Nineteen years ago, I started typing.

I didn’t have a strategy. I didn’t have a plan. But, in 2007, Broadway was at the beginning of a turning point. And I had opinions about Broadway, a growing conviction that the more people understood this business from the inside the more they’d love it, and a belief that more understanding meant more theater in the world.

So I wrote. And I kept writing.

Six thousand-plus posts later, here we are.

My newsletter turns 19 this week. And to mark the occasion, I went back into the archive and pulled the 19 most-read posts in this newsletter’s history. Some I wrote in ten minutes. Some took weeks and mountains of research. Most of them surprised me with how long people kept finding them and sharing them.

Here they are . . .

#19: Quarterly Broadway Grosses: Down 5% in Q1, and Here’s Why That Isn’t the Whole Story

Published: September 25, 2026

A new one. The numbers don’t lie . . . but they never tell the whole story either.

#18: How Do I Find Investors for My Broadway or Off-Broadway Show?

Published: February 4, 2008

One of the first things I ever wrote about. Still one of the most-searched questions in this business.

#17: Wise Words About “We” from Jonathan Tisch

Published: May 16, 2012

From the Broadway League Conference. One idea that stuck with me for years.

#16: 10 Audition Tips for Actors

Published: December 10, 2008

Written in 2008. Still getting traffic today. Some things don’t change.

#15: My Take on Non-Union Tours (Part 1 – A History)

Published: November 5, 2014

A nuanced take on one of the most debated topics in our industry. Still relevant.

#14: 10 Questions for a Broadway Pro: A Few Notes from Lin-Manuel Miranda

Published: July 19, 2011

This was 2011. Before Hamilton. I knew he was something special.

#13: How Barnum Used Bricks to Build an Audience

Published: March 25, 2011

My favorite marketing post in the archive. P.T. Barnum was a genius. And the lesson still applies.

#12: 10 FAQs About Broadway Investing

Published: January 29, 2016

The most common questions I get from people interested in investing in Broadway — answered plainly.

#11: The Difference Between a Producer and a General Manager

Published: August 1, 2014

Two crucial roles. One question that never stops coming up.

#10: How Does a Broadway Producer Get Paid?

Published: January 20, 2010

Fees, royalties, profit participation. I broke it all down. People were curious. They still are.

#9: House Seats Shouldn’t Be On the House

Published: July 8, 2008

A strong opinion. One I still hold.

#8: Sure You Get a Refund If an Above-the-Title Star Is Out. But What About . . .

Published: July 21, 2014

A consumer rights question that deserves more attention in this industry.

#7: What Is the Broadway Musical Recoupment Rate Over the Last 5 Years? (Part 1)

Published: January 16, 2020

The data every producer, investor, and theatermaker should know.

#6: How Do I Get the Stage Rights to a Book, Movie, or Play?

Published: January 29, 2008

Another early one. The question I get asked more than almost any other.

#5: How to Write a One-Person Show in 30 Days

Published: August 5, 2016

One of the most practical posts in the archive. If you’ve got a story to tell, this one is for you.

#4: Top 100 Theater Books Every TheaterMaker Should Read

Published: January 24, 2019

A list that took a long time to put together. One I’m still proud of.

#3: Some Startling New Statistics on Broadway Musical Adaptations vs. Original Shows

Published: May 1, 2014

Data that changed the conversation about what gets made on Broadway and why.

#2: The Three Types of Broadway Producers: Lead Producer, Co-Producer, and Executive Producer Explained

Published: March 28, 2019

The most important structural question in this business, answered as clearly as I know how.

#1: 100 Quotes Every Theater Producer, Playwright, Director, Actor, Etc. Must Read

Published: April 26, 2019

The most-read post in the history of this newsletter. By a lot. I’ve thought about why that is . . . and I think it’s because the words of people who came before us matter more than anything I could write on my own.

—

Nineteen years. Nineteen posts. And if I’m being honest, I think the best ones are still ahead.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for sharing. Thank you for arguing with me in the comments over the years. That’s what kept me going.

See you next week.

Which post from this list has stuck with you the most — and is there a topic you wish I’d written about that I haven’t?

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