Jordan Roth’s Jujamcyn Theatres Merges With Ambassador Theatre Group in Landmark Broadway Merger
Two theatre industry titans have merged to operate some of Broadway’s hottest properties in a landmark deal. Ambassador Theatre Group, which currently operates the Lyric Theatre and Hudson Theatre will merge with Jujamcyn Theatres, the owner of the St. James Theatre, August Wilson Theatre, Al Hirschfeld Theatre, Eugene O’Neill Theatre, and Walter Kerr Theatre.
The New York Times reports the deal was confirmed by AGT’s parent company, International Entertainment Holdings Limited, and Jordan Roth, president of Jujamcyn. The next steps in the deal are unclear and no financial details were revealed.
Once the merger is complete, AGT/Jujamcyn (an official new name was not announced) will operate 7 venues in NYC, making it the third-largest operator of Broadway theatres behind the Nederlander and Shubert organizations. Roth will board AGT’s leadership as creative director, leading similar pursuits that made Jujamcyn the cool kid on the block by those who follow the industry. He’ll reportedly maintain control of what shows go into Jujamcyn’s five theatres.
Despite having a smaller presence on Broadway until now, AGT is one of the world’s leading theatre operators with 58 total venues, having a larger foothold in London’s West End and in Germany. Concerns about too many London transfers are unlikely to be assuaged by the news. Already planned for this year, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Bad Cinderella begins previews later this week, while Life of Pi, Peter Pan Goes Wrong, and Prima Facie will make their Broadway debut later this season.
Kicking off the summer will be Back to the Future: The Musical; and rumors of a Cabaret transfer have insiders buzzing. Leopoldstadt, which opened last year, is currently predicted as a 2023 Tony Awards juggernaut when nominations are announced April 27.
One of AGT’s current Broadway offerings, A Doll’s House at the Hudson Theatre, was originally planned for a London staging but was cancelled due to the pandemic.