Richard Winkler (producer)

Richard Winkler
Richard Winkler
Born	May 20, 1948 (age 77)
Website	www.redhangerproductions.com

Last updated July 29, 2025

Richard Winkler, born on May 20, 1948, is a distinguished American theatre producer with a prolific career, having produced numerous productions both on and off Broadway. Often taking on roles as a co-producer or investor, Winkler notably served as the enhancing producer for 42nd Street at the Goodspeed Opera House.^[1] Currently, he is in the process of developing an exciting new musical titled 3 Summers of Lincoln, which just completed a successful run at the La Jolla Playhouse, and expects to open on Broadway in the Autumn of 2026. Over the course of his career, Winkler has garnered an impressive eleven Tony Awards and nine Olivier Awards. For more information, his professional work can be explored at www.redhangerproductions.com.

Early life

Richard was raised in Detroit, Michigan, where his early exposure to the performing arts was fostered by his mother, with whom he frequently attended theater productions. It was after seeing My Fair Lady that his passion for theater truly ignited, prompting him to actively participate in various theatrical endeavors. His commitment to the craft deepened during his time at the Interlochen Center for the Arts, where he honed his skills and developed a deeper appreciation for the art form. Afterward, Richard pursued his studies at the University of Michigan, ultimately building a career as a lighting designer that spanned over 35 years.

Career

Richard Winkler enjoyed an illustrious career as a lighting designer spanning 35 years, during which he collaborated extensively with the renowned Tharon Musser.^[2]^[3] His impressive portfolio encompasses a diverse range of theatrical genres, including plays, musicals, opera, concerts, and dance, with credits on Broadway, Off-Broadway, the West End, as well as in Australia, and through national and international tours.^[4]^[5] Notably, he has also contributed his expertise to Theatre Under The Stars (Houston).^[6] Today, Winkler applies his extensive experience in the industry as a producer for Broadway, West End, and other international productions,^[7] having helped produced over 80 Broadway and West End productions.

Winkler's lighting designer credits include:The Play's The Thing, Scapino (play), The Wiz, Same Time, Next Year (play), A Chorus Line,^[8] Evita (musical),^[9] It's a Wonderful Life ^[10]

Winkler's Broadway producing credits include:^[11] Glengarry Glen Ross 2025, Othello 2025, Good Night, and Good Luck (play) 2025,Real Women Have Curves (musical) 2025, Buena Vista Social Club (musical) 2025, Dead Outlaw 2025, The Roommate 2024, Once Upon A Mattress 2024, Sunset Boulevard 2024, Stereophonic 2024, Merrily We Roll Along 2024, Patriots 2024, The Who's Tommy 2024, Life of Pi 2023, Leopoldstadt 2022, Thoughts of a Colored Man 2021, The Lehman Trilogy 2021, Diana 2021, The Inheritance 2019, Betrayal 2019, Ain't Too Proud 2019, Be More Chill 2018, The Ferryman 2018, Three Tall Women 2018 , The Glass Menagerie 2017, The Cher Show (musical) 2017, 1984 2017, Sweat 2017, Come From Away 2017, Sunday in the Park With George 2017, Long Day's Journey into Night 2016, An Act of God 2016, China Doll 2015, King Charles III 2015, Something Rotten! 2015, Hand to God 2015, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill 2014, Disgraced 2014, You Can't Take it With You 2014,A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder 2013, A Night with Janis Joplin 2013, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike 2013, Cinderella 2013, Nice Work If You Can Get It 2012, Catch Me If You Can 2011, Colin Quinn: Long Story Short 2010, La Bête 2010, La Cage Aux Folles 2010, Lend Me A Tenor 2010, All About Me 2010, A Little Night Music 2009, Memphis 2009, The Norman Conquests 2009

Winkler's West End producing credits include: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (musical) 2024, Titanique 2024, The Years (play) 2024, Starlight Express 2024, Dr. Strangelove (play) 2024, The Lehman Trilogy 2024, Elektra 2024, [Stranger Things: The First Shadow/ Stranger Things] 2024, Barcelona 2024, Oedipus 2024, Juno and the Paycock 2024, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) 2024, Hello Dolly! 2024, Leopoldstadt,^[12] Patriots, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), Standing at the Sky's Edge, The Artist, Macbeth, Long Day's Journey Into Night, Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder!, The Hills of California, An Enemy of the People, A Mirror, Dear England, The Doctor, Betrayal, Everybody's Talking About Jamie, Hamlet, The Lehman Trilogy, The Ferryman, Mother Goose, Urinetown, Come From Away, Starlight Express, Dr. Strangelove, War Horse, The Inheritance, Home, I'm Darling, Memphis

Awards and nominations

Winkler was nominated in 2019 for Broadway Global's Producer of the Year Award.^[13]

Tony Awards:^[14]

Laurence Olivier Awards:

Year	Show	Award	Category	Result
2025	Dead Outlaw	Tony Awards	Best Musical	Nominated
	Dead Outlaw	Drama League Awards	Outstanding Productions of a Musical	Nominated
	Sunset Blvd.	Tony Awards	Best Revival of a Musical	Nominated
		Drama Desk Awards	Outstanding Revival of a Musical	Nominated
		Outer Critics Circle Awards	Outstanding Revival of a Musical	Nominated
		Drama League Awards	Outstanding Revival of a Musical	Nominated
	Glengarry Glen Ross	Drama League Awards	Outstanding Revival of a Play	Nominated
	Glengarry Glen Ross	Outer Critics Circle Awards	Outstanding Revival of a Play	Nominated
	Good Night, and Good Luck	Drama League Awards	Outstanding Production of a Play	Nominated
	Othello	Drama League Awards	Outstanding Revival of a Play	Nominated
	Once Upon A Mattress	Drama League Awards	Outstanding Revival of a Musical	Nominated
		Drama Desk Awards	Outstanding Revival of a Musical	Nominated
		Outer Critics Circle Awards	Outstanding Revival of a Musical	Nominated
	Vanya	Drama League Awards	Outstanding Revival of a Play	Nominated
		Outer Critics Circle Awards	Outstanding Revival of a Play	Nominated
		Lucille Lortel Awards	Outstanding Solo Show	Won
	The Big Gay Jamboree	Outer Critics Circle Awards	Outstanding New Off Broadway Musical	Nominated
	The Curious Case of Benjamin Button	Laurence Olivier Awards	Best New Musical	Won
	Titanique	Laurence Olivier Awards	Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play	Won
	Oedipus	Laurence Olivier Awards	Best Revival	Won
	The Years	Laurence Olivier Awards	Best New Play	Nominated
	Starlight Express	Laurence Olivier Awards	Best Musical Revival	Nominated
	Hello, Dolly!	Laurence Olivier Awards	Best Musical Revival	Nominated
2024	Stereophonic	Tony Awards	Best Play	Won
		New York Drama Critic's Circle Awards	Best Play	Won
		Outer Critics Circle Awards	Outstanding Production of a Play	Won
		Drama League Awards	Outstanding Production of a Play	Won
	Merrily We Roll Along	Drama League Awards	Outstanding Revival of a Musical	Won
		Tony Awards	Best Revival of a Musical	Won
		New York Drama Critics' Circle Award		Honored
	Patriots	Drama League Awards	Outstanding Production of a Play	Nominated
	Patriots	Outer Critics Circle Awards	Outstanding New Broadway Play	Nominated
	The Who's Tommy	Tony Awards	Best Revival of a Musical	Nominated
		Drama League Awards	Outstanding Revival of a Musical	Nominated
		Outer Critics Circle Awards	Outstanding Revival of a Musical	Nominated
2023	Stereophonic	Lucille Lortel Awards	Outstanding Play	Won
	Stereophonic	Drama Desk	Outstanding Play	Won
	Merrily We Roll Along	Drama Desk	Outstanding Revival of a Musical	Nominated
		Lucille Lortel Awards	Outstanding Revival	Nominated
		Outer Critics Circle Awards ^[20]	Outstanding Revival of a Musical (On or Off-Broadway)	Nominated
		Off-Broadway Alliance Awards	Outstanding Revival of a Musical	Won
	Leopoldstadt	Tony Awards	Best Play	Won
		Drama Desk Awards	Outstanding Play	Won
		Drama League Awards	Outstanding Production of a Play	Won
		Outer Critics Circle Awards	Outstanding New Broadway Play	Won
	Life of Pi	Drama League Awards	Outstanding Production of a Play	Nominated
	Life of Pi	Outer Critics Circle Awards	Outstanding New Broadway Play	Nominated
2022	The Lehman Trilogy	Tony Award	Best Play	Won
		Outer Critics Circle Awards	Outstanding New Broadway Play	Won
		Drama League Awards	Outstanding Production of a Play	Won
	Cinderella (Lloyd Webber Musical)	WhatsOnStage Awards	Best New Musical	Nominated
	Cinderella (Lloyd Webber Musical)	Grammy Awards	Best Musical Theatre Album	Nominated
2020	The Inheritance	Tony Awards	Best Play	Won
		Drama Desk Awards	Outstanding Play	Won
		Drama League Awards	Outstanding Production of a Play	Won
		New York Drama Critics' Circle Award	Best Play	Finalist
		Outer Critics Circle Awards	Outstanding New Broadway Play	Honored
	Leopoldstadt	Laurence Olivier Award	Best New Play	Won
	Betrayal	Tony Awards	Best Revival of a Play	Nominated
		Drama League Awards	Outstanding Revival of a Play	Nominated
		Outer Critics Circle Awards	Outstanding Revival of a Play	Nominated
2019	The Ferryman	Tony Awards ^[21]	Best Play	Won
		Drama Desk Awards	Outstanding Play	Won
		Drama League Awards	Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Play	Won
		New York Drama Critics' Circle Award	Best Play	Won
		Outer Critics Circle Award	Outstanding New Broadway Play	Won
		Laurence Olivier Award	Best New Play	Won
		Critics’ Circle Theatre Award	Best New Play	Won
		Evening Standard Theatre Award	Best Play	Won
	Ain't Too Proud	Grammy Awards	Best Musical Theater Album	Nominated
	Ain't Too Proud	Drama League Awards	Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical	Nominated
	Three Tall Women	Tony Awards	Best Revival of a Play	Nominated
		Drama Desk Awards	Outstanding Revival of a Play	Nominated
		Drama League Awards	Outstanding Revival of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Play	Nominated
		Outer Critics Circle Awards	Outstanding Revival of a Play (Broadway or Off-Broadway)	Nominated
	Be More Chill	Lucille Lortel Awards	Outstanding Musical	Nominated
		Drama Desk Awards	Outstanding Musical	Nominated
		Outer Critics Circle Awards	Outstanding New Broadway Musical	Nominated
2017	Come From Away	Tony Awards	Best Musical	Nominated
		Grammy Awards	Best Musical Theater Album	Nominated
		Laurence Olivier Awards	Best New Musical	Won
		Drama Desk Awards	Outstanding Musical	Won
		Drama League Awards	Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Production	Nominated
		Outer Critics Circle Awards	Outstanding New Broadway Musical	Won
	Sweat	Pulitzer Prize	Drama	Won
		Tony Awards	Best Play	Nominated
		Drama Desk Awards	Outstanding Play	Nominated
		Evening Standard Awards	Play of the Year	Won
	The Cher Show	Drama League Awards	Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical	Nominated
2016	Long Day's Journey Into Night	Tony Awards	Best Revival of a Play	Nominated
		Drama Desk Awards	Outstanding Revival of a Play	Nominated
		Outer Critics Circle Awards	Outstanding Revival of a Play	Won
		Drama League Awards	Distinguished Revival of a Play	Nominated
2015	King Charles III	Tony Awards	Best Play	Nominated
		Laurence Olivier Awards	Best New Play	Won
		Drama Desk Awards	Outstanding Play	Nominated
	Something Rotten!	Tony Award	Best Musical	Nominated
		Grammy Awards	Best Musical Theater Album	Nominated
		Drama Desk Awards	Outstanding Musical	Nominated
		Outer Critics Circle Awards	Outstanding New Broadway Musical	Nominated
		Drama League Awards	Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical	Nominated
	Memphis	Laurence Olivier Awards	Best New Musical	Nominated
	Disgraced ^[22]	Tony Awards	Best Play	Nominated
	Hand to God	Tony Awards	Best Play	Nominated
	Hand to God	Drama League Awards	Distinguished Production of a Play	Nominated
	A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder	Grammy Awards	Best Musical Theatre Album	Nominated
2014	You Can't Take it With You	Tony Awards	Best Revival of a Play	Nominated
	You Can't Take it With You	Drama League Awards	Distinguished Revival of a Play	Won
	Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill	Outer Critics Circle Awards	Outstanding Revival of a Musical	Nominated
	The Glass Menagerie	Tony Awards	Best Revival of a Play	Nominated
		Drama League Awards	Distinguished Revival of a Play	Won
		Outer Critics Circle Awards	Outstanding Revival of a Play	Won
	A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder	Tony Awards	Best Musical	Won
		Drama Desk Awards	Outstanding Musical	Won
		Outer Critics Circle Awards	Outstanding New Broadway Musical	Won
		Drama League Awards	Best Musical Theatre Album	Won
2013	Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike	Tony Awards	Best Play	Won
		Drama Desk Awards	Outstanding Play	Won
		Outer Critics Circle Awards	Outstanding New Broadway Play	Won
		Drama League Awards	Distinguished Production of a Play	Won
		New York Drama Critics Circle	Best Play	Won
	Cinderella	Tony Awards	Best Revival of a Musical	Nominated
		Drama League Awards	Outstanding Revival of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical	Nominated
		Outer Critics Circle Awards	Outstanding Revival of a Musical (Broadway or Off-Broadway)	Nominated
2012	Nice Work If You Can Get It	Tony Awards	Best Musical	Nominated
		Grammy Awards	Best Musical Theater Album	Nominated
		Drama Desk Awards	Outstanding Musical	Nominated
		Drama League Awards	Distinguished Production of a Musical	Won
2011	Catch Me If You Can	Tony Awards	Best Musical	Nominated
2010	La Cage Aux Folles	Tony Award	Best Revival of a Musical	Won
		Laurence Olivier Award	Best Musical Revival	Won
		Drama Desk Award	Outstanding Revival of a Musical	Won
	Lend Me a Tenor	Tony Award	Best Revival	Nominated
	Lend Me a Tenor	Outer Critics Circle Award	Outstanding Revival	Nominated
2009	A Little Night Music ^[23]	Tony Award	Best Revival of a Musical	Nominated
		Grammy Awards	Best Musical Theatre Album	Nominated
		Olivier Awards	Best Revival of a Musical	Nominated
		Drama Desk Award	Outstanding Revival of a Musical	Nominated
		Outer Critics Circle Award	Outstanding Revival of a Musica	Nominated
	Memphis	Tony Award	Best Musical	Won
		Drama Desk Award	Outstanding Musical	Won
		Laurence Olivier Award	Best New Musical	Nominated
	The Norman Conquests ^[24]^[25]	Tony Award	Best Revival of a Play	Won
		Drama Desk Awards	Outstanding Revival of a Play	Won
		Outer Critics Circle Awards	Outstanding Revival of a Play	Won

References

↑ "Casting Announced for Goodspeed's '42nd Street'". The Haddams-Killingworth, CT Patch. 2022-08-09. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
↑ "More Tributes To The Legendary Tharon Musser". Live Design Online. 2009-04-28. Retrieved 2022-12-15.
↑ "Shining the spotlight on women lighting designers". UCLA. Retrieved 2022-12-15.
↑ "Richard Winkler, Producer, Designer". www.playbill.com.
↑ "Richard Winkler | Ovrtur". ovrtur.com. Retrieved 2022-12-06.
↑ Blank, Matthew (March 28, 2012). "PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Backstage at Theatre Under The Stars' Annie, Starring George Dvorsky and Michele Ragusa". Playbill.
↑ CULWELL-BLOCK, LOGAN (September 18, 2023). "The Broadway Shark Tank Reveals 2nd Annual Pitch Class". Playbill.
↑ Drake, Sylvie (1992-02-07). "STAGE REVIEW : Latest 'Chorus Line' Goes by the Book". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2022-12-06.
↑ ACMN. "Evita The Musical". Evita The Musical. Retrieved 2022-12-06.
↑ "Full Cast, Creative Team Set for Paper Mill's A Wonderful Life | TheaterMania". www.theatermania.com. Retrieved 2022-12-06.
↑ "Richard Winkler – Broadway Cast & Staff". www.ibdb.com.
↑ Benedict, David (2020-02-13). "Tom Stoppard's 'Leopoldstat': Theater Review". Variety. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
↑ Meyer, Dan (September 17, 2019). "Gloria Estefan, John Legend, Among 2019 Nominees for Broadway Global's Producer of the Year Award". Playbill.
↑ "Tony Awards All Winners". www.tonyawards.com.
↑ "Richard Winkler – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB".
↑ "Richard Winkler – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB".
↑ Pedersen, Erik (2023-06-12). "Tony Awards Winners: 'Kimberly Akimbo' Takes Best Musical; 'Leopoldstadt' Named Best Play – Complete List". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
↑ "Richard Winkler/Alan Shorr/Dawn Smalberg". www.playbill.com.
↑ "Richard Winkler Producer". www.theatricalindex.com.
↑ Culwell-Block, Logan (May 16, 2023). "Some Like It Hot Dominates 2023 Outer Critics Circle Awards; See the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
↑ "The Ferryman". www.tonyawards.com. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
↑ BackStage Pass - Richard Winkler, 11 September 2018, retrieved 2022-12-13
↑ Brantley, Ben (2009-12-13). "A Weekend in the Country With Eros and Thanatos". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved 2022-12-15.
↑ Haagensen, Erik (August 29, 2019). "The Norman Conquests".
↑ BackStage Pass - Richard Winkler, 11 September 2018, retrieved 2022-12-15

External links

Richard Winkler at Internet Broadway Database
Richard Winkler at Internet Off-Broadway Database
Richard Winkler at The Theatrical Index

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[1] "Casting Announced for Goodspeed's '42nd Street'". The Haddams-Killingworth, CT Patch. 2022-08-09. Retrieved 2023-10-18.

[2] "More Tributes To The Legendary Tharon Musser". Live Design Online. 2009-04-28. Retrieved 2022-12-15.

[3] "Shining the spotlight on women lighting designers". UCLA. Retrieved 2022-12-15.

[4] "Richard Winkler, Producer, Designer". www.playbill.com.

[5] "Richard Winkler | Ovrtur". ovrtur.com. Retrieved 2022-12-06.

[6] Blank, Matthew (March 28, 2012). "PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Backstage at Theatre Under The Stars' Annie, Starring George Dvorsky and Michele Ragusa". Playbill.

[7] CULWELL-BLOCK, LOGAN (September 18, 2023). "The Broadway Shark Tank Reveals 2nd Annual Pitch Class". Playbill.

[8] Drake, Sylvie (1992-02-07). "STAGE REVIEW : Latest 'Chorus Line' Goes by the Book". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2022-12-06.

[9] ACMN. "Evita The Musical". Evita The Musical. Retrieved 2022-12-06.

[10] "Full Cast, Creative Team Set for Paper Mill's A Wonderful Life | TheaterMania". www.theatermania.com. Retrieved 2022-12-06.

[11] "Richard Winkler – Broadway Cast & Staff". www.ibdb.com.

[12] Benedict, David (2020-02-13). "Tom Stoppard's 'Leopoldstat': Theater Review". Variety. Retrieved 2023-10-03.

[13] Meyer, Dan (September 17, 2019). "Gloria Estefan, John Legend, Among 2019 Nominees for Broadway Global's Producer of the Year Award". Playbill.

[14] "Tony Awards All Winners". www.tonyawards.com.

[15] "Richard Winkler – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB".

[16] "Richard Winkler – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB".

[17] Pedersen, Erik (2023-06-12). "Tony Awards Winners: 'Kimberly Akimbo' Takes Best Musical; 'Leopoldstadt' Named Best Play – Complete List". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-06-14.

[18] "Richard Winkler/Alan Shorr/Dawn Smalberg". www.playbill.com.

[19] "Richard Winkler Producer". www.theatricalindex.com.

[20] Culwell-Block, Logan (May 16, 2023). "Some Like It Hot Dominates 2023 Outer Critics Circle Awards; See the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2023.

[21] "The Ferryman". www.tonyawards.com. Retrieved 2022-12-13.

[22] BackStage Pass - Richard Winkler, 11 September 2018, retrieved 2022-12-13

[23] Brantley, Ben (2009-12-13). "A Weekend in the Country With Eros and Thanatos". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved 2022-12-15.

[24] Haagensen, Erik (August 29, 2019). "The Norman Conquests".

[25] BackStage Pass - Richard Winkler, 11 September 2018, retrieved 2022-12-15

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Richard Winkler
Born	(1948-05-20) May 20, 1948 (age 77)
Website	www.redhangerproductions.com