Prince began work in the theatre as an assistant stage manager to theatrical producer and director George Abbott. Along with Abbott, he co-produced "The Pajama Game", which won the 1955 Tony Award for Best Musical. He received Tony Awards for 1956's "Damn Yankees", 1960's "Fiorello!" and 1963's "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum", and Tony nominations for 1958's "West Side Story" and "New Girl in Town". He went on to direct and produce his own productions in 1962 beginning with the unsuccessful "A Family Affair" followed by his first critically successful musical, "She Loves Me" (Tony nomination, 1964).