The New York Times: Ron Simons, one of a handful of Black Broadway producers in New York, has won Tony Awards for “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,” “Porgy & Bess,” “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” and “Jitney.” Not to be outdone by the pandemic, he recently produced “Thoughts of a Colored Man,” which closed last month, and his next show, “For Colored Girls,” is scheduled to open this spring.
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Producing is one aspect of theatre that I know very little about. Yes, I understand to some extent what the produces does and their role on a production team, but I do not know what an average day looks like for them. So, that is why I decided to read this article, it hopes of it helping me better understand what the career path could possibly look like for someone in it. I also understand that, like many roles in theatre, every day looks different. What I then realized about this article while reading it was that is more accurately showed what a day OFF for a producer looks like. A day off for any theatre artist of that matter. One aspect of pursing a job in theatre that I am worried about is being able to have free time. My family is a priority, and I worry about not getting to see them. I also need downtime to be happy. Seeing that Ron Simons, who has a very high stress job, is still able to make time to relax and be with family was very encouraging! I guess in the end, you make time for what matters to you.
Reading the article was incredibly humanizing, for lack of better words. I always envision producers to be on top of things, to know when and where everything is happening at any given time, which makes me forget they are people too. The team behind a production is made of people too. A question I do have is whether it is expected for Tony voters to pay for their own tickets out of pocket or if they get courtesies since they have to see every new show that rolls in. It is often hard to remember that in spite of the fast-paced life of working in the industry taking time off is necessary to keep going forward. I appreciated how honest the narrative was. When Ron for example shared about eating out often or still trying to figure out how to spend time together with his spouse, it felt relatable and genuine.
This was a wonderful article to read. I did not know much about a producers job or their day to day life. It was refreshing to hear a part of this job that allows for some sort of work life balance and free time. I think downtime and balance is important to create good work and stay mentally sane. Seeing someone within the industry take some time for themselves and enjoy the industry in multiple ways is refreshing. I wonder if this sort of balance is only able to be achieved by a producer or if it is something that can be achieved by multiple people especially because I would like to have a family when I am older. I do think there is the idea of you can make time for anything you want and if you are a workaholic you can spend every second of your life working without even realizing it. I did think an insight on the people behind a production is also very eye opening because the money circulating within the industry is what determines what get produced. Seeing a producer focus on producing more diverse plays and not just cater to a white audience was also very refreshing.
Like most who have commented on this article, my knowledge of what a producer’s work actually looks like is very minimal. This article painted a picture of that, but in a really fun way that was very personal to Ron Simons’ life. I love that it broke down the day into small vignette stories, and each one added details to Simons as a person and also what he does as a producer. For example, seeing the new shows, or what types of places he and his partner like to go for food, or how Sunday evenings are spent going through mail and then their designated time together to talk and share about their weeks. This humanized the idea of producers to me. Similar to what Gaby said, I always imagined producers to be removed from the process for the most part. In a way, I kind of thought of Broadway producers as a big dollar sign in my mind: they provide the funds, everyone else makes the show. This article proved me wrong.
I think people in America often glorify a busy life and feel the compulsion to have something to do all the time. It is a trend to be a “workaholic”, and people brag about that. Recognizing that, I have been challenging myself to search for value in time off and relishing in the tempo of a simple life. I have been trying to do that by staying present and making time for things that matter like self-care or time with loved ones, which Ron Simons describes beautifully and wisely. By humanizing and taking the pressure off of ‘down-time’ it gives space for rejuvenation emotionally and mentally. It also opens you up to inspiration and creativity as your mind gets time to enjoy play and not work. I believe it also prevents burnout which is so important in every industry and definitely theater. The crescendoing production cycle can be vicious and demanding in so many different ways, especially for a producer.
I found this article immensely soothing. For lack of a deeper analysis, this guy sounds like he’s living the dream. It’s important to recognize that a career in the arts doesn’t have to be pain and long hours, although it certainly can be. For some, it can be waking up on a Sunday and watching a matinee after brunch. I also think this article does a great job of emphasizing taking time for what matters. To Rob Simon, the things that matter are his partner, his new years resolution, and good lighting in restaurants. He doesn’t care for answering the mail or organizing. Though his job may be stressful, and take him late into the night with work, he has Sundays to recharge. It’s refreshing to read an article about someone in the industry who is able to prioritize his well being and personal life while still collecting Tony’s as easily as he might collect tchotchkes for his desk.
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