Diego Kolankowsky: "I achieved dreams I never knew I had."
Diego Kolankowsky, the Argentine producer who always knew that dreams renew themselves, made history again in the world's theater capital. At the recent Tony Awards ceremony — the Oscars of theater — he took home the two most important awards: Best Musical for Maybe Happy Ending and Best Revival of a Musical for Sunset Blvd. An epic milestone for this multifaceted creative, born in the Buenos Aires suburbs, who conquered Broadway with his passion and instinct for stories that leave a mark.
But the most exciting part is that Maybe Happy Ending — a show born seven years ago amidst uncertainty and doubt — was crowned the queen of the night. 'It's a Cinderella who today became a queen,' said Kolankowsky, still overwhelmed with emotion. In total, his name was associated with nine statuettes: Maybe Happy Ending also won Best Director, Best Leading Actor, Best Book, Best Scenic Design, and Best Original Score. Sunset Blvd. took home awards for Best Leading Actress and Best Lighting Design, in addition to the grand prize for Best Revival. These awards are not only a recognition of his talent and vision but also of the strength of his convictions and faith in stories worth telling.
In this interview, Kolankowsky opens up to his world to share how passion took him from Buenos Aires to the marquees of Broadway, his lessons learned, and the challenges he faced turning dreams into reality.
From Buenos Aires to the world's most important theater stage... What was that journey like? Was there a key moment when you said, 'I'm going for Broadway'?
Yes, there was a moment. I had created a TV show about the luxury industry, about watches and travel, called Hours Minutes and Seconds. I love watches. I come from a very, very poor family, and when I started making money, I became a watch fanatic. I created this show basically to indulge my passion for this accessory. A TV show — a rarity. And it was a worldwide success. It aired in 12 or 14 countries, with translations into English, Spanish, and French. That brought me to New York a lot.
Also, since I was little I wanted to work in fiction, but I did very well in audiovisual/journalistic production. I was News Manager at América TV, created La Cornisa, and also worked on Jorge Lanata's shows and many other programs and media in Argentina. But I wanted to dedicate myself to fiction, and spending so much time here in New York, I reconnected with musical theater. I fell in love with a show called Rock of Ages. I saw it 20 times from the same seat. I brought my family and friends, celebrated birthdays there. I met the lead actor at a party here in New York, Constantine Maroulis, and his friends. We started a journey to make things happen. I would say Rock of Ages was the trigger that made me say, 'This is what I want to do.'
'The musical Rock of Ages was the trigger to say: 'This is what I want to do''
You won the two biggest Tony Awards and went on stage to receive Best Musical. What goes through your mind now when you look at all you've achieved? Does it feel real?
Yes, it's incredible what has been accomplished. This is my third Tony Award. I understand this time it has a different impact because it was two awards together, the most important of the season: Best Revival of a Musical for Sunset Blvd and Best Musical for Maybe Happy Ending, an original creation. And that has worldwide significance. My name will be associated with this show every time it's performed anywhere in the world. And it's something that identifies me, that I love, that I chose, and that is amazing. And I realize that's true. It hits me, of course, because what keeps me present is the overwhelming emotion. It's an incredible feeling, and I go back and forth from tears to laughter, wearing the two theater masks all the time. But what I can also tell you is that I come from a very humble family in La Matanza, and I fulfilled dreams I had never dreamed. That is a big lesson for me because I know I'll keep surprising myself, as I'll surely fulfill a dream I haven't even had yet. And that's the great thing about dreams renewing themselves, right? Otherwise, my life would have ended years ago, considering I was a News Manager at 24 — another dream I never had. And I had my own content company at 30 and TV shows I'm still producing. My dream was to see how I would survive. So it's total happiness, and I want to share this lesson that it's good to know that dreams renew.
'I come from a very humble family in La Matanza and fulfilled dreams I had never dreamed'
Maybe Happy Ending took seven years to arrive, endured lack of funds, and ended up the queen of the night. What did you learn throughout that process? What made you fall so in love with that story that you never let go?
Yes, it was a very tough struggle, with many complications, but always upward. It's a story that starts at the bottom and ends at the top, but my partner Hunter Arnold and I would say, 'It wasn't a rollercoaster; it was a climb to the summit.' But it was without oxygen, very difficult. I don't know if I learned something particular because it's really a reaffirmation. I believed in this, Michael Arden believed in it, Jeffrey Richards and Hue Park too. We were the ones who believed. Now many people see us up there. I tell you because it happened to me with friends, investors, and co-producers who told me no, they didn't invest, and now they say, 'You were right, we didn't see it. I can't believe how you saw it.' To me, it's more a lesson for us that when you try to create something at first, you can't have the full picture of the end, and that it's a gamble worth taking. So, for me, it's a reaffirmation to follow my dreams, instincts, and desires.
After sweeping the Tonys… What's next? Is there anything on the horizon that excites you as much as this? And are there chances that any of your shows will come to Argentina?
I decided some time ago that life wouldn't surprise me — I would surprise life. And the crazy thing is that life surprised me again. Beetlejuice returns to Broadway for the third time on October 8 for 13 weeks, a show I produce. Maybe Happy Ending continues its run, and Sunset Boulevard closes on July 20. Also, a film is in postproduction, a project my friend Axel Kuschevatzky invited me to join, taking on parts of production he likes less. It's called & Hijos, directed by Pablo Trapero, starring Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, George McKay, written by Sarah Polley, the Oscar winner for Women Talking. It will premiere soon at a festival I can't yet disclose, but it's one of the three biggest in the world for European cinema.
'I decided some time ago that life wouldn't surprise me — I would surprise life'
Quick Buenos Aires-style Ping Pong: Favorite things
Favorite play (or musical) you've seen in the city?
I've done very little theater in Argentina. I like to create shows, not promote them. Since Maybe Happy Ending is our show, I don't feel that way, but I feel that I could present one of our shows in my country. It's possible it might be done in Argentina; I have the rights, of course.
Reliable restaurant?
I have two that feel like home, where the waiters embrace you: Gardiner and Corte Charcuterie.
Perfect plan for a free night?
I live in a beautiful warehouse with guitars, drums, instruments. Gathering with my friends to play music. It's something we do regularly. People sometimes organize casual soccer games; we organize jam sessions.
A neighborhood that always inspires you?
I'm from the outskirts of Buenos Aires, so my hometown Ramos Mejía still inspires me. Now I live in the city, and my neighborhood inspires me a lot: Belgrano Chico and also Palermo. They're two neighborhoods I love walking around and love the culture they emanate.
'My hometown Ramos Mejía still inspires me'
A place in BA where you'd like to produce something?
I'm a fan of iconic places. Luckily, I've had the privilege of doing things. But I love the Planetarium, the Obelisk, and the Colón Theater. Luckily, I've done things in all three. Oh, you know what I'm missing and would like? To do something at the Floralis Genérica.
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And it was a worldwide success. It aired in 12 or 14 countries, with translations into English, Spanish, and French. That brought me to New York a lot. Also, since I was little I wanted to work in fiction, but I did very well in audiovisual/journalistic production. I was News Manager at América TV, created La Cornisa, and also worked on Jorge Lanata's shows and many other programs and media in Argentina. But I wanted to dedicate myself to fiction, and spending so much time here in New York, I reconnected with musical theater. I fell in love with a show called Rock of Ages. I saw it 20 times from the same seat. I brought my family and friends, celebrated birthdays there. I met the lead actor at a party here in New York, Constantine Maroulis, and his friends. We started a journey to make things happen. I would say Rock of Ages was the trigger that made me say, 'This is what I want to do.' 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But what I can also tell you is that I come from a very humble family in La Matanza, and I fulfilled dreams I had never dreamed. That is a big lesson for me because I know I'll keep surprising myself, as I'll surely fulfill a dream I haven't even had yet. And that's the great thing about dreams renewing themselves, right? Otherwise, my life would have ended years ago, considering I was a News Manager at 24 — another dream I never had. And I had my own content company at 30 and TV shows I'm still producing. My dream was to see how I would survive. So it's total happiness, and I want to share this lesson that it's good to know that dreams renew. 'I come from a very humble family in La Matanza and fulfilled dreams I had never dreamed' Maybe Happy Ending took seven years to arrive, endured lack of funds, and ended up the queen of the night. What did you learn throughout that process? What made you fall so in love with that story that you never let go? Yes, it was a very tough struggle, with many complications, but always upward. It's a story that starts at the bottom and ends at the top, but my partner Hunter Arnold and I would say, 'It wasn't a rollercoaster; it was a climb to the summit.' But it was without oxygen, very difficult. I don't know if I learned something particular because it's really a reaffirmation. I believed in this, Michael Arden believed in it, Jeffrey Richards and Hue Park too. We were the ones who believed. Now many people see us up there. I tell you because it happened to me with friends, investors, and co-producers who told me no, they didn't invest, and now they say, 'You were right, we didn't see it. I can't believe how you saw it.' To me, it's more a lesson for us that when you try to create something at first, you can't have the full picture of the end, and that it's a gamble worth taking. So, for me, it's a reaffirmation to follow my dreams, instincts, and desires. After sweeping the Tonys… What's next? Is there anything on the horizon that excites you as much as this? And are there chances that any of your shows will come to Argentina? I decided some time ago that life wouldn't surprise me — I would surprise life. And the crazy thing is that life surprised me again. Beetlejuice returns to Broadway for the third time on October 8 for 13 weeks, a show I produce. Maybe Happy Ending continues its run, and Sunset Boulevard closes on July 20. Also, a film is in postproduction, a project my friend Axel Kuschevatzky invited me to join, taking on parts of production he likes less. It's called & Hijos, directed by Pablo Trapero, starring Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, George McKay, written by Sarah Polley, the Oscar winner for Women Talking. It will premiere soon at a festival I can't yet disclose, but it's one of the three biggest in the world for European cinema. 'I decided some time ago that life wouldn't surprise me — I would surprise life' Quick Buenos Aires-style Ping Pong: Favorite things Favorite play (or musical) you've seen in the city? I've done very little theater in Argentina. I like to create shows, not promote them. Since Maybe Happy Ending is our show, I don't feel that way, but I feel that I could present one of our shows in my country. It's possible it might be done in Argentina; I have the rights, of course. Reliable restaurant? I have two that feel like home, where the waiters embrace you: Gardiner and Corte Charcuterie. Perfect plan for a free night? I live in a beautiful warehouse with guitars, drums, instruments. Gathering with my friends to play music. It's something we do regularly. People sometimes organize casual soccer games; we organize jam sessions. A neighborhood that always inspires you? I'm from the outskirts of Buenos Aires, so my hometown Ramos Mejía still inspires me. Now I live in the city, and my neighborhood inspires me a lot: Belgrano Chico and also Palermo. They're two neighborhoods I love walking around and love the culture they emanate. 'My hometown Ramos Mejía still inspires me' A place in BA where you'd like to produce something? I'm a fan of iconic places. Luckily, I've had the privilege of doing things. But I love the Planetarium, the Obelisk, and the Colón Theater. Luckily, I've done things in all three. Oh, you know what I'm missing and would like? To do something at the Floralis Genérica.
