Kimmel Center and Shubert Org. Join for Philly Theatre

Kimmel Center Inc. and The Shubert Organization, Inc. today announced plans to collaborate on theatrical presentations in the Philadelphia market. Presentations would take place at the Academy of Music or the Forrest Theatre, allowing both organizations the chance to perpetuate and enhance the presentation of legitimate theatrical attractions in Philadelphia.

"We believe that by coordinating productions and marketing efforts for legitimate theatrical attractions at the Academy and the Forrest, the public will benefit and our venues will be able to offer a greater number and variety of theatrical attractions than the two parties have been able to attract in the past. We are confident that this will increase overall interest in attending theatrical events," said Kimmel Center President and CEO Janice Price.

"It is our belief that a working relationship between our two organizations will strengthen opportunities, and that this relationship would bolster our ability to offer producers an attractive array of options when routing productions to Philadelphia," said Gerald Schoenfeld, Chairman of The Shubert Organization. "Shubert has been serving the Philadelphia audience at the Forrest Theatre for 79 years and we expect that this collaboration will allow us to continue to do so for many more years."

Kimmel Center, Inc. is a non-profit organization that owns, manages, supports and maintains the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts as well as the Academy of Music which is owned by the Philadelphia Orchestra Association. The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and the Academy of Music serve as the home to eight Resident Company performing arts organizations including The Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Ballet, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, American Theatre Arts for Youth, PHILADANCO, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society and Peter Nero and the Philly Pops. Kimmel Center, Inc.'s mission also includes arts in education, community outreach and a rich diversity in programming through its Kimmel Center Presents and Cadillac Broadway at the Academy series of performances.

The Shubert Organization in the forefront of the American theatre since the start of the 20th century, is responsible for the ownership and/or operation of 21 theatres in New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, DC. Under the leadership of Gerald Schoenfeld, Chairman; Philip J. Smith, President; and Robert E. Wankel, Executive Vice-President, the firm continues its involvement in the presentation of distinguished theatrical productions. Some of the firm's most notable productions include Cats, Sunday in the Park with George, Dreamgirls, The Grapes of Wrath, Little Shop of Horrors, The Heidi Chronicles, Jerome Robbins' Broadway, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Song & Dance, Lettice & Lovage, Dancin', Amadeus, The Gin Game, An Inspector Calls, Passion and Indiscretions. The Shubert Organization is dedicated to a continuing campaign for the revitalization of the American theatre. Its many levels of activity include refurbishment of all Shubert playhouses, participation in civic and community affairs, the introduction of phone and charge ticket sales and a computerized ticketing system. This wide range of operation has proven highly effective in New York and throughout the country.

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