MITCHELL MAXWELL

Mitchell J. Maxwell (Born June 24, 1952) is a producer, director, author, and entrepreneur. He is the author of the acclaimed novel Little Did I Know, which was adapted for the musical stage; however, due to the lockdown of 2020 it was instead presented as the first Broadway style musical to debut as a podcast on Apple’s streaming platform. There, it soared to number three on the charts and remained in the top forty for over six consecutive months. 

Mr. Maxwell has founded multiple entertainment companies throughout his career. They include M-Square Entertainment, Inc. (with Partner Alan J. Schuster) Working Man Films, Inc. (with younger sister Victoria Maxwell), Sibling Entertainment, Inc. (again with his sister), as well as The Story Plant Publishing Company and The Audio Drama Initiative, LLC. (with publishing icon Lou Aronica). Mr. Maxwell either sold or merged the above companies in order to launch, Maxwell Media, LLC. here in mid 2022.

In addition to plays and film, he has owned and operated successful restaurants in NYC’s SOHO and the ever-bustling Greenwich Village. Additionally, he branched out into major sports ownership as a co-founder of the Senior Professional Baseball Association in 1989, as well as a co-owner of M-1 Global, an MMA fight league founded in 2007.

Maxwell has produced over fifty stage productions, in the US, on London’s West End, and tours throughout The US and the Far East. Maxwell has produced seven major motion pictures. He has worked in all mediums, including stage, screen, publishing, podcast production, and as a serial entrepreneur and investor.

He began his career while still in college at Tufts University as the Producing Director of one of America’s oldest Summer Stock venues, the Priscilla Beach Theatre in Plymouth Massachusetts. He presented his first New York Production at the historic Cherry Lane Theatre in NYC’s West Village and his first foray into London’s West End was at the famous Donmar Warehouse.

In 1994 and 1995, Maxwell was selected by Theatre Review Magazine as one of the hundred most powerful people in the theater industry.

In 1982, Maxwell (along with partner Alan J. Schuster) acquired the Orpheum Theater in NYC’s East Village and in 1984 they built the Minetta Lane Theater. He produced extensively at these venues presenting many successful productions. These productions included Marvin’s Room, by Scott McPherson, Jeffrey by Paul Rudnick, Martha Clarke’s Garden of Earthly Delights, Jerry Sterner’s Other People’s Money, and the groundbreaking early hip-hop performance piece, Jam on The Groove. Other noteworthy achievements include co-producing the percussive phenomenon Stomp at the Orpheum Theatre (now in its 26th year) and presenting the Broadway revival of the classic musical comedy Damn Yankees, starring Bebe Neuwirth and Victor Garber. When Mr. Garber left the long running hit, Maxwell brought the legendary Jerry Lewis to Broadway (in his Broadway debut) to replace Mr. Garber. Following a triumphant run on Broadway, the production starring Mr. Lewis toured the United States for two years and later played the Adelphi Theatre in London.

His productions have been nominated for multiple Tonys, Oliviers, Drama Desk Awards, and Outer Critics Circle Awards. He has won such honors in every iteration. In 2000, he produced Dinner With Friends which was awarded the PULITZER PRIZE FOR DRAMA.

Most recently, Mr. Maxwell has headed productions of 3 new plays, When It Happens To You, Pay the Writer, and Windows. The specifics of these projects are referenced on the Current Productions Page of this website. 

Maxwell is an avid baseball fan and ardent reader, with particular interest in historical novels dealing with World War II. He is a self-proclaimed encyclopedia on musical theatre history. He currently lives in Tenafly, New Jersey. For recreation, he boxes on a regular basis and channels the Dick Van Dyke show.