Jujamcyn Theaters

File:St James Theatre - Frozen (48296062327).jpg

William L. McKnight, former chairman of 3M, owned several theatres, two in New York and one in Boston. McKnight's daughter, Virginia McKnight Binger and her husband, James H. Binger, a top executive at Honeywell, shared a love of theatre. In 1976 when William McKnight wanted to sell his theatres, Binger stepped in to assist.{{cite journal|date=6 Oct 1976|volume=284|issue=9|page=77|id={{ProQuest|1401295438}}|title=Legitimate: New Management Takes Control Of McKnight Houses|journal=Variety}} He found the business fascinating, and after paying the gift tax and selling the Colonial Theatre in Boston, he and Virginia agreed to own and later expand the operation on Broadway.

Jujamcyn derives its name from the names of McKnight's grandchildren, the Bingers' children: Ju[dith], Jam[es], and Cyn[thia]. Over time Binger expanded Jujamcyn to five theatres to create the third-largest theatre-owning company on Broadway. The five Jujamcyn theatres are:

1. St. James Theatre (acquired in 1957 by McKnight){{Cite news|last=Zolotow|first=Sam|date=1957-07-30|title=Playhouse Here Sold by Shuberts; St. James Relinquished Under Terms of Court Decree for Reported $1,750,000 Sig Arno Returning|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1957/07/30/archives/playhouse-here-sold-by-sauberts-st-james-relinquished-under-terms.html|access-date=2022-01-08|issn=0362-4331}}
2. Al Hirschfeld Theatre (formerly the Martin Beck Theatre,{{Cite news|last=Pogrebin|first=Robin|date=2003-06-24|title=A Theater Is Renamed for Al Hirschfeld|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/24/nyregion/a-theater-is-renamed-for-al-hirschfeld.html|access-date=2022-01-09|issn=0362-4331}} acquired in 1966 by McKnight){{Cite news|last=Zolotow|first=Sam|date=1966-02-17|title=The Martin Beck Is Sold by Widow; McKnight, Chairman of 3-M, Signs to Pay $1.5-Million|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1966/02/17/archives/the-martin-beck-is-sold-by-widow-mcknight-chairman-of-3m-signs-to.html|access-date=2022-01-09|issn=0362-4331}}
3. August Wilson Theatre (formerly the Virginia Theatre,{{Cite news|last=McKinley|first=Jesse|date=2005-10-17|title=Virginia Theater Takes a New Name: August Wilson|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/17/nyregion/virginia-theater-takes-a-new-name-august-wilson.html|access-date=2022-01-09|issn=0362-4331}} acquired in 1981){{Cite news|date=1981-12-19|title=The Anta Renamed the Virginia|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/19/theater/the-anta-renamed-the-virginia.html|access-date=2022-01-09|issn=0362-4331}}
4. Eugene O'Neill Theatre (acquired in 1982){{Cite news|date=1982-03-03|title=O'Neill Theater Is Sold|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/03/03/theater/o-neill-theater-is-sold.html|access-date=2022-01-09|issn=0362-4331}}
5. Walter Kerr Theatre (formerly the Ritz Theatre,{{Cite news|last=Rothstein|first=Mervyn|date=1989-08-01|title=New Face and Name For the Ritz Theater|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/01/theater/new-face-and-name-for-the-ritz-theater.html|access-date=2022-01-09|issn=0362-4331}} acquired in 1981){{Cite news|last=Blau|first=Eleanor|date=1981-11-19|title=Ritz Theater to Return as a Broadway House|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/11/19/theater/ritz-theater-to-return-as-a-broadway-house.html|access-date=2022-01-09|issn=0362-4331}}

In 1987 Binger brought in Rocco Landesman to run Jujamcyn.[https://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/10/theater/rocco-landesman-named-jujamcyn-theaters-head.html "Rocco Landesman named Jujamcyn Theaters Head"] New York Times, June 10, 1987 Landesman was a successful theatrical producer and was friendly with Binger from previous theatrical productions and a shared interest in racehorses.[https://www.nytimes.com/1990/06/03/theater/theater-how-a-high-roller-bets-on-broadway.html?scp=1&sq=how%20a%20high%20roller%20bets%20on%20broadway&st=cse&pagewanted=all "How a High Roller Bets on Broadway"] New York Times article, June 3, 1990 Over the next 17 years, Landesman, Binger and the Jujamcyn organization would produce and house a successful string of Broadway hits. Including box office juggernaut The Producers, which won a record 12 Tony Awards in 2001.[http://www.mcknight.org/about/news_detail.aspx?itemID=2163&catID=54&typeID=2 McKnight Foundation : About] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070321025220/http://www.mcknight.org/about/news_detail.aspx?itemID=2163&catID=54&typeID=2 |date=2007-03-21 }}

Virginia Binger died in 2002, and James Binger died in 2004.{{Cite news|last=McKinley|first=Jesse|date=2004-11-05|title=James H. Binger, 88, Leader of Broadway Theater Chain, Dies|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/05/theater/james-h-binger-88-leader-of-broadway-theater-chain-dies.html|access-date=2022-01-09|issn=0362-4331}}

Rocco Landesman, producer and President of Jujamcyn since 1987, announced that he planned to buy Jujamcyn Theatres, telling the New York Times that he had a long-standing understanding with Binger that he would buy Jujamcyn's five playhouses. The theatres had an estimated net asset value of about $30 million. Landesman closed the deal in February 2005 for $30M, but then tried to sell a 50% stake in the group for $50M to enable investment in the Cincinnati Reds baseball team – his group lost out to Robert Castellini.{{cite news|title=Investor Group Has Local Links |first=Greg |last=Paeth |work=The Cincinnati Post |publisher=E. W. Scripps Company |date=2005-08-22 |page=A1 |url=http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050822/SPT05/508220351 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060204215832/http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20050822%2FSPT05%2F508220351 |archive-date=2006-02-04 |url-status=dead }}

In 2009 after 22 years with Jujamcyn, Landesman was tapped by the Obama administration to take a position in Washington as chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. That year, Landesman sold a half interest in Jujamcyn to Jordan Roth, a successful 33-year-old theatrical producer who had joined the company in 2005 as resident producer and vice president. Roth, as president, assumed full control of Jujamcyn as Landesman departed for the NEA.{{Cite news |last=Cohen |first=Patricia |date=2009-09-08 |title=A New Force on Broadway |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/09/theater/09theater.html |access-date=2023-03-05 |issn=0362-4331}} From his first year, Roth began identifying a new era of shows for the company’s theaters with his first hits including, Spring Awakening, with eight Tony Awards, Grey Gardens, with three, and his 2009 revival of Hair.

In 2013, Roth bought the majority stake of Jujamcyn, making him the youngest principal owner of a Broadway theatre chain.{{Cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/jordan-roth-is-now-principal-owner-of-broadways-jujamcyn-theaters-com-201750|title=Jordan Roth Is Now Principal Owner of Broadway's Jujamcyn Theaters|last=Jones|first=Kenneth|date= 2013-01-22|website=Playbill|language=en|access-date=2019-04-02}} Since Roth took over, Jujamcyn theaters have been home to notable shows including Tony-award winners The Book of Mormon, Springsteen on Broadway, Kinky Boots, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, and Clybourne Park among many others.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2013/legit/news/roth-ups-his-stake-in-jujamcyn-1118064913/|title=Roth ups his stake in Jujamcyn|last=Cox|first=Gordon|date=2013-01-21|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2019-04-02}} As part of a settlement with the United States Department of Justice in 2021, Jujamcyn agreed to improve disabled access at its five Broadway theaters.{{Cite news|last=Paybarah|first=Azi|date=2021-07-14|title=Broadway, Awaiting Crowds' Return, Will Get More Wheelchair Access|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/13/arts/broadway-theaters-wheelchair-access.html|access-date=2021-12-30|issn=0362-4331}}{{cite web|date=July 14, 2021|title=Broadway's Jujamcyn Theaters To Improve Accessibility In Settlement|url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/broadway-jujamcyn-theaters-wheelchair-accessibility-lawsuit-settlement-1234792731/|access-date=December 30, 2021|website=Deadline}} The same year, Roth hired SeatGeek to manage ticket sales for all five of Jujamcyn's theaters; previously, Ticketmaster had been in charge of ticket sales.{{Cite news |last=Paulson |first=Michael |last2=Sisario |first2=Ben |date=2021-01-29 |title=A Broadway Theater Owner Rethinks Post-Pandemic Ticket Selling |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/29/theater/broadway-tickets-jujamcyn-seatgeek-ticketmaster.html |access-date=2023-03-05 |issn=0362-4331}}

In February 2023, it was announced that Jujamcyn would merge with Ambassador Theatre Group, although it was unclear what the combined company would be called. The agreement would give the combined company seven Broadway theaters, and Jordan Roth was to be appointed as the creative director for the company.{{cite web | last=Culwell-Block | first=Logan | title=Broadway Theatre Owners Jujamcyn and Ambassador Theatre Group Joining Forces | website=Playbill | date=February 14, 2023 | url=https://playbill.com/article/broadway-theatre-owners-jujamcyn-and-ambassador-theatre-group-joining-forces | access-date=March 5, 2023}}{{Cite news|last=Paulson|first=Michael|date=2023-02-14|title=Broadway and West End Theater Owners Agree to Join Forces|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/14/theater/jujamcyn-atg-broadway.html|access-date=2023-03-05|issn=0362-4331}} In July 2023, Jordan Roth sold a 93 percent stake in Jujamcyn's five theaters to ATG and Providence Equity. In exchange, Roth bought a 7 percent ownership stake in ATG's two other Broadway theaters, the Lyric Theatre and the Hudson Theatre.{{cite web | last=Dilakian | first=Steven | title=Jordan Roth Sells Majority Stake in Five Jujamcyn Theaters | website=The Real Deal | date=July 20, 2023 | url=https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2023/07/20/steven-roths-son-inks-300m-deal-for-majority-stake-in-jujamcyn-theaters/ | access-date=May 13, 2024}}{{cite web | title=Ambassador Theater Group, Providence Equity acquire control of Jujamcyn's Broadway theaters in $308.4M deal | website=PincusCo | date=July 20, 2023 | url=https://www.pincusco.com/ambassador-theater-group-providence-equity-acquire-control-of-jujamcyns-broadway-theaters-in-308-4m-deal/?lp_txn_id=304140 | access-date=May 13, 2024}}

• Morris A. Mechanic Theatre, Baltimore (1995–2000) sold to SFX Theatricals[articles.baltimoresun.com/1995-07-28/features/1995209001_1_jujamcyn-theaters-mechanic-1995-1996-season N.Y. producers expected to restore luster as pre-Broadway theater New deal can help Mechanic clean up its act][http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MN&p_theme=mn&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EFCCE3E173A4956&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Twin Cities-based show producer Jujamcyn is sold to N.Y. giant SFX]
• Royal George Theatre, Chicago (1993–1997) sold to Reading Entertainment[https://www.chicagotribune.com/1998/09/18/royal-george-theatre-getting-new-owners/ Royal George Theatre Getting New Owners]
• Weidner Center, Green Bay, Wisconsin (1995–1998) producing partner[https://archive.today/20130704173708/http://www.intix.org/news.php?ArticleID=1647 Weidner Center lays off half its staff]
• Orpheum Theatre and State Theatre, Minneapolis (1995–2000) producing partner, sold to SFX Theatricals{{cite news |title= Downtown theater season announced|newspaper=Star Tribune |date= October 25, 1995}}
• Orpheum Theater, Omaha (1995–2000) producing partner, sold to SFX Theatricals{{cite news |title=Opera Omaha Plans to Lure More Musicals Organization In Minneapolis Will Be Partner |newspaper=Omaha World-Herald |date=February 6, 1995 }}
• Portland Civic Auditorium, Portland, Oregon (1994–2000) producing partner, sold to SFX Theatricals{{cite news |title=SECOND BROADWAY SERIES APPROVED |newspaper=The Oregonian |date=July 14, 1994 }}
• Ordway Music Theatre, St. Paul (1992–1996){{cite news |title=Ordway aims to expand its presence |newspaper=Star Tribune |date=February 5, 1992 }}{{cite news |title=Jujamcyn says it will end link with Ordway |newspaper=Star Tribune |date=December 31, 1994 }}

• Broadway theatre
• Jujamcyn Award - award given for 20+ years to outstanding theatre organizations

Notes

{{reflist|2}}

• {{official}}
• {{IBDB name|20447|Jujamcyn Theaters}}
• [http://www.theatredb.com/QPerson.php?pid=p007660 Theatre dBase]

{{Broadway theatres}}

Category:Theatre-owning companies

Jujamcyn

Category:Roth family

Category:Broadway theatre