production history

Judy Gordon Productions

Judy Gordon started her producing career as assistant to the playwright Peter Stone 

on a political show A Lyrical Evening for Howard Samuels at the Palace Theater. Her

first commercial production was 2 by 5, a compilation of John Kander & Fred Ebb 
songs at the Village Gate Off-Broadway in 1976. 2 by 5 introduced the song “New York,
New York” before the release of the movie of ​the same name in 1977.

Judy’s first Broadway production was A History of the American Film by Christopher

Durang (1978). It received a Tony nomination for best book for a musical and won a 

Drama Desk award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical (Swoosie Kurtz). 

In 1980, she produced the musical Barnum starring Jim Dale and Glenn Close with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Michael Stewart and book by Mark Bramble. It received ten Tony nominations and won three Tony Awards for Best Actor in a Musical (Jim Dale), Best Set (David Mitchell), and Best Costumes (Theoni Aldredge). The London production opened in 1981 and starred Michael Crawford who won the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical.

In 1982, Gordon optioned a book by Bruce Jay Friedman named The Lonely Guy’s Book of Life to develop for the stage. However, upon learning that Steve Martin was interested in doing it as a film, she made a deal with Universal Studios and became a producer of the film The Lonely Guy starring Steve Martin (1984). 

In 1988, she produced Brel at the Donmar Warehouse in London, directed by Bill Bryden, designed by Robert Crowley and starring Sian Phillips. She produced The High Rollers Social and Pleasure Club on Broadway in 1990, featuring Allen Toussaint and his music. It was nominated for a Tony award for Best Featured Actress (Vivian Reed).

Judy also produced Villa Diodati at the New York Musical Theatre Festival, The Fastest Clock in the Universe by Philip Ridley with the New Group, New York Stories Off-Broadway, and George White Scandals for the 25th Anniversary of the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center.

She is currently developing a new original musical for Broadway.