Photo Flash: Drama Desk Panel Discussion

Producers, marketing experts and theater writers participated in the Drama Desk's first panel discussion and buffet of the 2005/2006 theater season, entitled "Putting the Spin on Theater � The Art of Getting Press and Luring Audiences," which took place on Monday, Nov. 21 at Tony's Di Napoli Restaurant on West 43rd Street in Times Square.

The panelists included Jersey Boys co-writer and former Disney creative consultant Rick Elice, the Publicity Office's Bob Fennell, theater owner/producer Stewart Lane, New York Post theater columnist Michael Riedel and producer David Stone. The discussion was co-hosted by theatre critic, author, former Drama Desk president and Theater World Awards president Peter Filichia, and public relations consultant Randie Levine-Miller, who is the Director of Special Events for The Drama Desk.

The panelists discussed the strategic changes that have taken place in recent years for publicizing and marketing Broadway and off-Broadway productions, how to gain exposure for theatrical productions off the theater pages and how the internet is influencing the marketing of theater in the 21st Century. For more information, visit www.dramadesk.com.

William Wolf (Drama Desk, President) and Panel Discussion co-host Randie Levine-Miller (Director of Special Events for The Drama Desk; Producer of in-house events at the Friars Club; and Public Relations consultant)

Panel Discussion co-host Peter Filichia (Theater Critic for Newark Star-Ledger and News12 NJ author of Peter Filichia's Diary on TheaterMania; President of Theater World Awards; and former President of The Drama Desk) and Bob Blume (Executive Producer, Drama Desk Awards)

Bob Blume (Executive Producer, Drama Desk Awards), Roy Somlyo (Consulting Producer, Drama Desk Awards) and Panelist Michael Riedel (New York Post theater columnist and co-host of TV's Theater Talk)

Steven Suskin and Panelist Stewart F. Lane (Theater Owner/Producer, currently co-producing Fiddler on the Roof and the upcoming, The Two and Only)

Randie Levine-Miller and Panelist Bob Fennell (Partner, The Publicity Office, currently representing Wicked, The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Phantom of the Opera)

Panelist David Stone (Producer currently represented by Wicked and The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) and Panelist Rick Elice (co-writer of Jersey Boys; Creative Consultant, Disney Studios; and former Creative Director, Serino Coyne)