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Adam Epstein, 32
Chief Executive
Adam Epstein Productions
It's not that unusual for young people starting their careers to hit up their family and friends for some extra cash--but how about $100,000? As a recent college grad, Adam Epstein had no qualms about raising that kind of money in his first go-round as associate producer for the 1997 revival of Arthur Miller's A View From the Bridge.
"I felt like this was a down payment on my career," says the Miami-raised impresario, who counts Hollywood titan Samuel Goldwyn among his heroes.
And what a career it's been. Mr. Epstein won a Tony Award as one of the producers of the wildly successful Hairspray: The Musical, which so far has grossed nearly $200 million. He's also notched producer credits for The Wedding Singer and revivals of The Crucible and Amadeus on Broadway.
His next project in development is a theatrical version of John Waters' movie Cry-Baby.
"Who as a little boy wants to grow up to be a producer? Well, Adam did," says Mr. Waters, writer and director of the movie Hairspray, who acted as a consultant on the musical. "That's what gives him such tremendous confidence. He's always known what he wanted to do."
Mr. Epstein, who graduated from New York University with a degree in political science after starting out in performing arts, credits his success to understanding both the creative and practical side of producing a hit show.
"I got my left brain to introduce itself to my right brain," says Mr. Epstein, who hopes to expand his producing skills to the movie business as well.