The story behind the work
Sue Gilad is a Broadway producer whose productions have earned 84 Tony Award nominations, 30 Tony Awards, and a Grammy Award. Her credits include The Outsiders, Merrily We Roll Along, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Buena Vista Social Club, Company, and Angels in America, along with Funny Girl and Jagged Little Pill. She did not arrive with a plan. Her sister danced, so Sue went to dance class, could not stop talking, and got sent down the hall to the theater kids. She says she is not the greatest singer or dancer. She is the greatest fan, and she built a career on that.
As a producer, Sue is the champion for a show. She and her team read scripts, sit through developmental workshops and readings, and travel to downtown houses, summer stock, and out of town theaters looking for the next one. Once a project is greenlit, the work becomes assembling the director, choreographer, designers, general manager, stage management, and cast. The average musical takes eight to ten years to reach Broadway. Sue is an Angel and former Leadership Council Co-Chair for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, leads theatre-based leadership and communication programs, and speaks internationally. The Broadway musical Purple Rain is set to open in spring 2027.
Sue joined host Jodie Lemon on the YES! Women's Network Podcast for an unusually practical look at an industry most people only see on opening night. She explained what it actually takes to build a Broadway show and keep going when one does not become a hit, including why she watches the audience instead of the stage during out of town tryouts, why early readings benefit from less polished actors, and how she met her producing partner Larry in 1996. She also made the case that a sixth grader's production of Clue can do what Broadway does.
