Jack Viertel, Senior Vice-President Emeritus of Broadway’s Jujamcyn Theaters, also served as the company’s Creative Director beginning in 1987, in charge of developing projects for the company's Broadway theaters, including five of August Wilson’s ten–play “Century Cycle”, M. BUTTERFLY, ANGELS IN AMERICA, GRAND HOTEL, CITY OF ANGELS, and PROOF. He produced the Patti Lupone revival of GYPSY and conceived the long-running SMOKEY JOE'S CAFÉ and the critically acclaimed AFTER MIDNIGHT. He served as the dramaturg for HAIRSPRAY and DEAR EVAN HANSEN. The musical and movie THE PROM were developed from his original concept. From 2000 to 2020 he served as Artistic Director of the Tony-honored Encores! series, presenting 65 Broadway musical revivals. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN MUSICAL and got his professional start playing National steel-bodied guitar behind Bonnie Raitt, Son House, and The Pointer Sisters.