Nederlander expands Broadway role with Jam Theatricals deal

The Nederlander Organization, operator of nine Broadway theaters and other performance venues around the country, has acquired Chicago-based Jam Theatricals, a leading producer of touring Broadway productions for 26 U.S. cities.

The companies will operate as the newly created Nederlander National Markets, based in New York. They said Steve Traxler, co-founder of Jam Theatricals, will remain in Chicago as director of strategy and integration for the new company.

The deal will give Nederlander control of the National Theatre in Washington, D.C. Built in 1835, it is the oldest theater for touring Broadway shows in the country.

In Chicago, Nederlander owns the Broadway in Chicago subscription series and operates five downtown venues: the Auditorium Theatre, CIBC Theatre, the Broadway Playhouse, Cadillac Palace Theatre, and the James M. Nederlander Theatre.

“Nederlander is a family company established over 100 years ago,” said James L. Nederlander, president of the new firm. “Over the past 25 years, Steve Traxler has built a company of quality with similar core values that make this combination a perfect fit.”

Traxler said Nederlander “has always been a pioneer in the industry of live entertainment. They are the gold standard when it comes to patron experience and audience development.”

The sale does not include Chicago-based music promoter Jam Productions.