Adam Blanshay Announces Launch of JUST FOR LAUGHS THEATRICALS

Broadway and West End producer Adam Blanshay announces the launch of Just For Laughs Theatricals. The internationally-renowned comedy producer opens a new theatrical division which will operate in New York and London. Adam Blanshay will act as the Chief Executive Officer.

Current West End projects for the new company include A Chorus Line, Old Times and the forthcoming transfer of Merrily We Roll Along. Just for Laughs Group, producer of the world's largest comedy festival, The Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival is pleased to announce the launch of a new theatrical subsidiary, Just For Laughs Theatricals, with Tony Award nominated and West End producer Adam Blanshay as Chief Executive Officer. Just For Laughs Theatricals will operate both in New York and London and will develop and produce plays and musicals internationally.

Founder of Just For Laughs Group, Gilbert Rozon says, "In addition to the incredible comedy festivals we have been producing for 30 years, we have also been producing French-language adaptations of beloved musicals like Fiddler on the Roof, Chicago, Rent and many more. And while comedy has always been our focus, we believe great theatre - whether musical, drama or comedy - can be an equally powerful unifying force. We look forward to this exciting expansion of the Just For Laughs brand and to join forces with a bright talent like Adam to spearhead this venture for us."

"As a native Canadian, I have long admired Gilbert and Just For Laughs Group not only for the spotlight they have shone on Montreal as an international cultural, recreational and touristic capital but also for how they have projected Montreal, Quebec and Canada to the rest of the world," says Adam Blanshay, CEO of Just For Laughs Theatricals. "It is my plan to bring the values the JFL brand has already established as pioneers of comedy to produce exceptional shows on Broadway, in the West End and worldwide."

This spring, Just For Laughs Theatricals is producing the new Broadway musical Kinky Boots, and is a co-producer of the West End productions of A Chorus Line, Old Times and Merrily We Roll Along, directed by Maria Friedman, as well as the UK tour of the acclaimed Abigail's Party. Future projects include the new Broadway musical Bullets over Broadway in 2014.

Blanshay's recent Broadway credits include the Tony Nominated revivals of EVITA starring Ricky Martin, HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING starring Daniel Radcliffe, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER starring Harry Connick Jr.; the Tony Award Nominated new musicals THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS and CATCH ME IF YOU CAN; the Tony Award Nominated play JERUSALEM; and the West End productions of A CHORUS OF DISAPROVAL directed by Trevor Nunn and TWELFTH NIGHT/RICHARD III starring Mark Rylance.

This summer, the two week bilingual (French & English) Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival will celebrate its 31st Anniversary, having been founded by Rozon in 1983. The festival welcomes over 2 million people each summer, and has featured some of the top comics in the world - including Jerry Seinfeld, Steve Martin, Dave Chappelle, John Cleese, Jon Stewart, Craig Ferguson, Chris Rock and Ray Romano - as well as original works of theatre including a new musical and a new play in French each year. In addition to producing six annual comedy festivals in cities including Toronto, Chicago and Sydney and French-language adaptations of well-known musicals, Just For Laughs has also produced the off-Broadway hit EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL, which has enjoyed success in New York City, Toronto, Tokyo, Seoul, and Detroit; produces and distributes television programming, most notably "JFL GAGS" seen in 135 countries and on 95 airlines; produces live shows, such as FAMILY GUY LIVE! in Montreal, Chicago, Los Angeles, as well as two sold-out shows at Carnegie Hall in New York and Canadian tour dates for Jerry Seinfeld, Louis C.K. and the Capital One Just For Laughs Comedy Tour; and operates a talent management company. The Group has offices in Montreal, Paris, Los Angeles, Brussels, Sydney, Toronto, London, Chicago and now New York.