Broadway Producer Dori Berinstein to Head Commercial Theater Institute
New York, NY – August 10, 2026 – The Commercial Theater Institute (CTI), in partnership with The Broadway League and TDF (Theatre Development Fund), are pleased to announce that Dori Berinstein has been appointed Executive Director of The Commercial Theater Institute, the nation’s leading professional development program for theatre producers and managers. The news was shared by Jason Laks, President of The Broadway League, and Deeksha Gaur, Executive Director of TDF (Theatre Development Fund).
Founded in 1981 as a joint project of The Broadway League and TDF, CTI is the nation’s only formal professional development program dedicated to commercial theatre producers and managers. CTI reflects the theatre industry’s commitment to preparing the next generation of leaders, with hundreds of accomplished professionals serving as lecturers and panelists throughout its history. Berinstein succeeds interim CTI Executive Directors Sue Frost and Victoria Bailey.
Berinstein, the 2009 recipient of CTI’s Robert Whitehead Award for Producing Achievement, is a six-time Tony-winning Broadway producer, an Olivier winner, and an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker. Her Broadway productions include The Prom, Legally Blonde, Stereophonic, The Wiz, Company, Is This A Room, Dana H., Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Crucible, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Fool Moon, and many others. Berinstein is the lead producer on the upcoming Warner Bros. musical Happy Feet.
Berinstein co-founded the Broadway Podcast Network, Camp Broadway, and The Lights of Broadway Show Cards. She serves on the Boards of New Dramatists and the Jacob Burns Film Center, where she received the Vision Award. Berinstein was co-chair of The Broadway League’s Audience Development Committee and served on The Broadway League’s Board of Governors.
Berinstein served as producer or executive on the films Dirty Dancing, Isaac Mizrahi’s Unzipped and Jim Henson’s MuppetVision 3D. As a filmmaker, her award-winning Broadway-related films include ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway, Carol Channing: Larger Than Life, and Marvin Hamlisch: What He Did for Love. She worked as a producer or executive for DreamWorks, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., Sony Pictures, NBC, Sesame Workshop, Oxygen Media, Vestron Pictures, and Walt Disney Imagineering.
“The future of Broadway depends on developing thoughtful, innovative leaders, and CTI has been instrumental in that mission for more than 40 years,” said Jason Laks, President of The Broadway League. “Dori’s remarkable career and passion for mentoring emerging producers make her uniquely suited to guide the program forward. We are delighted to welcome her to this leadership role.”
“Dori is an exemplary producer and creator whose dedication to building the next generation of theatre makers and theatregoers perfectly aligns with CTI’s mission to develop new leaders who will innovate and sustain our industry,” said Deeksha Gaur, TDF’s Executive Director. “We welcome her leadership at CTI and look forward to partnering with her to continue this vital work.”
“CTI has long played an essential role in educating, inspiring, and empowering those who will shape the future of commercial theatre,” Berinstein said. “I’m thrilled to join this important work and to build on CTI’s remarkable legacy, helping ensure that the current and next generations of producers and managers have the knowledge, community, and vision to imagine—and build—an extraordinary theatrical future.”
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THE COMMERCIAL THEATER INSTITUTE (CTI), now in its 45th year, is a project of TDF (Theatre Development Fund) and The Broadway League. It is the nation’s only formal program that specifically trains commercial theatre producers and managers. CTI provides resources and guidance to individuals interested in the various paths one can take toward creating commercial productions for the stage. Learn more at commercialtheaterinstitute.com.
THE BROADWAY LEAGUE, founded in 1930, is the national trade association for the Broadway industry representing more than 800 members from nearly 200 national and international markets including theatre owners and operators, producers, presenters, and general managers as well as suppliers of goods and services to the commercial theatre industry. Since 1967, The Broadway League has been co-presenting the Antoinette Perry “Tony” Awards with the American Theater Wing. Learn more at broadwayleague.com.
TDF (Theatre Development Fund), founded in 1968, is a not-for-profit service organization dedicated to sharing the power of the performing arts with everyone. TDF’s mission is to engage a broad and diverse audience by removing the financial, physical, and invisible barriers to participation in the performing arts. TDF’s initiatives include the TKTS by TDF Discount Booths; TDF Memberships; the TDF Costume Collection; and TDF Accessibility, Education, and Community Programs. Those Programs include open captioned, audio described, and ASL interpreted performances; Autism Friendly Performances; the Veterans Theatregoing Program; school programs serving more than 11,000 NYC public school students annually; and partnerships with over 150 NYC community organizations serving 18,000 people in the tristate area. TDF welcomes NYC’s vibrant communities to the theatre because experiencing the performing arts improves mental health and social connections. Learn more about TDF at tdf.org.
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