Michael P. Price

Michael P. Price (born August 5, 1938) is the longest serving artistic director of a professional theatre in the United States. and Annie. In 2025, he received a Tony Honor for Excellence in Theatre, awarded to those who have demonstrated extraordinary achievement in theatre, but are not eligible to compete in any of the established Tony Award categories.

Early life Price was born on August 5, 1938, in Chicago, Illinois. He is the son of William and Sylvia Price, both of whom were Jewish. He was raised in a Jewish home in Chicago. As a child, he acted in television commercials, including live commercials. He also learned from his uncle, a theatre manager in Chicago. As a lighting designer, he was responsible for the lighting at President Lyndon B. Johnson's Inaugural Gala, for Josephine Baker on Broadway and for the premiere American tour of the Hungarian National Ballet.

Goodspeed Musicals Price first joined Goodspeed Musicals for the company's first season in 1963, but left after a year. In 1968, Price returned to Goodspeed as the theatre's Executive Director—a role he held until 2014—with the goal of saving the then-struggling organization. Price grew Goodspeed from a fledgling organization with only three full-time employees, a two-month season and a budget of less than $500,000 in his first season to a "musical-theater empire" with 65 year-round employees, a $12.5 million budget and a season lasting from April to December.

Under Price's leadership, Goodspeed became the only theatre ever to receive two special Tony Awards for outstanding achievement. He accepted the second—the Regional Theatre Tony Award—in 1995. Goodspeed productions produced by Price have earned 13 Tony Awards and 33 Tony nominations.

Price's Broadway credits include: Man of La Mancha (1965–1971) Shenandoah (1975–1977) Very Good Eddie (1975–1976) Something's Afoot (1976) Going Up (1976) Annie (1977–1983) Whoopee! (1979) The Five O'Clock Girl (1981) Little Johnny Jones (1982) Harrigan 'n Hart (1985) Take Me Along (1985) Oh, Kay! (1990–1991) The Most Happy Fella (1992) Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1985) Swinging on a Star (1995–1996) By Jeeves (2001) All Shook Up (2005) 13 (2008) The Story of My Life (2009)

Government Price has served as Chairman of the Connecticut Commission on the Arts and its successor, the State of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development's Culture and Tourism Advisory Committee since 1992 under both Democratic and Republican Governors.

Awards In addition to Tony Awards, Price has received: Tony Honor for Excellence in Theatre Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts, honoris causa, Connecticut College Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts, honoris causa, University of Hartford Theater Hall of Fame

Other notable positions Founder, League of Historic American Theatres Founding Member and Past President – National Alliance for Musical Theatre Treasurer, The American Theatre Wing Member, Tony Awards Management Committee Board Member, The Johnny Mercer Foundation Executive Committee, The Union for Reform Judaism Board Member Connecticut Public Television Board Member American Academy of Dramatic Art

Personal life Price is married to Jo-Ann Nevas Price. They have two children, Daniel and Rebecca.