Barry and Fran Weissler

Barry Weissler and Fran Weissler are the Producers of Waitress the Musical, bringing on Norton & Elayne Herrick for its Broadway run and David Ian Productions for its UK and Ireland Tour.

The couple met in 1962 at a small theatre in West Orange, and started a touring theatrical group, ‘The National Theatre Company’, which presented classic plays to audiences across the USA. After years of touring Shakespearean plays on the east coast, they brought Othello and Medea to Broadway in 1982. The two plays earned them their first two Tony Award nominations.

By 2014, the Weisslers had won 7 Tony Awards and 4 Drama Desk Awards, as well as the Olivier Award for Outstanding Musical Production for their production of Chicago in the West End.

Their production credits are attached to some of the most memorable Broadway musicals, including Finding Neverland, Pippin, La Cage Aux Folles, Falsettos and Annie Get Your Gun, as well as the global success, Chicago.

With Waitress, the Weisslers secured the rights to the film in 2007, shortly after the film’s release. It didn’t move into production until Barry gave a list of DVDs to Diane Paulus, with whom they had collaborated on Pippin, and asked her to review them. The show’s development then commenced in 2013.

As producers, the Weisslers were hands-on with every aspect of the show, from raising money to casting, booking the theatre, advertising and publicity. This continued for the show’s West End run, where they opened the show in the Adelphi Theatre, where they had first opened Chicago on the West End.

Selected Previous Credits

Broadway

  • Chicago
  • Finding Neverland
  • Pippin
  • Falsettos
  • Annie Get Your Gun
NameBarry Weissler and Fran Weissler
Producers