Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel<\/a> congregant is proud to be a Philadelphian. He moved here for work almost 50 years ago, and has loved it ever since. He said he often refers to it as the \u201cSan Francisco of the East.\u201d<\/p>\n\u201cThe winter is more akin to San Diego lately, though,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s just a real city. The only other city I can think of that\u2019s as friendly to live in is Boston. It\u2019s a walking city; everything is so convenient. It\u2019s just a great place: good restaurants, good theater, good art, good sports \u2014 everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kleinman added that Philadelphia is a phenomenal place for a theater lover. He is a member of the Broadway at the Kimmel Center program, which brings some of the best productions right to Center City. He also enjoys time spent at the Philadelphia Theater Company.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019ve never been to a theater there, it\u2019s wonderful,\u201d he said, laughing as he added that \u201cthey sell their tickets too cheaply!\u201d<\/p>\n
For Kleinman, that businessman\u2019s perspective is a large reason that he has been so successful as a producer and investor. Yes, he is a theater lover, but that on its own doesn\u2019t help create a solid bottom line or fill seats in the world\u2019s largest venues. Kleinman said that he decided to go from enthusiast to producer in part simply to give him something else to focus on instead of just Wall Street.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t interested in getting involved in producing plays for a vanity exercise,\u201d he said.
The first play he worked on was \u201cThe Cottage,\u201d the directorial debut of former Seinfeld star Jason Alexander. The show was a smash hit, and a motion picture version will begin filming next May. From there, Kleinman was all in.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe jumped in with both feet last year,\u201d he said of himself and his wife, who are a production team.<\/p>\n
Last year, the couple co-produced five plays, four of which were nominated for a total of 24 Tony Awards. Needless to say, this has been a successful endeavor for Kleinman. He said he has been ultraselective as to what plays he gets involved in, and approaches that question from a business perspective. He has read scripts that he has not personally enjoyed but decided to invest in, as well as scripts he has liked but decided weren\u2019t worth the time and money.<\/p>\n
Whatever Kleinman gets involved in, he usually ends up in a seat where he is making decisions, whether that\u2019s in theater, real estate or at his synagogue. Splitting his time in Philadelphia, wherever his shows are playing and at a second home in Italy means that Kleinman isn\u2019t around at BZBI as much as he\u2019d like to be, but he still contributes from afar in a financial sense and attends services when he can. After sitting on the synagogue\u2019s board of directors for 15 years, he is happy to now just be another congregant.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir growth has been unbelievable,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a wonderful place.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kleinman and his family joined BZBI decades ago largely because it reminded him of his childhood synagogue in White Plains, New York.<\/p>\n
For Kleinman, one career he loved has given way to another. As he continues to fly over the Atlantic, attend award shows and rub elbows with stars, he will keep a local cause at the front of his mind.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll just continue to support the Philadelphia arts,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/LW-2.jpg\")
Tom Kleinman. (Photo by Benedict Brain)<\/p>\n