EDGE Interview: Producer Tom D'Angora Wants to Push Theater - Both On and Off Broadway - to a More Inclusive Place

What's been his biggest success to date is the topical revue "NEWSical The Musical," the third longest-running musical revue in off-Broadway history. After the show's initial run in 2004, D'Angora produced an even more successful revival in 2009, which ran a decade. One reason for the show's success, D'Angora feels, is that off-Broadway is a much more fertile environment for creativity.

"You have a lot more liberties off-Broadway," he says. "I did so much off-Broadway and had the time of my life. We just got to play so much and have so much fun because we had the luxury of being in a small off-Broadway theater. 'NEWSical: the Musical' ran 10 years, it was a big, big, big hit. I'm such a giant supporter of off-Broadway where I think such magic happens. I like to think of it as like you have independent films and major studio films. It's kind of like that."

While his oeuvre is impressive, D'Angora isn't a graduate of some prestigious business school or Ivy League university. In fact, he didn't even finish high school. While a student, he loved the social aspects and music classes; but beyond that, it was just too strict. As a bright person with Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), those limitations became unbearable.

"I don't test well," says D'Angora about his high school days. "My I.Q. is so high that when I was a kid they skipped me right to first grade. No kindergarten. But, you know, I don't have a neurotypical brain so testing was difficult and I kind of just said, well, you know what, I don't need this and walked out, it all seemed to work out anyway."

A native of Lincoln, NE, he told the website W42st.com that he came out the womb saying, "hi everyone, nice to meet ya', I'm heading to the Big Apple." He arrived in the city in 2000 following the footsteps of his voice teacher, who had moved there. As a college student, he found employment at the TKTS booth in Times Square where he promoted both Broadway and off Broadway shows and started his own promotions company. Producing came in collaboration with his then boyfriend (now husband) Michael D'Angora, whom he met while working at the booth. (Last year they celebrated their 20th anniversary as a couple, 10 years as a married one) Their first project was to produce a modest show in a small club that starred Tom. Called "Divas I Love," it was scheduled to run two performances at Don't Tell Mama. But the show was so well-received, it moved off Broadway for a 2-year run, successfully played Los Angeles, and won the Backstage Bistro Award.

"At the young age of 23, I had a club act that I wrote, and my husband --- well, then boyfriend --- directed and we produced it, and it was a really big hit, I mean, a really big hit."

Satisfied with what he had accomplished playing himself on stage, D'Angora decided that he would be better at producing. His first project (with Michael) was executive producing Broadway diva Ellen Greene's, first album titled "In His Eyes" in 2004. This led to another idea, getting Broadway's most recognized women together for a special show.

"We produced a show called 'A Broadway Diva Christmas,' which at the time in 2005, we were the two youngest lead producers at the helm of a major production. That was probably, the jumping point. I had also been appearing in 'Naked Boys Singing' in 2001 and had a great relationship with my producers. They were kind enough to pass the baton to me and let me start producing it in 2007."

This led to a career of producing award-winning off-Broadway shows including the satirical current events revue "NEWSical: the Musical" and, in 2016, a revival of the jukebox musical "The Marvelous Wonderettes." Presently he is working on bringing a 90s icon to the stage for her own musical story, "I'm in the early stages of chatting with Paula Abdul, doing a musical with her, with her catalog and choreography."

What started as a childhood obsession with "A Chorus Line" has turned into a career of producing, directing, and writing for the stage. And just like the diverse stories in that show, D'Angora is helping bring more of them to life, many that have never been told before, especially those from the trans population..

"We have brilliant trans performers and it's time they be front and center, not just the supporting role because representation does matter," he says. "So, I think we're starting to do better with gender and races and disabilities. It's really getting there. And I think theater is very happy, is very excited to do it. As a whole, I think the community is really thrilled and committed to keep moving in the right direction."

For more on Tom, visit his website.