Two DOs are now Tony Award-winning Broadway producers

From physicians to producers: Two DOs won big at the 2018 Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall last night.

Jeffrey Grove, DO, and Michael Jackowitz, DO, were two of the co-producers for “Once on This Island,” which won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. The musical was nominated for eight Tonys in total.

“Once on This Island” tells the story of a peasant girl who falls in love with an aristocrat boy after rescuing him. It’s a tale of forbidden love, class and race. The musical opened in December to ravishing reviews and is currently showing at the Circle in the Square Theatre.

Dr. Grove is a third-generation osteopathic physician and is the board secretary and chair of the development committee for the American Osteopathic Foundation. The family medicine physician is also the secretary for the Osteopathic Political Action Committee.

Dr. Grove told the Tampa Bay Times that he cries every time he sees the show even though he knows what’s going to happen. He believes the physical reaction the show induces aligns with his medical philosophy—as a DO, he’s very cognizant of the mind-body connection.

Dr. Jackowitz, an internal medicine physician, is the founder and managing member of Witzend Productions, where Dr. Grove is also a managing member. The two have also put their support behind “Escape to Margaritaville,” which opened in March.

This may be the first time DOs have won a Tony Award. “Once on This Island” also broke boundaries and captivated Twitter by walking Sparky the Goat, who appears in the musical, down the event’s red carpet.

It might be a @TheTonyAwards first: A goat on the red carpet — and a stylish one, too. #TonyAwards2018 pic.twitter.com/fzxGLU9TBq

— NY1 – ON STAGE (@NY1onstage) June 10, 2018

Further reading

Medicine: The Musical theater and performance dates announced

Medicine: The Musical headed to an off-Broadway theater