PAUL DANIELS

1946 - 2022

DANIELS--Paul Sherwood, an Illinois-born theatrical executive manager and producer whose credits include the original productions of Pulitzer Prize winners Sunday in the Park with George, The Heidi Chronicles and Driving Miss Daisy, died of cancer at his home in New York City on September 27. Born July 18, 1946, he was 76. Paul was raised in the northern suburbs of Chicago and graduated from New Trier High School. He earned his undergraduate and Master's degrees from the University of Minnesota where he was also a McKnight Fellow in scenic design at the Guthrie Theatre. He moved to Connecticut as production manager at Hartford Stage before marrying actress Evalyn Baron and moving to New York in 1973. Paul's New York career started with A.R.T./ New York, an alliance helping nonprofit theatres realize their visions. Paul served as president of the Alliance and remained on the board when he left to be managing director at Circle Repertory Theatre Company. In 1981, Paul joined Playwrights Horizons. Initially as managing director then executive producer, he collaborated closely with artistic director Andre Bishop. Together they introduced the works of American playwrights including Wendy Wasserstein, Christopher Durang, A.R. Gurney, Albert Innaurato, Alfred Urhy, Craig Lucas and Scott McPherson, as well as musicals by Stephen Sondheim, James Lapine, William Finn, Lynn Ahrens and Steve Flaherty. During Paul's tenure at Playwrights, productions went on to receive a long list of Obie, Drama Desk, New York Drama Critics' Circle and six Tony awards. Paul launched Ticket Central, offering the first box office and subscription service designed to serve nonprofit and Off-Broadway theaters. He established a central scenic workshop and costume central and he took over the management of Theatre Row Studios making it possible to offer affordable scenic construction, costuming, rehearsal rooms and performance spaces. These services elevated the quality of productions and brought new community and collaboration to the nonprofit and Off- Broadway theatre world while providing a diversified income stream for Playwrights. In 1983, Paul started the Playwrights Horizons Theater School at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. The school continues to offer a four- year multi-disciplinary training program that is consistently ranked as one of the best undergraduate theater training programs in the country. Paul was predeceased by his parents George Irwin Daniels and Lucinda Sherwood Daniels and his brother, John Sherwood Daniels. He is survived by his sister Lucinda Jane Daniels of Wilmette, IL, and his partner of 23 years Stephen Cole of New York, NY. Private services will be held at Trinity Cemetery, New York City. A memorial service to be announced.