outstanding Musical Nominated
1982 Nine Producer Outstanding Musical Won
1984 Noises Off Producer Outstanding New Play Nominated
1984 La Cage aux Folles Producer Outstanding Musical Nominated
1985 Aren't We All? Producer Outstanding Revival Nominated
1986 The Iceman Cometh Producer Outstanding Revival Nominated
1986 Benefactors Producer Outstanding New Play Nominated
[1987 Les Liaisons Dangereuses Producer Outstanding New Play Nominated
1987 Me and My Girl Producer Outstanding Musical Nominated
1991 The Will Rogers Follies Producer Outstanding Musical Won
1995 How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Producer Outstanding Musical Nominated
1996 The King and I Producer Outstanding Revival of a Musical Won
2000 Copenhagen Producer Outstanding New Play Won
2002 Private Lives Producer Outstanding Revival of a Play Won
2003 Medea Producer Outstanding Revival of a Play Nominated
2016 Fiddler on the Roof Producer Outstanding Revival of a Musical Nominated
2016 School of Rock Producer Outstanding Musical Nominated

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 McG. Thomas Jr., Robert (August 16, 1990). "From Broadway to the Bronx; Robert Nederlander Brings Low-Key Management Style to the Yankees — New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-09-12.
  2. ↑ Nederlander Organization: Our Team - James M. Nederlander retrieved August 4, 2013
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 New York Magazine: "Jimmy Nederlander's Endless Run" By Eric Konigsberg retrieved August 3, 2013
  4. ↑ "James M. Nederlander Biography (1922-)". www.filmreference.com/. filmreference. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  5. ↑ "James M. Nederlander dies at 94". NY Post. Archived from the original on 26 July 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  6. ↑ "James M. Nederlander Awards". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2019-09-01.
  7. ↑ Chessler, Suzanne. "Obituary: Joseph Nederlander, Michigan's Theater Pioneer — Detroit Jewish News". The Jewish News. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  8. ↑ Kennedy, Mark (26 July 2016). "James M. Nederlander, theater impresario, dies at 94". Washington Post.
  9. ↑ New York Times: "Paid Notice: Deaths NEDERLANDER, BARBARA S" September 13, 2010
  10. ↑ Legacy.com copy of New York Times obituary September 13, 2010 retrieved August 7, 2013
  11. ↑ South Florida South Florida Real Estate News: "South Florida Real Estate News: "Theater owner-producer buys Palm Beach 4BD for $5.5M" by Ross Franco March 8, 2007
  12. ↑ Di Nunzio, Miriam (February 5, 2019). "Chicago's Oriental Theatre marquee is history: PHOTOS". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
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