Shari Redstone’s Next Act: Producing a Broadway Play

What’s next for Shari Redstone after the deal to sell her stake in Paramount? Producing a Broadway play.

Redstone is a co-producer on the Broadway play Job, written by Max Wolf Friedlich, which began previews at the Hayes Theater on July 15, about a week after the announcement of her own drama-filled Paramount sale. The play itself is a work drama, but the parallels may end there, as the show is kicked off by a young tech worker who barrels into a therapist’s office brandishing a gun and demands a therapy session.

The worker, Jane (played by Sydney Lemmon) needs the therapist Loyd (played by Peter Friedman) to clear her to return to work, in a job that entails dealing with the darker sides of the internet at an unnamed company reminiscent of Meta, after she had a mental breakdown. But, the play later reveals that even more may be at stake in the session.

The play, directed by Michael Herwitz, began its life downtown at the SoHo Playhouse in fall 2023, before moving to the commercial Off-Broadway Connelly Theater in the winter and then to Broadway, where it is set to open on July 30.

Alex Levy, one of the play’s lead producers, alongside Hannah Getts, is also the founder of a communications firm, which counts Redstone as a client. Levy said Redstone saw the play at the Connelly Theater and called him afterwards to express a desire to help bring it to Broadway.

Redstone is one of several co-producers who have put money into the play — which is capitalized for up to $3 million, according to the production. Levy said he has also asked her for some input on the production.

“She has been a big supporter of the show. She obviously has a lot of expertise in content. So she’s been part of the kitchen cabinet of people that I look to bounce ideas off of. And she’s also been wonderful in telling people about the show, encouraging them to see it,” Levy said. “And obviously that network is very powerful.”

A spokesperson for Redstone said she is “thrilled to be supporting Job and excited about the sold-out previews.” This is her first Broadway producing credit.

Levy also plans to collaborate with Redstone on additional theater ventures to come.

In the play, technology and social media have an ever-pervasive presence, with sound bites and viral clips often interrupting Jane’s thoughts as she works through the therapy session. They also butt into the combative dialogue between Jane and Loyd, who differ on the benefits of technology in daily life and debate everything from gentrification to social justice.

Levy, who was one of the first investors in the Off-Broadway production of Jobsaid he was drawn to the play because of the way it presents the modern work ethos.

“It has a lot of insights into how we live and work today, and one of the things that is special to me about the show is that, yes, it’s a psychological thriller. Yes, you’re on the edge of your seat, but there’s also little nuggets of insight that stay with you,” Levy said.

The play frequently sold out Off-Broadway and was well-reviewed, which gave the producers the confidence to move forward with the Broadway run.

While the audience demographics are broadening with the move to Broadway, the play particularly resonated with younger audience members Off-Broadway, Getts says, which she attributes to the character of Jane and her desire to find purpose in her work, as well as the all – consuming consequences that can bring.

“I think of this millennial generation-Gen Z generation and how complicated that can feel, as you’re coming of age, as you’re coming up whatever industry or pipeline or path you’re on,” Getts said.

Producers are trying to capitalize on that momentum among the younger audience members through a series of moves, including a partnership with Kaia Gerber’s book club. Gerber, who saw the play Off-Broadway, also recently hosted a talk-back after the Broadway show.

The production is also offering a somewhat unorthodox Broadway schedule for the 80-minute show this summer – no Wednesday matinee and 5 pm and 8:30 pm shows on Thursday, which is meant to catch audiences before their weekend trips and also allow for a dinner reservation (Getts notes that they’re following the same schedule as Oh Mary! another Off-Broadway hit which recently transferred to Broadway.)

Job is currently slated for a Broadway run through Sept. 29. There is interest in future productions in London and regionally. Getts, who has a background in film and television, notes that the play already feels cinematic, which lends itself to the possibility of a screen adaptation.

The producer adds, “I feel like it’s a little too early to say, but there’s definitely interest.”

This story appeared in the July 31 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.