Tag Archives: Press release

PRESS RELEASE: NOT YOUR AVERAGE ROBIN HOOD STORY!

For Immediate Release: May 3rd, 2013
Contacts: Eric Webb/La Vie Productions, 646-290-7569, eric@lavieproductions.com

NOT YOUR AVERAGE ROBIN HOOD STORY!

JANA ROBBINS and BETTER WORLD PRODUCTIONS present by invitation only
Staged readings of
ROBIN HOOD – THE FINAL ADVENTURE
A New Musical
Book by Thomas Meehan, Music by Peter Sipos, Lyrics by Martin Charnin
Music Direction by Kevin Stites
Directed by Martin Charnin

Friday, May 3rd & Monday, May 6th

New York City

Jana Robbins and Better World Productions present staged readings of ROBIN HOOD – The Final Adventure (Book by Thomas Meehan, Music by Peter Sipos, Lyrics by Martin Charnin) on Friday, May 3rd and Monday, May 6th in New York City. The industry-only staged readings are open by invitation only.

ROBIN HOOD – The Final Adventure is an exciting new musical filled with drama, intrigue, suspense and a whole lot of laughter.

Robin Hood, long thought to have been killed in the final battle of the Crusades, returns to England, to once again take up arms against the brutal tyranny of the brainless King John. There he reunites with his beloved Maid Marian, who has, to say the least, a major surprise for him, as they set off together on his last and greatest adventure!

Lyrics and direction for ROBIN HOOD – The Final Adventure are by Tony Award winner Martin Charnin (TWO BY TWO, ANNIE), with a book by Tony Award winner Thomas Meehan (THE PRODUCERS, HAIRSPRAY, ANNIE) and a bright and melodic new score by Canada’s Peter Sipos (CONTACT).

ROBIN HOOD – The Final Adventure readings features Anthony Warlow (ANNIE) as Robin Hood and Shelly Burch (NINE) as Maid Marian. Additional casting includes Jason Collins, Dan Deluca (“The Wire”), Aloysius Gigl (RAGTIME), Brian Michael Hoffman (SEUSSICAL), Richard Mark Jordan (SCROOGE), Simon Jones (BLITHE SPIRIT), Michael X. Martin (NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, 9 TO 5), Eric Page, Christy Carlson Romano (BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, AVENUE Q), AJ Shively (LA CAGE AUX FOLLES), Jill Shackner (LES MISERABLES), Gordon Stanley (CABARET, RAGTIME), Richard M. Steele, Quinn Van Antwerp (JERSEY BOYS), Walter Willison (GRAND HOTEL, TWO BY TWO), Mark Elliot Wilson,. The reading is stage managed by Anita Ross with casting by Geoff Josselson and general management by La Vie Productions.

Thomas Meehan (Book) is a three-time Tony-award book writer for the Broadway musicals ANNIE, THE PRODUCERS and HAIRSPRAY,. In addition, he has written the books of a dozen or so other Broadway musicals, including Richard Rodgers’ I REMEMBER MAMA, CRY-BABY, Mel Brooks’ YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, ELF and CHAPLIN. A long-time contributor of humor pieces to The New Yorker magazine and an Emmy-award-winning TV comedy writer, he has also written a number of screenplays, most notably for TO BE OR NOT TO BE and SPACEBALLS. He is a member of the Council of the Dramatists Guild.

Peter Sipos (Music) Born in Budapest, Hungary, Peter was founding member of the legendary Hungarian rock band Hungaria (1969-1979). He moved to Montreal, Canada in 1980 where he became a well-known musician-composer-producer. Celine Dion recorded his song “Pour Vous” in 1985. His first musical JEANNE (JOAN OF ARC) premiered in 1995 in Montreal and played 147 times until 1997 in three different productions in Quebec. He created orchestral underscoring for the Montreal theater production of the legendary Jewish mythical story THE DYBBUK in 1998. His latest musical was based on Carl Sagan’s novel and subsequent movie CONTACT co-authored by Amy Engelhardt (lyrics) and Alan Bryce (book). It opened in September 2009 at Centerstage in Federal Way, WA. Peter lives in Montreal, Canada, with his wife Kira and their beloved poodle Sammy. He is an enthusiastic aviator and a certified flight instructor.

Martin Charnin (Lyrics & Director) Tony Award® winning lyricist and director of original Broadway production of ANNIE. Charnin has directed 19 other productions of ANNIE including all of its first class national companies, three West End productions, and productions in Holland and Australia. His last production was in 2005, celebrating Annie’s 30th anniversary. He began his professional career in 1957, creating the role of Big Deal in the original Broadway company of WEST SIDE STORY. Since then, he has been the director, lyricist, composer, librettist or a combination of the aforementioned for over 125 theatrical ventures. He has collaborated with Peter Allen, Harold Arlen, Vernon Duke, Marvin Hamlisch, Peter Stone, Mary Rodgers, and Alan Jay Lerner, as well as two musicals with Richard Rodgers, TWO BY TWO and I REMEMBER MAMA. His other Broadway productions include HOT SPOT, THE FIRST, LENA HORNE; THE LADY AND HER MUSIC, CAFÉ CROWN, A LITTLE FAMILY BUSINESS, THE FLOWERING PEACH, NASH AT NINE and the off-Broadway productions of UPSTAIRS AT O’NEALS, THE NO FRILLS REVUE, CARNAL KNOWLEDGE, PUT IT IN WRITING, MUSIC, MUSIC and in London, BAR MITVAH BOY, BLESS THE BRIDE and THE 9½ QUID REVUE. He conceived and directed THE NATIONAL LAMPOON SHOW which ultimately became “Saturday Night Live”. This fall, he will direct the new Pre-Broadway production of TWO BY TWO starring Jason Alexander, and write the lyrics for and direct SKIN DEEP, a new Broadway bound musical
.
Kevin Stites (Music Director) Most recently, Kevin Stites served as the Music Director for the 25th Anniversary National Tour of LES MISERABLES, THE PRODUCERS (directed by Susan Stroman) at the Hollywood Bowl, and PERFECTLY FRANK: FROM HOLLYWOOD TO BROADWAY at the Grant Park Music Festival. He has also acted as Music Supervisor for the German Premiere of REBECCA in Stuttgart, Music Supervisor/Conductor for the World Premiere of DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY, and Music Director/Pianist for Deborah Voigt’s VOIGT LESSONS. Broadway: SOUTH PACIFIC (LCT), TALE OF TWO CITIES, THE COLOR PURPLE, TITANIC, SUNSET BOULEVARD, PAMELA’S FIRST MUSICAL, CHILDREN AND ART, LES MISERABLES, THREEPENNY OPERA, FIDDLER, NINE, OKLAHOMA!, ON THE TOWN, NINE TO FIVE (Additional Musical Arrangements). National Tours: LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, THE COLOR PURPLE, MARTIN GUERRE, MISS SAIGON, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, LES MISERABLES, TITANIC. Regional: World Premiere THE MASTER BUTCHERS SINGING CLUB by Marsha Norman (Composer/Music Arranger) at The Guthrie, TITANIC at the St. Louis Muny, and TAKE FLIGHT at The McCarter Theatre.

Jana Robbins (Producer) is a Tony nominated producer for the 2009 Broadway production of RAGTIME, joining Kevin McCollum and Manny Azenberg to transfer the highly successful Kennedy Center Production. In 1995 she founded BETTER WORLD PRODUCTIONS in order to “present theater and film entertainment that inspires us to create a Better World”. Jana made her Broadway producing debut with Allan Knee’s LITTLE WOMEN starring Sutton Foster and Maureen McGovern and her Off-Broadway producing debut with I LOVE YOU BECAUSE. Other Off-Broadway producing credits include WHITE’S LIES starring Betty Buckley and Daniel Beaty’s THROUGH THE NIGHT with producer Daryl Roth earning her a second Drama Desk nomination. Producing projects currently in development are Allan Knee’s THE JAZZ AGE, MANAGING MAXINE by Janece Shaffer and ROOF OF THE WORLD by D. Tucker Smith.

The invitation-only staged readings of ROBIN HOOD – The Final Adventure play Friday, May 3rd and Monday, May 6th in New York City. ###

PRESS RELEASE: THE BROADWAY LEAGUE ANNOUNCES THE 2012 LEAGUE AWARDS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE BROADWAY LEAGUE PRESENTS
2012 LEAGUE AWARDS

AT ANNUAL SPRING ROAD CONFERENCE TO:

Tom Gabbard, Wayne McWorter, Judith Lisi, Meredith Blair,
American Express, Fifth Third Bank, Michael C. Steindorf,
The Max 102.3 Louisville KY

HONORING EXCELLENCE AND ACHIEVEMENT FOR
TOURING BROADWAY

(New York, NY) May 15, 2012 – The honorees of the Broadway League Awards, honoring excellence and achievement for Touring Broadway, were announced today during the Broadway League’s 2012 Spring Road Conference. First presented in 1992, the Broadway League Awards recognize the contributions of those who have displayed exemplary service to the Broadway industry and are considered innovators of their craft.

Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of The Broadway League, commented, “Each year, League members bring Broadway to nearly 30 million people in New York and on tour across the U.S. and Canada. We’re pleased to present The League Awards to active members across the country whose accomplishments consistently impress us and our industry! The hard word and constant dedication of these outstanding people and companies enables The Broadway League to carry out our missions each and every day.”

Outstanding Achievement in Presenter Management (Samuel J. L’Hommedieu Award) was given to TOM GABBARD of Blumenthal Performing Arts in Charlotte, NC for demonstrating excellence in management. (presented by Jeff Chelesvig)
Under the leadership of Gabbard, Blumenthal Performing Arts has become one of the leading Road Presenters in the country. He is a former member of the Board of Governors and a multiple co-chair of the Spring Road Conference, as well as a managing member of the Independent Presenters Network. Under Gabbard’s direction, 9 to 5 The Musical embarked on a national tour during the 2010-2011 season and Blumenthal Performing Arts has received its first Broadway above title producing credit with The Mountaintop. Gabbard also actively pursues various methods for Road Presenters to bring more touring products to the United States.

Outstanding Achievement in Road Marketing was given to WAYNE MCWORTER of the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles, CA for his dedication and creation of an in-house marketing department. (presented by Anita Dloniak and Laura Matalon)

Starting from scratch, McWorter has created relationships for the Pantages Theatre that allowed shows to gain the most visibility in the market and ultimately increase attendance. Although the economy had previously been in a downturn, the rise of theatrical subscriptions was largely due to McWorter’s efforts. His innovative ideas generate publicity for the theatre’s productions while raising awareness for potential audiences.

JUDITH LISI was bestowed the Distinguished Lifetime Service Award. (presented by Al Nocciolino)

President and CEO of the David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts located in Tampa, Florida, Ms. Lisi has accomplished much in the ten years she has been involved with the organization. Through her outstanding leadership, she has improved and expanded the Straz Center’s programming and established financial security while meeting several long-term goals.

The George MacPherson Road Award was presented to MEREDITH BLAIR. (presented by Lauren Reid)

President of The Booking Group, one of the highest-generating booking agencies in the Broadway touring field, Blair has overseen numerous tours over her fourteen years, including RENT, In The Heights, Mamma Mia!, and West Side Story, among others. She has also served as the Vice President of Premier Artists Services, where she booked numerous stars. During her time there, her tour direction of the “Ultimate Event” with Liza Minnelli, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Frank Sinatra, set international box office records.
STAR OF TOURING BROADWAY AWARDS, designed to honor board members, government officials, donors and volunteers who have given support to promote and enrich the Broadway Series in their hometowns, were given to: (announced by Larry Payton)

American Express – American Express has teamed with Broadway Across America, utilizing strategic marketing techniques to bring the unique experience of touring Broadway productions across the nation.
Fifth Third Bank – Joining Cincinnati’s series in its inaugural season, Fifth Third Bank eventually went on to become the Name in Title Sponsor as well as expanding to Columbus and Atlanta. They have maintained the visibility of touring Broadway in the Midwest for over 25 years and continue to improve upon their tactics.

Michael C. Steindorf – Serving as a volunteer, patron, and member of Dallas Summer Musicals’ Executive Committee since 2004, Mr. Steindorf has guided the organization for numerous years. Under his leadership, DSM has reduced its budget while maintaining exemplary productions.

The Lambert and Lindsay Show at The Max 102.3 in Louisville, KY – To announce the 2012-2013 season, the station had the innovative idea to do a live broadcast from New York City from the Corporate Offices of Broadway.com. With live airings and interviews with casts and creative teams, their Louisville audiences were able to have an insider’s look at Broadway.
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The Broadway League, founded in 1930, is the national trade association for the Broadway industry. The League’s 700-plus members include theatre owners and operators, producers, presenters, and general managers in over 240 North American cities, as well as suppliers of goods and services to the theatre industry. Each year, League members bring Broadway to nearly 30 million people in New York and on tour across the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit www.BroadwayLeague.com, or follow The Broadway League on Twitter @TheBwayLeague or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/BroadwayLeague.