APRIL 15 • 2021 | 37

1995. “We thought of it as something that was aiming for the 
universal values we had found in the Sholem Aleichem story 
‘Tevye’s Daughters.
’
“Nevertheless, we knew in many ways it was a Jewish show. 
We knew that it was a serious show, and we knew that it was a 
long show. With all those things, we were worried that it might 
not be accepted, and we were very nervous about the show’s 
Detroit premiere.
“By the fourth week [with changes that included making 
the play shorter], it was close to selling out, and we knew we 
were OK.”
During the first year of operation, 
famed Jewish composer and only-time 
lyricist Richard Rodgers traveled to 
Detroit, sat in the balcony at a small 
piano and wrote songs and revisions for 
No Strings as the cast, starring Richard 
Kiley and Diahann Carroll, rehearsed 
with full stage orchestra. 
Broaching the subject of interracial 
romance through dialogue and song, 
No Strings became a trailblazing and 
favorite show of Robert Nederlander 
Sr., whose oldest brother, the late Harry 
Nederlander, oversaw Detroit operations 
and commented on the play and its suc-
cessful run.
“Richard Rodgers was a genius, and 
Diahann Carroll was terrific,” Harry 
Nederlander told the Detroit Jewish News 
in 2001. “It was a show ahead of its time, 
and the fact that it involved an interra-
cial romance never entered my mind 
[when we were making our decision to 
bring it here].” 
London-based Sonia Friedman 
Productions (SFP), associated with ATG 
Productions, has developed and staged 
more than 170 varied plays and brought a 
Fiddler on the Roof run to London in 2019, 
shortly before introducing Leopoldstadt to 
the stage as Tom Stoppard’s play about a 
Jewish family in Vienna.
SFP has won 55 Olivier Awards and 30 
Tony Awards.
Alan Lichtenstein, 40-year executive 
director for Nederlander programming 
in Detroit and sometimes San Francisco, 
worked with SFP in bring-
ing Mamma Mia! to the 
United States for the first time and looks forward 
to the opportunities the new associations can 
bring to Motor City stages.
“SFP recently brought Harry Potter and the 
Cursed Child to audiences so we hope to gain 
some priority in bringing their imaginative 
works to Detroit,” said Lichtenstein, who has previewed and 
picked hundreds of shows for local audiences. 

A NEW ERA
“The Broadway in Detroit family is excited about the new 
arrangements, which include investments in theater technol-
ogy. There will be a lot of resources we can tap into for future 
scheduling while working on the current season, which is in 
flux because of the pandemic.
” 
While firm dates are still to be established, the follow-
ing musicals should go ahead: Pretty Woman in November, 
Hadestown in December and Hairspray in January. Finalized 
dates will be posted at broadwayindetroit.com.
“We’re going to end up with six great 
shows,
” said Lichtenstein, a member of 
the Grosse Pointe Jewish Council and 
fan of the one-woman narrative Golda, 
which appeared twice at the Fisher, once 
with Tovah Feldshuh and another time 
with Valerie Harper.
“I just don’t know which ones they’re 
going to be, but I expect to see one 
Nederlander brother in the audience. 
Joseph Nederlander, who is 94, remains 
in the area and was the innovator of out-
door theaters starting with Pine Knob,
” 
Lichtenstein said.
The Nederlander Company, now 
with an administration that includes 
third-generation family members 
Robert Nederlander Jr. and James 
Nederlander, will perpetually be tied to 
the city through the family endowment 
of the Apple Award, started in mem-
ory of David Nederlander’s wife, Sara 
Applebaum Nederlander, known for 
hosting Fisher stars and serving them 
traditional Jewish dishes.
The award, presented annually to a 
nationally recognized theater profession-
al, is accepted during a visit that features 
a lecture presented to Wayne State 
University theater students. Each win-
ner receives a crystal apple and $10,000 
intended for a theatrical interest.
Past honorees include playwright Neil 
Simon, composer Stephen Schwartz and 
producer Jeffrey Seller, who grew up 
in Oak Park, became enchanted with 
the stage by watching Fisher Theatre 
shows and went on to produce Rent 
and Hamilton, which appeared locally 
through Nederlander operations.
“Our Detroit staff has missed the excitement of the theater 
during the time of pandemic closings,
” Lichtenstein said. 
“
Although most staff members were able to continue with pay 
during the time of the pandemic, we can’t wait for the shows to 
return and hear the applause, which reminds me of the musical 
Applause [written by Betty Comden and Adolph Green with 
songs by Lee Adams and Charles Strouse] — another Fisher 
Theatre world premiere.” 

“WE ARE CONFIDENT 

THAT THE ATG TEAM 

WILL CONTINUE 

TO LOOK AFTER 

THE STRONG 

FOUNDATION THAT 

WE HAVE CREATED.”

— ROBERT NEDERLANDER SR.

David Tobias Nederlander and his five 
sons. Front row: Joseph, father David 
and James “Jimmy.” Second row: Harry, 
Robert and Frederick “Freddie.”

COURTESY OF FISHER THEATRE

Alan 
Lichtenstein

