The Birth of “Broadway Baby”

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Russell Miller has spent a lifetime in the theater, working in London’s West End and on Broadway. His role has usually been at the gritty end of making things work, setting up the operations and commercial infrastructure of theaters and production.

When he went in search of a theater-related present for a producer friend’s young child, he couldn’t find a gift that resonated. So he decided to create something himself. The result is “Broadway Baby”, an illustrated children’s book that plots the journey of a young dreamer from cradle to stage.

“Broadway Baby was born of necessity,” said Russ. “I felt there was a real need to create something authentically theatrical that would resonate with theater lovers and children of all ages. You get a glimpse of the stage, front of house, audiences… it’s a VIP journey that’s more than just the performance elements.”

Miller thinks that there is no doubt that the holidays will be different this year without Broadway and it’s likely to be a strange and difficult season for all of us. “I hope at least that Broadway Baby provides a little comfort and warmth in these more testing times and helps us look back at happier days when our beloved theaters and restaurants were bustling and New York was vibrant and full,” he told us. “Theater will be come back soon and it will be bigger and better than ever when it does return, because that’s just the way we do it…”

The book is illustrated by award-winning Yoko Matsuoka and Judith Proffer – a publisher and musical theatre buff — helped bring the book to life with Miller. The hardcover limited edition is available at the Playbill Store. A portion of proceeds from sales will be donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.