James M. Nederlander (March 31, 1922 – July 25, 2016) was an American theatrical producer who served as chairman of the Nederlander Organization,Nederlander Organization: Our Team - James M. Nederlander retrieved August 4, 2013 one of the largest operators of live theaters and music venues in the United States.New York Magazine: "Jimmy Nederlander's Endless Run" By Eric Konigsberg retrieved August 3, 2013 He was a 10-time Tony Award winner and was nominated for 37 Tony Awards.
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. 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. He has four brothers: Harry, Robert, Fred, and Joseph; and one sister, Frances.
Career
Jimmy was the first of the brothers to go into the family business. He dropped out of the pre-law program at the Detroit Institute of Technology, 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 expanding nationally with Jimmy moving to New York City, Harry to San Francisco, and Joey remaining in Detroit. 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. In 1973, Nederlander and his brothers joined with George Steinbrenner as limited partners when Steinbrenner purchased the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball.
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. They are the only one of the three that is still run by its owners.
Personal life Nederlander was married twice. His first wife was Barbara SmithNew York Times: "Paid Notice: Deaths NEDERLANDER, BARBARA S" September 13, 2010Legacy.com copy of New York Times obituary September 13, 2010 retrieved August 7, 2013 with whom he had a son, James L. Nederlander, the current CEO and owner of the Nederlander Organization. In 1969, he married his second wife Charlene Saunders (born 1934).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
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.
Awards and nominations
Tony Awards
Year Nominated work Role Category Result 1974 SeesawProducer Best Musical 1977 Otherwise EngagedProducer Best Play 1979 Whose Life Is It Anyway?Producer Best Play 1980 West Side StoryProducer Best Revival 1981 Woman of the YearProducer Best Musical 1982 The DresserProducer Best Play 1982 The Life and Adventures of Nicholas NicklebyProducer Best Play 1982 NineProducer Best Musical 1983 MerlinProducer Best Musical 1984 Noises OffProducer Best Play 1984 La Cage aux FollesProducer Best Musical 1985 Strange InterludeProducer Best Revival 1985 Cyrano de BergeracProducer Best Revival 1985 Much Ado About NothingProducer Best Revival 1985 GrindProducer Best Musical 1986 Sweet CharityProducer Best Revival 1986 The Iceman ComethProducer Best Revival 1986 BenefactorsProducer Best Play 1987 Les Liaisons DangereusesProducer Best Play 1987 Me and My GirlProducer Best Musical 1989 Cafe CrownProducer Best Revival 1991 Peter PanProducer Best Revival 1991 ShadowlandsProducer Best Revival 1991 The Will Rogers FolliesProducer Best Musical 1993 The Goodbye GirlProducer Best Musical 1994 She Loves MeProducer Best Revival of a Musical 1995 How to Succeed in Business Without Really TryingProducer Best Revival of a Musical 1996 The King and IProducer Best Revival of a Musical 1998 A View From the BridgeProducer Best Revival of a Play 1998 1776Producer Best Revival of a Musical 1999 Peter PanProducer Best Revival of a Musical 2000 CopenhagenProducer Best Play 2002 Private LivesProducer Best Revival of a Play 2004 Special Tony AwardRecipient Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre 2013 AnnieProducer Best Revival of a Musical 2016 Fiddler on the RoofProducer Best Revival of a Musical 2016 School of RockProducer Best Musical
Drama Desk Awards
Year Nominated work Role Category Result 1975 London Assurance Producer Unique Theatrical Experience 1977 Otherwise Engaged Producer Outstanding New Play (Foreign) 1980 Night and Day Producer Outstanding New Play 1981 Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music Producer Outstanding Musical 1982 NineProducer Outstanding Musical 1984 Noises Off Producer Outstanding New Play 1984 La Cage aux Folles Producer Outstanding Musical 1985 Aren't We All? Producer Outstanding Revival 1986 The Iceman Cometh Producer Outstanding Revival 1986 Benefactors Producer Outstanding New Play [1987 Les Liaisons Dangereuses Producer Outstanding New Play 1987 Me and My Girl Producer Outstanding Musical 1991 The Will Rogers Follies Producer Outstanding Musical 1995 How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Producer Outstanding Musical 1996 The King and I Producer Outstanding Revival of a Musical 2000 Copenhagen Producer Outstanding New Play 2002 Private Lives Producer Outstanding Revival of a Play 2003 Medea Producer Outstanding Revival of a Play 2016 Fiddler on the Roof Producer Outstanding Revival of a Musical 2016 School of Rock Producer Outstanding Musical
See also James M. Nederlander Theatre
References
External links Nederlander Producing Company of America