Jeff Baron
Meeting Expectations with a Twist
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| Baron Photo by Michael Rafelson |
Named by his MBA section “Most likely to end up in People magazine,” Jeffrey A. Baron did so with a twist. He made People not in the United States but in Brazil, where his second play, Mother’s Day, received widespread acclaim.
Baron’s road from working-class New Jersey kid to Atlanta marketing executive to New York playwright has had a number of surprises. He left the corporate world after successful stints with Coca-Cola and American Express to help take care of his ill father and never went back. Turning to his creative side, he began writing for film and television, and eventually theater.
“I have an advantage because I can write about the workplace with firsthand knowledge,” says Baron, whose first play, Visiting Mr. Green, centers on the relationship that develops when a young, gay executive is sentenced to help care for an elderly Jewish man after nearly running him over. The autobiographical play has struck an international chord; Baron has now watched it performed in Japanese, Greek, French, and German. In addition, he notes with pride, it gave him a ticket back to corporate America — this time as part of a diversity training program at Shell Oil.
“Visiting Mr. Green talks about religion and sexual orientation, but it directly translates to other areas of diversity,” says Baron. He is now putting the finishing touches on Mr. and Mrs. G., a play he anticipates will be coming soon to a theater near you.
— SY
