Join Harvardwood for a dynamic discussion with some of Broadway’s most innovative creative minds as they share insights into the ever-evolving world of theater. From directing and producing to groundbreaking storytelling, our speakers will explore the process of bringing new works to life, reimagining classics, and pushing the boundaries of live performance.
Featuring accomplished artists Drama Desk Award-winning director Sammi Cannold (Forbes 30 Under 30, Variety's 10 Broadway Stars to Watch), acclaimed producer Benjamin Nelson (Broadway’s Oh, Mary! and Illinoise), and Broadway playwight Jonathan Tolins (The Twilight of the Golds, On the Town), this conversation will provide a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges and triumphs of making theater today.
Whether you're a longtime Broadway fan or simply curious about the creative forces shaping the industry, this event offers a rare opportunity to hear from the people who are redefining storytelling on the stage.
Sammi Cannold HGSE '16 is a Broadway director and filmmaker who is one of Forbes Magazine’s 30 Under 30 in Hollywood & Entertainment, one of Variety's 10 Broadway Stars to Watch, one of Town and Country's Creative Aristocracy, and a Drama Desk Award Winner. In 2025, she was named a Sundance Writers Intensive Fellow and is developing her first feature film with the Sundance Institute. She has directed on Broadway, at Lincoln Center, at the Kennedy Center, at Radio City Music Hall, and beyond, and has worked for CBS, ABC, Nickelodeon, Apple TV, and Cirque du Soleil. B. A., Stanford University; M.A., Harvard University. www.sammicannold.com. @sammi.cannold
Benjamin Nelson AB '11 is a theater producer in New York, NY. With classmate David Thomas Tao AB '11, he is Nelson & Tao, with current Broadway credits including Oh, Mary!, opening July 11th, and Illinoise, playing through August 10th. He has worked on dozens of productions in New York, London, and at North America's most vital regional theaters, including the American Repertory Theater, La Jolla Playhouse, and the Stratford Festival.
Jonathan Tolins (playwright & screenwriter)
Broadway: The Twilight of the Golds, On the Town (additional material). Off-Broadway/Regional: Buyer & Cellar, Secrets of the Trade, The Last Sunday in June, The Forgotten Woman, If Memory Serves. Film: Martian Child, The Twilight of the Golds. Television: Elsbeth (showrunner), East New York, Schmigadoon!, The Good Fight, A Christmas Story Live!, Grease Live!, BrainDead, Partners, Queer as Folk, Tony Awards, Academy Awards. Concerts: The Divine Millennium Tour and The Showgirl Must Go On, both for Bette Midler. Panelist on the Metropolitan Opera Radio Quiz. Member of the Dramatists Guild and the Writers Guild of America.