Broadway Producers to Gather at The Penn Club for Tony Awards Strategy Panel
Kenneth Willman and fellow Tony-winning producers will lead the HADESTOWN-era commercial theater masterclass.
Just one day after the 79th Annual Tony Awards, Broadway producers and industry leaders will gather at The Penn Club of New York for a discussion focused on the business side of commercial theater.
The Penn Club Theatrical Leadership Panel: The Business of Broadway and the Tony Awards will take place Monday, June 8 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at The Penn Club of New York in Midtown Manhattan. The event will examine Broadway production, investment, capitalization, marketing, and the process of mounting and sustaining a Tony Award campaign.
The discussion will be co-moderated by producer Kenneth Willman and American Theatre of Actors Executive Director Jessica Jennings.
Willman has produced more than 60 productions across Broadway, the West End, and international markets. His producing credits include Tony Award-winning productions of Hadestown, Parade, and Sunset Boulevard, along with current Broadway productions including Suffs, Gypsy, Othello, and Peter Pan Goes Wrong.
Jennings has served as Executive Director of the American Theatre of Actors since 2025. A performer, director, and educator, she is the recipient of the Jean Dalrymple Award for Best Shakespearean Actress and co-founder of Ripple Effect Artists.
Panelists include producer Robin Gorman Newman, promotional executive Jay Michaels, and director and communications strategist Jill Jaysen.
Newman is a Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Award-winning producer whose Broadway credits include Parade, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, Fat Ham, The Who's Tommy, and Cabaret. She is currently involved with productions including Smash and Buena Vista Social Club.
Michaels is the founder of Jay Michaels Global Communications and specializes in publicity, audience development, and promotional campaigns for entertainment properties.
Jaysen is the founder of Center Stage Theatre Company and works as a communications consultant and executive coach. Her discussion will focus on pitch development and fundraising strategies for commercial productions.
The event will take place at The Penn Club of New York, located at 30 West 44th Street. Attendance is restricted to Penn Club members and verified industry guests.
Ticket Information
The Penn Club Theatrical Leadership Panel: The Business of Broadway and the Tony Awards
Date: Monday, June 8, 2026
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: The Penn Club of New York, 30 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036
Moderators: Kenneth Willman and Jessica Jennings
Panelists: Robin Gorman Newman, Jay Michaels, and Jill Jaysen
Admission: Restricted to Penn Club members and verified industry guests
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