Tony-Winning Broadway Producer Behind HAIRSPRAY, JERSEY BOYS Dies at 69

BroadwayWorld is saddened to report that five-time Tony Award-winning Broadway producer Rick Steiner passed away last week, November 3, in Cincinnati. He was 69.

According to The New York Times, Steiner's first investment, the musical BIG RIVER, was almost a flop. But the tides turned after he began passing out fliers by the half-price booth in Times Square, and the show ended up winning seven Tony Awards and doubling his money.

After that, Steiner and Rocco Landesman (later owner of Jujamcyn Theater group, with whom Steiner had produced BIG RIVER) went on to produce Broadway's INTO THE WOODS, THE SECRET GARDEN and SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE.

One of Steiner's biggest box office successes was Mel Brooks' THE PRODUCERS, which won 12 Tony Awards in 2001. He was also behind the iconic HAIRSPRAY - now heading to NBC for a live production this winter - and the long-running JERSEY BOYS.

Although he mainly focused on musicals, Steiner also produced Suzan-Lori Parks' TOPDOG/UNDERDOG at The Public Theater before transferring it to Broadway, as well as the Tony-winning AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY in 2007.

His fortunes weren't always so bright; Steiner backed THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN', THE WEDDING SINGER, and, more recently, Jason Robert Brown's HONEYMOON IN VEGAS.

But the tireless producer was undeterred. Steiner was working on the musical adaptation of BULL DURHAM before his death.

Photo Credit: Jenn Prine