John J. Wildberg (September 4, 1902 – February 8, 1959) was an American copyright attorney, who later became a

theatre producer A theatrical producer is a person who oversees all aspects of mounting a theatre production. The producer is responsible for the overall financial and managerial functions of a production or venue, raises or provides financial backing, and hires ...

. He was born Jacques Wildberg in

New York, NY New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

, the eldest son of Jacob and Joan Wildberg. Wildberg's most successful show; Anna Lucasta was produced in 1944. Together with

Cheryl Crawford Cheryl Crawford (September 24, 1902 – October 7, 1986) was an American theatre producer and director. Biography Born in Akron, Ohio, Crawford majored in drama at Smith College. Following graduation in 1925, she moved to New York City and ...

, he co-produced the first revival of

Porgy and Bess ''Porgy and Bess'' () is an English-language opera by American composer George Gershwin, with a libretto written by author DuBose Heyward and lyricist Ira Gershwin. It was adapted from Dorothy Heyward and DuBose Heyward's play '' Porgy'', itse ...

(1942) and

One Touch of Venus ''One Touch of Venus'' is a 1943 musical with music written by Kurt Weill, lyrics by Ogden Nash, and book by S. J. Perelman and Nash, based on the 1885 novella ''The Tinted Venus'' by Thomas Anstey Guthrie, and very loosely spoofing the Pygma ...

(1943). Wildberg's fourth marriage (her third), to novelist

Ursula Parrott Ursula Parrott (March 26, 1899Radcliffe College, Yearbook' (1920): 67. via Hathi Trust – September 1957), was a commercially successful American writer of romantic fiction novels. Her first book, ''Ex-Wife'' (1929), was a best seller, and was ad ...

in 1934, ended in June 1938 on the grounds of his intolerable cruelty. In 1950 his fifth wife took an overdose of sedatives and died in bed next to him. Wildberg had various business ventures in London, England, and eventually moved there in 1951. He died there on February 8, 1959, and was cremated in

Golders Green Crematorium Golders Green Crematorium and Mausoleum was the first crematorium to be opened in London, and one of the oldest crematoria in Britain. The land for the crematorium was purchased in 1900, costing £6,000 (the equivalent of £135,987 in 2021), ...

Selected productions

* A Woman's a Fool - to Be Clever, October 18, 1938 - October 1938 *

, January 22, 1942 - September 26, 1942 (co-producer) * Porgy and Bess, September 13, 1943 - October 2, 1943 (associate producer) *

, October 7, 1943 - February 10, 1945 (co-producer) * Porgy and Bess, February 7, 1944 - April 8, 1944 * Anna Lucasta (all-black cast), August 30, 1944 - November 30, 1946 *

Memphis Bound ''Memphis Bound'' (usually styled ''Memphis Bound!'') is a 1945 American Musical theater, musical based on the Gilbert and Sullivan opera ''H.M.S. Pinafore''. The score was adapted and augmented by Don Walker (orchestrator), Don Walker and Clay W ...

, May 24, 1945 - June 23, 1945 * Anna Lucasta, September 22, 1947 - October 18, 1947 *

Black Chiffon ''Black Chiffon'' is a play in two acts written by Lesley Storm. Starring Flora Robson, the play premiered at the Westminster Theatre in London's West End on 3 May 1949, running for over 400 performances. The play debuted on Broadway on 27 Septem ...

, September 27, 1950 - January 13, 1951

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Wildberg, John J. 1902 births 1959 deaths American theatre managers and producers Lawyers from New York City 20th-century American lawyers 20th-century American businesspeople