Scott Rudin Plans Broadway Producing Return Next Fall

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Scott Rudin is planning to return to Broadway next season. 

The former Broadway producer who exited the industry in 2021 following allegations of bullying against him, as reported in an article from The Hollywood Reporter, has announced his intention to stage three Broadway productions during the upcoming season. Two of these shows will feature Laurie Metcalf and be directed by Joe Mantello, according to a report in The New York Times.

In the lead-up to his comeback, Actors’ Equity assures protection from any form of “intimidation, mistreatment, and bias” towards stage managers or performers during projects where he is involved.

If Rudin is handling Equity agreements, we’ll uphold those contracts. They offer robust safeguards against harassment, bullying, and discrimination, stronger than when he last utilized them in 2021. Anyone who encounters or witnesses such behavior in workplaces with these Equity contracts – regardless of their own membership status – can submit a report via our Lighthouse reporting hotline.”

This version maintains the original’s meaning while using more common, everyday language to make it easier for readers to understand.

Following the release of the THR article, numerous members of the Broadway community took to the streets of New York City to demand Rudin’s dismissal from The Broadway League, a trade group for Broadway producers. At that point, Rudin announced he would take a break from active Broadway production work, and subsequently stepped down from The Broadway League.

In response to numerous accounts of my problematic relationships with coworkers, I deeply regret the distress my actions have inflicted upon people, both directly and indirectly. Following some introspection, I’ve chosen to withdraw from active involvement in our Broadway productions, effective straight away. Others within the Broadway community will take over these roles, and in several instances, those already involved on the shows will step up.

The Broadway League and Rudin were both unavailable for immediate comment following the news of his return, as neither party responded promptly to requests seeking their views on the matter.

After taking a step back, Rudin was among Broadway’s most prominent producers, boasting hits like “The Book of Mormon,” notable productions such as “Hello, Dolly!” with Bette Midler and “To Kill A Mockingbird,” a history of staging star-studded plays including the 2018 revival of “The Iceman Cometh” featuring Denzel Washington and Austin Butler.

As a gamer, I’d put it like this: “Before all the Broadway theaters closed, the last play set to hit the stage was ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’, starring Metcalf and directed by Mantello. Sadly, we never got to see it because the shutdown happened just before opening night. On a brighter note, ‘The Music Man’ – a production that was in development prior to the closure, with Sutton Foster and Hugh Jackman as leads – finally premiered post-pandemic, with a new producer taking the helm.

As reported by the Times, Rudin intends to premiere Samuel D. Hunter’s play “Little Bear Ridge Road” on Broadway this fall, with Metcalf playing the lead and Mantello directing. Last year, this production was staged at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theater Company, featuring both Metcalf and Mantello. Additionally, Rudin plans to present a Broadway adaptation of “Cottonfield,” a play by Bruce Norris, directed by Robert O’Hara.

In the spring of 2026, Rudin intends to put on David Hare’s play, Montauk, featuring Metcalf and directed by Mantello. The following year, in 2027, Rudin plans to revive Death of a Salesman on Broadway, with Metcalf and Nathan Lane taking the lead roles. Mantello will direct this production as well.

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2025-03-28 17:54