David Rothenberg (activist) facts for kids

David Rothenberg (born August 19, 1933) is an American who has done many important things. He is known as a Broadway producer. He also works as an activist for people's rights, especially for those who have been in prison.

David Rothenberg helped produce a play called Fortune and Men's Eyes. This play was about the experiences of people in prison. Seeing the play and visiting a prison made a big impact on him. It inspired him to become a lifelong activist. He later helped start an organization called the Fortune Society. This group helps people who have been in prison adjust to life outside. They also work to improve conditions for prisoners. David Rothenberg lives in New York City.

Early Life and Education

David Rothenberg was born on August 19, 1933. His hometown was Teaneck, New Jersey. His parents, Leo and Leonore Rothenberg, were from New York City. He finished Teaneck High School in 1951. When he was a child, David dreamed of becoming a sportswriter.

His family was the first Jewish family in northern New Jersey. One of his grandmothers became a Christian Scientist. David went to the University of Denver. There, he was part of the Freshman Honor Society. He later became the campus president for Students for Democratic Action. His first political hero was the famous baseball player Jackie Robinson.

David pursued his dream of writing. He became a columnist for the college newspaper, the Clarion. He later became the editor-in-chief in 1954 and 1955. Some people accused him of having certain political views. This was likely because he took part in social and political protests.

Starting a Broadway Career

David Rothenberg moved to New York City in 1958. He had just finished serving in the US Army. He was inspired to work in theater after seeing a movie called All About Eve. To earn money, he worked as a typist for advertising agencies. He also sent letters to theater producers and agents.

He eventually got a job covering interviews with actors and directors. This was for TV and radio stations. Through his work, he met Alvin Ailey, a famous dancer and choreographer. They became good friends. This friendship helped David meet many people in the theater world. He got an apprenticeship as a press representative. This job involved promoting plays and shows.

In the summer of 1960, David worked at the Lakewood Theatre in Maine. Many famous actors performed there. This gave him great opportunities to meet important people.

In 1962, David joined Alex Cohen's office. He continued working as a press representative. This job allowed him to meet many legends of American theater. He became friends with actors like John Gielgud and Elizabeth Taylor. David even went with Elizabeth Taylor to the opening of Hamlet on Broadway. He was in charge of the press for that show.

His first Broadway production was Beyond the Fringe. This show became a huge hit. It ran for many years. The production opened at the Golden Theatre in New York. This was on the same day the Cuban Missile Crisis began.

After this success, David Rothenberg began representing plays. These included works by famous writers like Edward Albee and Tennessee Williams. Over his career, he worked on more than 200 Broadway shows. In 1966, he helped with a play called Viet Rock. This play allowed him to join anti-war protests.

Fortune and Men's Eyes and Activism

David Rothenberg learned about a play called Fortune and Men's Eyes. A friend told him it needed help to be shown in New York. After reading the play, he felt very strongly about it. He took out a loan to help produce it. The play opened in February 1967 in Greenwich Village.

As part of his research, David visited Rikers Island prison in New York. This was his first time inside a prison. Visitors were put into cells for a few minutes. This experience deeply affected him.

The play received mixed reviews at first. However, it eventually became very successful. It ran for 13 months in New York. It was later performed in over 40 countries.

The author of Fortune and Men's Eyes, John Herbert, had been in prison. David Rothenberg was very moved by the play and John Herbert's story. He decided to create a non-profit group. He named it the Fortune Society, after the play.

The Fortune Society started with discussion groups. These meetings included parole officers, officials, and people who had been in prison. David's office became the group's main meeting place. They began raising money to help people.

Four men from the Fortune Society appeared on The David Susskind Show. They talked about their experiences. The host, David Susskind, told the audience about the new organization. He encouraged people to contact the Fortune Society. The next day, 250 people who had been in prison lined up outside David's office. They hoped the organization could help them find jobs and housing.

David also arranged for people from the Fortune Society to see Broadway plays. His friend Alvin Ailey helped by providing tickets. One person joked that when someone leaves prison in New York, they get "two tickets to Alvin Ailey."

Around this time, the Attica Prison riot happened. Prisoners asked for David Rothenberg to be one of the civilian observers. He was among three dozen people called to Attica. The observers tried to help resolve the situation. 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 prison conditions. Many of David's friends and theater professionals helped raise money for the Fortune Society. Famous people like Christopher Reeve supported the organization. The prison itself even told prisoners about the Fortune Society.

Many volunteers offered to help after Attica. They provided tutoring and office support. A tutoring program was created. It offered classes for reading, writing, and college preparation. The Fortune Society grew and worked with schools.

During the early days of AIDS, the society received letters from inmates. They wrote about men dying from a strange illness. David sent information from the Gay Men's Health Crisis to prison officials. At first, they did not want to allow literature with the word "gay" in it. After discussions, the word was not spelled out. The prison wardens then allowed the brochures. This was an important step in recognizing the epidemic's effect on prisoners.

Political Aspirations

In 1985, David Rothenberg ran for city councilman in Manhattan. He wanted to raise awareness about AIDS. At the time, AIDS was often misunderstood. He ran as an openly gay candidate. This brought a lot of media attention. He was featured in newspapers and magazines.

His campaign manager helped raise over $250,000. This was a record for a city council race. Many newspapers and groups supported David. He received 46% of the votes. This was the third-highest number of votes in the city's council race. However, his opponent received more votes and won.