Jeffrey Seller is one of Broadway’s most influential and visionary producers. His career has been distinguished by a series of groundbreaking Tony Award-winning hits, including Rent, Avenue Q, In the Heights, and one of the most successful musicals of all time–Hamilton.
In his book Theatre Kid: A Broadway Memoir, published by Simon & Schuster, Seller recounts his remarkable journey from growing up poor, Jewish, and gay in a dysfunctional household in suburban Detroit to moving to New York after college and reshaping the landscape of Broadway.
In his gripping, candid coming-of-age story, Seller tells about being adopted as an infant and coming to terms with his sexuality amid the AIDS crisis. He reveals how he was ashamed of his father, who was left mentally disabled after a motorcycle accident that led to outbursts and short-term memory loss.
Seller was embarrassed living in a poor neighborhood in Oak Park, MI, referred to as Cardboard Village, because the homes were small and didn’t have basements.
But for Seller, 60, it was the theater that gave him the most joy and a sense of belonging. His passion for the theater began in the fourth grade, when he was cast in a Purim play at Temple Israel in Detroit.
That year, he also wrote his first play, Adventureland, in which his friends played the leads. He began performing in local theater in Detroit and taught drama at Camp Tamarack in Michigan over the summer. He continued to hone his theatrical skills throughout high school and beyond, including at the University of Michigan, where he majored in political science, pursued theater, and earned a B.A. degree.
After graduation, Seller moved to New York City. His first job was writing press releases, and within a year, he landed a job working for the powerhouse couple Barry and Fran Weissler, where he learned how to book touring shows and negotiate contracts. At night, he was producing musicals and plays, while developing relationships with artists, composer,s and lyricists. Seller had an eye—and ear—for picking hits and trusting his instincts, and big names in the industry began seeking him out.
Producing Rent, written by Jonathan Larson, changed musical theater and catapulted Seller into the limelight. When Seller saw the bare bones production, he made a commitment to produce it. In his memoir, Seller describes the behind-the-scenes evolution of Rent. Tragically, playwright Jonathan Larson died suddenly just as previews were about to begin. This was devastating for Seller, and he notes it’s still hard even today to process the loss.
After Rent, other mega hits followed. Seller continued to cultivate new important friendships and connections, including with Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of In the Heights and Hamilton.
In a recent phone interview, Seller, who has an apartment on the Upper West Side and two children with his former partner, Josh Lehrer, spoke about his memoir, life, and career.
Q. Why did you write the memoir?
A. It was a personal mission, an exercise in making sense of my life. Initially, my intention was not to publish it, but I thought it was important to share my story with anyone who has felt left out.
Q. Your relationship with your dad was complicated.
A. Yes, he would have terrible outbursts and run around with other women and overspend, but in the end, he took responsibility for his behavior, and I forgave him. He had told me that I was the best thing that ever happened to him, When I told him I was gay, he said it’s no different than being a righty or lefty.
Q. Was it difficult writing about coming out?
A. I wanted to write in a raw and intimate way, what it was like to start identifying as gay. I wanted young gay men who have not come out, to be seen, and know they are not alone.
Q. What was it like moving to NYC?
A. It was scary. I was moving to a city I had only visited once or twice, and I only had a few months’ worth of money in my bank account and no one to call if I needed help.
Q. What advice would you give someone who wants to be a theater producer?
A. Find the artist. Your job first and foremost is to nurture relationships with writers, composers and directors, and your successes will depend on the artists you choose to work with.
Q. What do you look for in a new show?
A. I want to be surprised and have the hair on my arms stand up. I want to feel something deeply in my gut.
Q. Did you ever imagine Hamilton would become such a cultural phenomenon?
A. No. I knew it would be another creative leap for Lin, but not to this extent.
Q. What would you tell 10-year-old Jeffrey Seller?
A. That you’re going to be ok.
