“Purpose,” which premiered on Broadway at Helen Hayes Theater in March, won the Tony Award for “Best Play” this month, a Pulitzer Prize for Drama earlier this year and extended its run until August 31. Chambers also produced a musical, “Goddess,” performed at Public Theater in New York from April to June.
But Chambers isn’t concentrating on winning accolades and breaking box office records. He’s drawn to theatrical works with substance that create dialogue after the show ends.
“It (’Purpose’) offers a real perspective of a family without it being solely about trauma. I look for shows that start conversations and carry messages beyond the walls of the theater. ‘Purpose’ is such a beautiful, powerful and compelling story. There are very long days, so I like working on good projects with good people that I can learn from, challenge me and make the project joyous,” Chambers said.
Credit: Marc J. Franklin
Chambers enrolled in Morehouse College in 1997 to study business administration. He took dance classes and was cast in productions at the neighboring all-women historically Black college, Spelman College.
Reading his favorite playwrights was his hobby when he wasn’t doing schoolwork. “I would go to the library every day, do an hour of economics, accounting homework and read a scene from (playwright August Wilson’s) ‘Fences,’” Chambers said.
Off-campus, Chambers was a regular at Alliance Theatre when future Broadway director Kenny Leon was its artistic director. He paid attention to how Leon would workshop plays like “Medea” featuring actress Phylicia Rashad and the world premiere of “Aida.”
“It was an incubator for new work. It was incredible having that access, seeing productions develop and how it changed before heading to Broadway,” Chambers said.
Chambers has produced “Fat Ham,” “Topdog/Underdog,” “Caroline, or Change” and “Ain’t Too Proud” among others. He earned Tony Awards for 2020’s “The Inheritance” and 2023’s revival of “Topdog/Underdog.”
As a producer, Chambers reads scripts, fundraise, creates budgets and reviews contracts.
Rashad, herself a two-time Tony Award-winning actress who made her Broadway directorial debut with “Purpose,” said Chambers is a successful theater producer because of his humility, giving the play his undivided attention and is knowledgeable about various areas of theater.
“He’s a remarkable person who’s active, engaged and not throwing his weight around in the room. He’s thoughtful, a team player who supports productions in every aspect and he’s in it every step of the way,” Rashad said.
Credit: Jai Lennard
Film and television producer Debra Martin Chase worked alongside Chambers as a producer on “Topdog/Underdog” and “Purpose.” She calls him “a great collaborator.”
“He is smart, has great taste and very well-respected among talent. His demeanor is very calm, open and determined. He listens, has very thoughtful opinions, evolved into a forceful, important producer, and is a pleasure to work with,” Chase said.
Credit: Sam Fine
Chambers’ first Broadway production was 2018’s “American Son” featuring actress and producer Kerry Washington. The play about an estranged interracial couple awaiting details on their missing son in a police station, allowed him to take his role behind the scenes seriously.
He said watching her host discussions about social justice after the play inspired him to see theater as a form of social change. “It was powerful, made me realize how important art is, how important it is to be able to hold up a mirror, and show us what the world can be,” he said
Chambers, who’s from Pittsburgh, grew up embracing the city’s vibrant children’s and professional theatre companies. He went on to earn an MBA and law degree from Ohio State University.
In 2010, Chambers opened a talent management and production company, Esquire Entertainment, to help performers make their Broadway and episodic television debuts and take their craft seriously.
“The goal is to inspire and empower people to create. We help them guide, plan and have a platform to achieve their career objectives,” he said.
Chambers was recently named executive director of the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus. He was previously the interim director of Houses on the Moon Theater Company.
Joining the men’s chorus in its 45th season, he hopes to bridge the gap between the organization’s three choruses, the theater community and using arts as activism.
“My job is to continue the fight. I want to enhance our mission to be champions for love, acceptance and equality. You can’t silence or erase people because of narrow-minded or bigoted views, so we’ll continue to be seen, heard and fight against parts of our country that don’t want us to have a voice,” Chambers said.
Credit: Justin Clynes
Chambers is reviving “Little Girl Blue,” a musical about musician and activist Nina Simone for Broadway next year. He also wants to produce film and television.
He hopes his work will continue to attract diverse audiences.
“Shows with people of color has so much more depth and nuance, which are our superpowers. I want to tell stories in different mediums to see ourselves reflected and remind Black audiences that we’re welcome,” he said.
About the Author
Christopher A. Daniel is a Black Culture reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He is an Atlanta-based, award-winning journalist, cultural critic and ethnomusicologist. He previously taught courses at Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University and Georgia State University.
