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Richard Steiner, Producer of Broadway Hits, Dies at 69 Rick Steiner, Producer of Broadway Hits, Dies at 69
(2 days later)
Rick Steiner, a Broadway producer who compiled a remarkable string of box-office hits that included “The Producers,” “Hairspray” and “Jersey Boys,” died on Thursday at his home in Cincinnati. He was 69.Rick Steiner, a Broadway producer who compiled a remarkable string of box-office hits that included “The Producers,” “Hairspray” and “Jersey Boys,” died on Thursday at his home in Cincinnati. He was 69.
Corky Steiner, his brother, said the cause had not yet been determined. Mr. Steiner had recently undergone open-heart surgery.Corky Steiner, his brother, said the cause had not yet been determined. Mr. Steiner had recently undergone open-heart surgery.
Mr. Steiner, who won five Tony Awards as a producer, was a Broadway anomaly with a colorful past in a wild assortment of businesses. He operated from his hometown, Cincinnati, and over the years assembled teams of investors that often included his childhood friends, notably Rocco Landesman, the president and later owner of the Jujamcyn Theater group, whom he first befriended as a boy in the 1950s at Camp Thunderbird in Bemidji, Minn.Mr. Steiner, who won five Tony Awards as a producer, was a Broadway anomaly with a colorful past in a wild assortment of businesses. He operated from his hometown, Cincinnati, and over the years assembled teams of investors that often included his childhood friends, notably Rocco Landesman, the president and later owner of the Jujamcyn Theater group, whom he first befriended as a boy in the 1950s at Camp Thunderbird in Bemidji, Minn.
When Mr. Landesman enlisted the singer and songwriter Roger Miller in the 1980s to write the music for “Big River,” a musical based on “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” Mr. Steiner threw in his lot as an investor.When Mr. Landesman enlisted the singer and songwriter Roger Miller in the 1980s to write the music for “Big River,” a musical based on “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” Mr. Steiner threw in his lot as an investor.
He immediately found out why Broadway has been called the boulevard of broken dreams. The musical failed to catch fire at first, running through its initial investment of $2.5 million in a matter of months.He immediately found out why Broadway has been called the boulevard of broken dreams. The musical failed to catch fire at first, running through its initial investment of $2.5 million in a matter of months.
So Mr. Steiner began haunting the half-price ticket booth in Times Square, passing out fliers and grabbing the sleeves of passers-by, begging them to see the show. “I was so naïve,” he told The Cincinnati Enquirer in 2008. “I was so petrified. I didn’t eat. I didn’t sleep.”So Mr. Steiner began haunting the half-price ticket booth in Times Square, passing out fliers and grabbing the sleeves of passers-by, begging them to see the show. “I was so naïve,” he told The Cincinnati Enquirer in 2008. “I was so petrified. I didn’t eat. I didn’t sleep.”
When “Big River” won seven Tony Awards, Mr. Steiner’s fortunes turned. The show ran for more than 1,000 performances and doubled its investors’ money.When “Big River” won seven Tony Awards, Mr. Steiner’s fortunes turned. The show ran for more than 1,000 performances and doubled its investors’ money.
Together, Mr. Steiner and Mr. Landesman, with other investors Mr. Steiner had assembled, went on to produce “Into the Woods,” “The Secret Garden” and “Smokey Joe’s Cafe,” all solid successes.Together, Mr. Steiner and Mr. Landesman, with other investors Mr. Steiner had assembled, went on to produce “Into the Woods,” “The Secret Garden” and “Smokey Joe’s Cafe,” all solid successes.
Then came “The Producers,” a stupendous hit. It won a record 12 Tony Awards in 2001 and confirmed Mr. Steiner’s reputation as an almost clairvoyant producer.Then came “The Producers,” a stupendous hit. It won a record 12 Tony Awards in 2001 and confirmed Mr. Steiner’s reputation as an almost clairvoyant producer.
Mr. Landesman told Cincinnati Business Courier: “He has a higher batting average as a producer than anyone I’ve ever met in the theater business. Period.”Mr. Landesman told Cincinnati Business Courier: “He has a higher batting average as a producer than anyone I’ve ever met in the theater business. Period.”
Richard Harris Steiner was born in Cincinnati on Nov. 8, 1946. His father, Philip, helped run Kenner Products, the maker of the Easy-Bake Oven, Play-Doh and other toys. Philip Steiner and his two brothers, Joseph and Albert, founded the company in 1947.Richard Harris Steiner was born in Cincinnati on Nov. 8, 1946. His father, Philip, helped run Kenner Products, the maker of the Easy-Bake Oven, Play-Doh and other toys. Philip Steiner and his two brothers, Joseph and Albert, founded the company in 1947.
Mr. Steiner’s mother, the former Desirée Harris, brought theater into the family bloodlines. Her mother was a Broadway actress, Desirée Lazard who, while appearing in the George M. Cohan musical “Forty-Five Minutes From Broadway” at the New Amsterdam Theater in 1906, met her future husband, Harry Harris. Mr. Harris, the theater’s manager and a former boxer known as the Human Hairpin, took the bantamweight title in 1901.Mr. Steiner’s mother, the former Desirée Harris, brought theater into the family bloodlines. Her mother was a Broadway actress, Desirée Lazard who, while appearing in the George M. Cohan musical “Forty-Five Minutes From Broadway” at the New Amsterdam Theater in 1906, met her future husband, Harry Harris. Mr. Harris, the theater’s manager and a former boxer known as the Human Hairpin, took the bantamweight title in 1901.
As a child, Rick acted in community theater productions. He learned to play poker in fourth grade from John Osher, one of his future investment partners, and made his first investment in seventh grade.As a child, Rick acted in community theater productions. He learned to play poker in fourth grade from John Osher, one of his future investment partners, and made his first investment in seventh grade.
After graduating from Walnut Hills High School, he enrolled in the University of Wisconsin, along with Mr. Landesman. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics in 1968 and in 1970 received an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.After graduating from Walnut Hills High School, he enrolled in the University of Wisconsin, along with Mr. Landesman. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics in 1968 and in 1970 received an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.
Instead of joining the family toymaking business, Mr. Steiner headed to Boston and opened a local branch of Channel One, a video theater. It showed “The Groove Tube,” a series of satirical sketches with Chevy Chase, Richard Belzer and other comics, on multiple television screens.Instead of joining the family toymaking business, Mr. Steiner headed to Boston and opened a local branch of Channel One, a video theater. It showed “The Groove Tube,” a series of satirical sketches with Chevy Chase, Richard Belzer and other comics, on multiple television screens.
After working for a short time as a cable-television marketer in New York, Mr. Steiner succumbed to wanderlust. He began traveling to county fairs across the country. Working from a van, he sold T-shirts he had imprinted with pictures of fairgoers.After working for a short time as a cable-television marketer in New York, Mr. Steiner succumbed to wanderlust. He began traveling to county fairs across the country. Working from a van, he sold T-shirts he had imprinted with pictures of fairgoers.
Returning to Cincinnati, he set up as a discount stockbroker and professional poker player. He won numerous tournaments in Las Vegas, notably the World Series of Poker seven-card-stud high-low title in 1992, with prize money of $105,000.Returning to Cincinnati, he set up as a discount stockbroker and professional poker player. He won numerous tournaments in Las Vegas, notably the World Series of Poker seven-card-stud high-low title in 1992, with prize money of $105,000.
By the time Mr. Landesman came calling, Mr. Steiner had built a considerable fortune from venture-capital investments and poker winnings. His trial by fire with “Big River” proved to be a useful learning experience. He emerged from it a canny marketer and salesman.By the time Mr. Landesman came calling, Mr. Steiner had built a considerable fortune from venture-capital investments and poker winnings. His trial by fire with “Big River” proved to be a useful learning experience. He emerged from it a canny marketer and salesman.
“People meet him and immediately trust him,” Mr. Landesman told the Cincinnati Business Courier. “Rick doesn’t communicate having an agenda. He communicates enthusiasm and camaraderie. He’s a natural salesman, and people just want to throw in with him.”“People meet him and immediately trust him,” Mr. Landesman told the Cincinnati Business Courier. “Rick doesn’t communicate having an agenda. He communicates enthusiasm and camaraderie. He’s a natural salesman, and people just want to throw in with him.”
He backed flops along the way, none more disappointing than “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” a Broadway musical built around the work of Bob Dylan. It ran for a mere 28 performances in 2006. The musicals “The Wedding Singer” (2006) and “Honeymoon in Vegas” (2015) also died early deaths.He backed flops along the way, none more disappointing than “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” a Broadway musical built around the work of Bob Dylan. It ran for a mere 28 performances in 2006. The musicals “The Wedding Singer” (2006) and “Honeymoon in Vegas” (2015) also died early deaths.
The failures were more than compensated for by shows like “Hairspray” and “Jersey Boys,” which ran for years. At his death, Mr. Steiner was developing a musical version of the movie “Bull Durham.”The failures were more than compensated for by shows like “Hairspray” and “Jersey Boys,” which ran for years. At his death, Mr. Steiner was developing a musical version of the movie “Bull Durham.”
Although he concentrated on musicals, he produced two straight plays. The two-character comedy “Topdog/Underdog,” developed at the Public Theater, caught his fancy in part because the plot involved three-card monte. In 2002 he took the play to Broadway, where it languished until it won a Pulitzer Prize for its author, Suzan-Lori Parks.Although he concentrated on musicals, he produced two straight plays. The two-character comedy “Topdog/Underdog,” developed at the Public Theater, caught his fancy in part because the plot involved three-card monte. In 2002 he took the play to Broadway, where it languished until it won a Pulitzer Prize for its author, Suzan-Lori Parks.
“The New York intelligentsia suddenly had to see it, even though they didn’t understand it,” Mr. Steiner told The Cincinnati Enquirer. “We escaped with a little bit of profit.”“The New York intelligentsia suddenly had to see it, even though they didn’t understand it,” Mr. Steiner told The Cincinnati Enquirer. “We escaped with a little bit of profit.”
In 2007, with Daniel C. Staton and Marc Bell, he produced “August: Osage County,” which won five Tonys, including the awards for best play (Tracy Letts), best director (Anna D. Shapiro) and best actress (Deanna Dunagan).In 2007, with Daniel C. Staton and Marc Bell, he produced “August: Osage County,” which won five Tonys, including the awards for best play (Tracy Letts), best director (Anna D. Shapiro) and best actress (Deanna Dunagan).
Unlike many producers, Mr. Steiner knew his limitations. He concentrated on marketing, investor relations and merchandising and left the creative side of things to others. “I know what I like and what I like to get involved in, but I don’t have the ability to critique from an artistic viewpoint,” he told The Enquirer. “It’s helped me make fewer enemies than I would have.”Unlike many producers, Mr. Steiner knew his limitations. He concentrated on marketing, investor relations and merchandising and left the creative side of things to others. “I know what I like and what I like to get involved in, but I don’t have the ability to critique from an artistic viewpoint,” he told The Enquirer. “It’s helped me make fewer enemies than I would have.”
Mr. Steiner’s marriage to the former Jan Steele ended in divorce, but the couple continued to live together. She survives him. In addition to his brother, he is also survived by two sons, Ace and Duke, and a daughter, Jacklyn Montgomery.Mr. Steiner’s marriage to the former Jan Steele ended in divorce, but the couple continued to live together. She survives him. In addition to his brother, he is also survived by two sons, Ace and Duke, and a daughter, Jacklyn Montgomery.
Mr. Steiner was a part owner of the Cincinnati Reds and several minor-league baseball teams. He was also one of the original investors in the Chi-Chi’s restaurant chain.Mr. Steiner was a part owner of the Cincinnati Reds and several minor-league baseball teams. He was also one of the original investors in the Chi-Chi’s restaurant chain.
But Broadway and the business of producing were his ruling passions. “It just consumes you; it takes everything that you have, every waking moment,” he told Theater Mania. “It takes you to the heights and the depths. I rank it up there with baseball and poker and sex.”But Broadway and the business of producing were his ruling passions. “It just consumes you; it takes everything that you have, every waking moment,” he told Theater Mania. “It takes you to the heights and the depths. I rank it up there with baseball and poker and sex.”