Jordan Roth | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Roth in 2024 | |
| Born | (1975-11-13)November 13, 1975 (age 50) New York City, US |
| Education | Princeton University (BA) Columbia University (MBA) |
| Known for | ATG Entertainment Creative Director |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent(s) | Steven Roth Daryl Roth |
Jordan Roth (born November 13, 1975) is the creative director ofATG Entertainment.[1]
Born inNew York City to aJewish family, Roth spent his elementary years inRidgewood, New Jersey, with his parents – billionaire real estate developerSteven Roth and theater producerDaryl Roth – and older sister.[2] He returned to New York in middle school to attend theHorace Mann School.[3][4] Throughout high school he performed in plays and frequently attended Broadway shows with his mother, to whom he credits his early exposure to theater.[2]
Roth graduated with degrees in philosophy and theater fromPrinceton University.[5][6] He later received an MBA fromColumbia Business School.[6][7]
After graduating, Roth returned to New York City.[8] In 1999, he producedThe Donkey Show, an interactiveA Midsummer Night's Dream set to disco music.[7] The production, a disco club event combining elements of both theater and nightlife,[3] ran for six years off Broadway, toured internationally, and ran weekly at the Oberon space of the American Repertory Theater inCambridge, Massachusetts[9] until 2019.[10] The show was described byThe New York Times as "a lark, an exuberant and witty splicing of disparate sources."[11]
In 2001, Roth staged a musical revival of the 1975 Broadway hit,The Rocky Horror Show, which ran until 2002.[12] Through the course of the run, the cast includedDick Cavett,Joan Jett,Luke Perry,Ana Gasteyer, and a rotation of guest narrators.[13][14][15] The show was nominated for fourTony Awards includingBest Musical Revival in 2001, fiveDrama Desk Awards, twoOuter Critics Circle Awards, and aDrama League Award.[16]
In 2005, Roth joined Jujamcyn Theaters as a resident producer. He was promoted to vice president in 2006.[17][18] In 2009, while still at Jujamcyn, he began anMBA program atColumbia University.[7] In September 2009, at age 33, he purchased a 50% ownership stake in Jujamcyn Theaters and became the company's president whenRocco Landesman, Jujamcyn's previous president and owner, was appointed byPresident Obama to run theNational Endowment for the Arts.[19] In 2013, he acquired a majority stake in Jujamcyn, with Landesman retaining a small interest and becoming President Emeritus.[20]
Since Roth assumed the title of President, Jujamcyn Theaters has been home to productions such as the Tony Award-winningThe Book of Mormon,Clybourne Park,Kinky Boots,A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, andHadestown, as well as productions ofA Little Night Music,Bullets Over Broadway,Something Rotten!,Present Laughter withKevin Kline,Frozen,Mean Girls, andMoulin Rouge!.[21]
In 2023, Jujamcyn andATG Entertainment combined operations and Roth became the combined company's largest individual shareholder, with a seat on the board.[1] Jujamcyn sold a 93 percent stake in the company to ATG Entertainment in a deal that valued the Jujamcyn portfolio at $308 million, and Roth assumed the role of creative director of ATG Entertainment.[22] Jujamcyn received a 7 percent stake in theLyric Theatre, theHudson Theatre and theKings Theatre, valued at a combined $98 million.[22] The combination allowed Jujamcyn to pay down $203 million in debt.[22]
Roth has appeared on television as the Broadway correspondent toMSNBC'sMorning Joe[23] and has played himself in a recurring role on theNBC television seriesSmash.[24][25] Roth is anhaute couture collector. He journaled the Spring 2019Paris Fashion Week forVogue magazine.[26]The New York Times said Roth has become a "red carpet magnet" due to his "penchant for avant-garde couture."[27]
Roth hosts an interview seriesBroadway Talks at the92nd Street Y, facilitating one-on-one discussions with Broadway actors.[28][29] He also produced and starred in theYouTube animated series,The Birds and the BS, a comedic series addressing American culture during thefirst Trump presidency;[30] and publishes the online newsletter, Warmly Jordan.[31] Previously, Roth founded the social network websiteCulturalist, which aggregated "Top 10” lists from users.[32]
In 2007, Roth created Givenik.com, a service that allowed theater-goers to buy discounted tickets and give 5% of their ticket price to the charity of their choice. Givenik.com supported over 500 charitable organizations.[33][32] As of 2020, it has ceased operations.[34]
Roth supports organizations working for the arts, the city and for LGBTQ equality.[35] He serves on the board of trustees forFreedom To Marry[36] andBroadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS[37] and the Board of Governors for theBroadway League.[38] He also supports the LGBTQ+ Suicide Prevention Hotline andThe Trevor Project, a hotline for young people in crisis.[35]
On October 17, 2016, Roth andHarvey Weinstein collaborated to produceBroadway for Hillary, a one-night fundraiser hosted by Billy Crystal, featuring Julia Roberts, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hugh Jackman, Sarah Jessica Parker, Emily Blunt, Angela Bassett, Neil Patrick Harris, and Helen Mirren.[39]
In June 2003, Roth metRichie Jackson, a talent manager and executive producer.[40] They married in September 2012. Among those in attendance was family friendDonald Trump, who would later become a target for Roth's satire.[41]He is co-parent of Jackson Foo Wong, Jackson's son with his former partner,BD Wong. Roth's son with Jackson,Levi Emmanuel Roth, was born through surrogacy in 2016.[42][43]
Roth is a seven-timeTony Award winner.[44] He produced the 11-time Tony-nominated production ofAngels in America, which won Tony Awards forBest Revival of a Play, Best Actor (Andrew Garfield), and Best Featured Actor (Nathan Lane) in 2018.[45]
On February 2, 2019, Roth received the HRC Legacy Award, awarded by theHuman Rights Campaign, an organization that raises funds in the fight forLGBT equality.[46]
| Year | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | The Rocky Horror Show | Nominated |
| 2007 | Outstanding Play | Radio Golf | Nominated |
| 2008 | Outstanding Musical | A Catered Affair | Nominated |
| 2009 | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Hair | Won |
| 2010 | Finian's Rainbow | Nominated | |
| 2012 | Outstanding Musical | Leap of Faith | Nominated |
| 2015 | Something Rotten! | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Side Show | Nominated | |
| 2017 | Falsettos | Nominated | |
| 2018 | Outstanding Revival of a Play | Angels in America | Won |
| 2022 | Company | Won | |
| 2023 | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Into the Woods | Nominated |
| Outstanding Musical | Some Like It Hot | Won |
| Year | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Best Revival of a Musical | The Rocky Horror Show | Nominated |
| 2006 | Best Musical | The Wedding Singer | Nominated |
| 2007 | Best Play | Radio Golf | Nominated |
| 2009 | Best Revival of a Musical | Hair | Won |
| 2010 | Finian's Rainbow | Nominated | |
| 2012 | Best Play | Clybourne Park | Won |
| Best Musical | Leap of Faith | Nominated | |
| 2013 | Kinky Boots | Won | |
| 2015 | Something Rotten! | Nominated | |
| 2017 | Groundhog Day | Nominated | |
| Best Revival of a Musical | Falsettos | Nominated | |
| Best Revival of a Play | Present Laughter | Nominated | |
| 2018 | Angels in America | Won | |
| 2019 | Torch Song | Nominated | |
| Best Musical | Hadestown | Won | |
| 2021 | Moulin Rouge! | Won | |
| Jagged Little Pill | Nominated | ||
| 2022 | Best Revival of a Musical | Company | Won |
| 2023 | Into the Woods | Nominated | |
| Best Musical | Some Like It Hot | Nominated |