David Rothenberg (activist) facts for kids

David Rothenberg (born August 19, 1933) is an American producer for Broadway shows and an activist for people's rights in prison. He helped produce a play called Fortune and Men's Eyes by a former prisoner, John Herbert. This play deeply affected him.

Later, he was an observer during the Attica Prison riot, which made a big impression on him. This event encouraged him to work for prisoner's rights for the rest of his life. He started an organization called the Fortune Society. This group helps people who used to be in prison adjust to life outside. David Rothenberg lives in New York City.

Early Life and College

Rothenberg was born in Teaneck, New Jersey. His parents were from New York City. He finished Teaneck High School in 1951. When he was a child, he dreamed of becoming a sportswriter.

He went to the University of Denver. There, he was part of the Freshman Honor Society. He became the campus president of Students for Democratic Action. One of his first heroes was Jackie Robinson, a famous baseball player.

Rothenberg worked on the college newspaper, Clarion. He became the editor-in-chief in 1954 and 1955. He was known for speaking up about social and political issues.

Working in Theater

Rothenberg moved to New York City in 1958 after serving in the US Army. He wanted to work in acting after seeing the movie All About Eve. He started by working as a typist for ad agencies and book publishers. At the same time, he sent letters to people in the theater world.

He was hired by Bob Larken to help with interviews for actors, directors, and producers. Through his work, he met Alvin Ailey, a famous dancer and choreographer. They became friends, and Rothenberg got to go to rehearsals. This helped him meet more people in the theater business.

In 1960, he got a summer job as a press representative at Lakewood Theatre in Maine. Many famous actors performed there, which gave Rothenberg great chances to meet people.

Joining Alex Cohen's Office

In 1962, David Rothenberg joined Alex Cohen's office, still working as a press representative. This job allowed him to meet many important people in American theater. He became friends with stars like John Gielgud, Richard Burton, and Elizabeth Taylor. Rothenberg even went with Elizabeth Taylor to the opening of the play Hamlet on Broadway.

His first Broadway show was Beyond the Fringe. It was a huge success and ran for many years. This show opened at the Golden Theatre on the same day as the Cuban Missile Crisis.

After this success, Rothenberg worked with plays by famous writers like Edward Albee, Tennessee Williams, and Harold Pinter. He worked on more than 200 Broadway shows during his career. In 1966, he got involved in anti-war protests through a play called Viet Rock.

Producing Fortune and Men's Eyes

A friend told Rothenberg about the play Fortune and Men's Eyes. He felt very strongly about the play after reading it. Rothenberg took out a loan to help pay for the play. It opened in February 1967 at the Actor's Playhouse in Greenwich Village.

To prepare for the play, Rothenberg visited Rikers Island prison in New York. This was his first time inside a prison. Visitors were put into cells for a few minutes to understand what it was like.

At first, some critics had mixed feelings about the play. However, others praised it, and it became very successful. The play ran for 13 months in New York and was performed in over 40 countries.

The Fortune Society and Activism

The author of Fortune and Men's Eyes, John Herbert, had been in prison before. Rothenberg was deeply moved by the play and his visit to Rikers Island. He decided to start a non-profit group called the Fortune Society. The name came from the play's title, which was inspired by a sonnet by Shakespeare.

The organization started with discussions at the Actor's Playhouse. People like parole officers, government officials, and former inmates talked about their experiences. Rothenberg's office became the main place for the group. They started raising money at their Tuesday night meetings.

To spread awareness, four men from the Fortune Society appeared on a TV show called The David Susskind Show. The host told the audience about the new organization and encouraged them to connect with the Fortune Society.

The next day, many people who had been in prison lined up outside Rothenberg's office. They hoped the organization could help them find jobs and homes. This led to a core group of people forming the Fortune Society.

Rothenberg also arranged for former inmates to attend Broadway plays. His friend Alvin Ailey helped by providing tickets. One person joked that when someone leaves prison in New York, they get a small amount of money, a sandwich, and two tickets to an Alvin Ailey show.

The Attica Prison Riot

Around this time, the Attica Prison riot happened. Prisoners asked for David Rothenberg to be one of the civilian observers. He was among about three dozen people who went to Attica to observe. A smaller group went to speak with the governor, Nelson Rockefeller. However, the governor ordered troops to take over the prison. This takeover was violent, and some people died. The Fortune Society helped arrange funerals for four prisoners whose bodies were not claimed.

The Attica riot brought a lot of attention to the conditions inside prisons. Many of Rothenberg's friends and colleagues in theater helped raise money for the Fortune Society. Famous people like Christopher Reeve supported the group. Even Attica prison itself told its prisoners about the Fortune Society.

After Attica, many volunteers offered to help. They provided tutoring and office support. The society created a tutoring program that still runs today. It offers classes for reading, GED preparation, and college help, as well as career services. The organization grew and worked with schools.

During the early days of a health crisis called AIDS, the society received letters from inmates. They wrote about people in prison getting sick. Rothenberg sent health information to prison officials. At first, they didn't want to allow the information because of certain words. After discussions, the information was allowed, and the Department of Corrections began to recognize the health crisis among prisoners.

Political Efforts

In 1985, Rothenberg ran for city councilman in Manhattan. He wanted to raise awareness about the health crisis. His campaign manager helped raise a lot of money, which was a record for a city council race. Rothenberg received support from many newspapers. He got 46% of the votes, which was a large number, but his opponent won the election.