Founder’s Story: Debra Martin Chase

Join us for an inspiring evening with entertainment industry icon Debra Martin Chase. As a three-time Tony Award winner and three-time Emmy Award nominee, Debra broke barriers as the first Black female producer to secure a deal at a major studio and to produce a film that grossed over $100 million.

Her films—including Harriet, The Princess Diaries, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and The Cheetah Girls franchises—have collectively grossed over half a billion dollars worldwide. In television, Debra is the executive producer of CBS’s The Equalizer, now in its fifth season, and has notable credits like Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella. On Broadway, she co-produced Tony-winning productions such as The Outsiders (2024 Best Musical), Topdog/Underdog (2023 Best Revival of a Play), and A Strange Loop (2022 Best Musical and Best Book).

A graduate of Mount Holyoke College and Harvard Law School, Debra serves on the boards of B&G Foods, Bridge Investment Group, Gaming and Leisure Properties, and the Second Stage Theatre. She is an active member of The Motion Picture Academy’s Producers Executive Committee, The Television Academy, and the Broadway League’s Tony Management Committee.

In discussion with Decca Aitkenhead, Debra will share her personal journey, professional achievements, and insights into breaking barriers in the entertainment industry.