Arthur Rubin (June 16, 1926 – July 23, 2023) was an American actor, stage manager, and Tony Award-winning theatrical producer.
Performer and stage manager Rubin began his professional career in the Radio City Music Hall glee club in 1950. The following year he made his Broadway debut in the revue Two on the Aisle—starring Bert Lahr and Dolores Gray—the first of numerous Broadway productions, including Can-Can, Silk Stockings, and The Most Happy Fella.
To supplement his income as an actor, Rubin also worked as a stage manager and assistant stage manager on Broadway productions of Silk Stockings, The Most Happy Fella, The Music Man, Greenwillow, West Side Story, and Wildcat.
Even after transitioning to producing, Rubin continued to perform periodically. From 1960 to 1980 Rubin appeared in the annual Milliken Breakfast Show, an industrial musical presented by Milliken & Company. He lent his talents to two Mel Brooks films, appearing in The Producers as a would-be Hitler and dubbing Cary Elwes's singing in the title role of Robin Hood: Men in Tights.
While Rubin was already vice president and general manager of the Nederlander Organization, he appeared in the 1985 Lincoln Center concert revival of Follies as Roscoe, and in 1991 he returned the role of Giuseppe in a revival of The Most Happy Fella at New York City Opera.
Theater manager and Broadway producer Following the closing of Here's Love in 1964 (a musical adaptation of Miracle on 34th Street), Rubin decided to focus on offstage roles: "I thought … I'm never going to make it as a lead and make the big money. But I think I can make it on the business side because I've always had a business sense." That same year he worked on the general manager of the Broadway Theatre during the run of Folies Bergère. Subsequently he worked as the general manager for the Lunt-Fontanne, Mark Hellinger, and Biltmore theaters.
Rubin turned his hand to producing with the 1981 revival of Can-Can. Over the next dozen years he was producer or associate producer for another 13 theatrical events on Broadway, including the infamous Legs Diamond, concerts by Shirley Bassey and Smokey Robinson, and revivals of Cafe Crown, Peter Pan, and Sweet Charity, winning a Tony Award for the latter.
Nederlander Organization Rubin joined the Nederlander Organization in 1975, first as general manager and eventually assuming the role of vice president. Over this period Nederlander theaters hosted a wide variety of theatrical fare, notably Black and Blue, Fences, Lost in Yonkers, The Will Rogers Follies, as well as circus, dance, pop music, and revivals of Shakespeare, Eugene O'Neill, Tennessee Williams.
During his tenure the organization expanded its portfolio to include the Marquis Theatre, and conversely saw the lease and eventual sale of the Mark Hellinger Theatre to the Times Square Church.
In 1992 the Nederlander Organization complained to the Manhattan District Attorney's office of $300,000 in missing box office receipts from its Lunt-Fontanne Theater, where the comedy Catskills on Broadway was running. As supervisor of the Nederlander's box office operations, Rubin initially survived the subsequent corporate reorganization, but shortly after resigned "to pursue other personal business interests."
Personal life and death Rubin had two children. He died on July 22, 2023 at the age of 97 in Great Neck, New York.
Stage credits As actor and stage manager + Year Title Role(s) Venue 1951Two on the AisleConductorMark Hellinger Theatre, Broadway1953Can-CanPoliceman, SecondShubert Theatre, Broadway1955Silk StockingsReporter; assistant stage managerImperial Theatre, Broadway1956The Most Happy FellaGiuseppe; assistant stage managerImperial Theatre, Broadway1957Broadway Theatre, Broadway1957The Music Manassistant stage managerMajestic Theatre, Broadway1958The Most Happy FellaGiuseppe (replacement)US national tour1959JunoFoleyWinter Garden Theatre, Broadway1960Greenwillowstage managerAlvin Theatre, Broadway1960West Side Storyunderstudy: Krupke, Gladhand; assistant stage managerWinter Garden Theatre, Broadway1960Wildcatstage managerAlvin Theatre, Broadway1961KeanFrancisBroadway Theatre, Broadway1963Here's LoveTammany O'Halloran; stage managerShubert Theatre, Broadway1985Follies in ConcertRoscoeAvery Fisher Hall1991The Most Happy FellaGiuseppeNew York State Theater
As producer + Year Title Venue 1981Can-CanMinskoff Theatre, Broadway1983 La Tragédie de CarmenVivian Beaumont Theatre, Broadway1984 Doug Henning & His World of MagicLunt-Fontanne Theatre, Broadway1986 Sweet CharityMinskoff Theatre, Broadway1986 Shirley BasseyMarquis Theatre, Broadway 1986 Smokey Robinson Plus Jean CarneMark Hellinger Theatre, Broadway 1987 Sweet CharityNorth American tour1987 Mort Sahl on Broadway!Neil Simon Theatre, Broadway1988 Kenny Loggins on BroadwayNeil Simon Theatre, Broadway1988 Legs DiamondMark Hellinger Theatre, Broadway1989 Cafe CrownBrooks Atkinson Theatre, Broadway 1989 Barry Manilow at the GershwinGershwin Theatre, Broadway1989 Freddie Jackson: Up Close & PersonalLunt-Fontanne Theatre, Broadway1989 Dangerous GamesNederlander Theatre, Broadway1990 Peter PanLunt-Fontanne Theatre, Broadway1990 Ain't Broadway Grand?Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, Broadway
Filmography Film
Year Title Role Notes 1967 The Producers Auditioning Hitler 1988 Crossing Delancey Happy Birthday Singer1993 Robin Hood: Men in Tights Robin Hood (singing voice)
Television Year Title Role Notes 1963 Car 54, Where Are You? Night Court Prisoner Episode: "See You At The Bar Mitzvah" 1964 The Patty Duke Show Pat Episode: "The Drop Out" 1965 Mr. Brown Episode: "Will The Real Sammy Davis Please Stand Up?" 1986 Great Performances Roscoe Episode: "Follies in Concert"
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref. 1984 Drama Desk Award Unique Theatrical Experience La Tragédie de Carmen 1986 Tony Award Best Reproduction Sweet Charity 1989 Tony Award Best Revival Cafe Crown 1991 Tony Award Best Revival Peter Pan
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