Dori Berinstein

Four Tony’s, an Olivier, and an Emmy sit casually on shelves among books, scripts, music, and mementos in the home office of Broadway producer and filmmaker Dori Berinstein. These are only a small indication of the breadth, success, and noteworthy path of one of New York’s steadfast lead producers. Armed with Ivy League degrees, Berinstein started in investment banking, but her career quickly veered off that route. From Disney Imagineering and Hollywood features to Broadway blockbusters and intimate documentaries, Dori Berinstein never stands still, even though Broadway is doing just that. While COVID-19 keeps theaters dark, much like the Fearless Girl statue on Wall Street, Dori has leaned into the wind. As Co-founder and CEO, she launched Broadway Podcast Network in 2020 just as the pandemic was rolling into New York City. Listenership has gone through the roof.

For all the theater sites and Broadway Podcast Network, the numbers are skyrocketing because people want that connection to live theater and this is as close as they’re going to get.

Berinstein has always found her way to producing projects with a message. Dirty Dancing and Legally Blonde: The Musical characterized young women finding their strength. The Prom, soon to be released on Netflix starring Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, James Cordon, and Kerry Washington, shines a light on discrimination in a small town and the battle for acceptance. Her documentary and stage musical Half Time follow the experiences of the first NBA senior citizen hip-hop dance team. Ageism shot down!

As an award-winning feature documentary filmmaker, she captured the lives of iconic theatre creatives such as composer Marvin Hamlisch and actress Carol Channing. Says Dori, “There are so many amazing people who’ve inspired me and have inspired many others and I want to celebrate them and make sure that their legacy is strong for generations to come.”

Her films also dive into broader social issues. Traveling to all corners of the world, her upcoming film explores a global epidemic of a different kind: beauty standards and how striving to achieve them has impacted lives across cultures.

While her varied endeavors might seem unrelated, there is a common undercurrent. Says Dori, “I follow my heart. If my heart isn’t singing and saying ‘you can’t live a second without doing this film or show,’ if I don’t feel that overwhelming ‘I have to tell this story,’ then it’s not a story for me to tell. That’s my mantra.”

If you want to keep up with Dori Berinstein, you better swim fast.