Broadway Global Awards 2016 Producers of the Year to Cathy Rigby & Tom McCoy

Broadway Global is proud to announce the 2016 Producers of the Year winners, Cathy Rigby McCOY & Tom McCoy. As the first woman & first couple ever chosen as Producers of the Year (we couldn't honor one, without the other) Cathy & Tom, chosen unanimously by the Board of Directors, are the very definition of the Broadway Global mission statement. Past winners include JorDan Scott Gilbert (2012 - Ghost), Dale Badway (2013 - Pippin), Tom Kirdahy (2014 - Mothers & Sons, It's only a Play) & Michael A. Alden (2015 - Pippin, Porgy & Bess, An American in Paris).

Cathy Rigby has represented America globally from her early years as a gymnast & Olympian & through their company, McCoy Rigby Entertainment, they have continued those Olympian values in Live Theatre & arts education, with regional investments in the arts with productions at their creative home-base of LaMirada Theatre & arts education through McCoy Rigby Conservatory of the Arts. Their producing credits span decades, creating & developing the global brand that is the beloved Peter Pan & continuing to inspire the world to "Believe." Combining the talents of musical theatre star Cathy Rigby with Tom McCoy's extensive production & theatrical experience, McCoy Rigby Entertainment has become one of the nation's premier theatrical production companies, with credits that include Tony-nominated Broadway shows, long-running National tours, multiple-award-winning Los Angeles stage productions & TV specials, producing decades of award-winning plays, musicals & concerts.

Cathy embraced her inner child with her iconic role as Peter Pan, the boy who never grows up & it's that quality that makes Cathy & Tom very special producers, who put production values, artists, production teams & the art first. As 2014 Broadway Global Producer of the Year Tom Kirdahy said, "They are truly a gold medal couple of Olympic proportions!" Last year's winner, Michael A. Alden, honored the McCoys in Los Angeles during their production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. They have produced many National tours including Jekyll & Hyde the Musical starring Constantine Maroulis & Deborah Cox, Seussical the Musical, Jesus Christ Superstar, Happy Days & Lerner and Loewe's Camelot, just to name a few. Currently, they are celebrating the critically acclaimed production of Dreamgirls, now in Japan.

Every past & present Broadway Global Producer of the Year is proof that art imitates life. Much like politics, we must honor investors in live stage works who inspire & teach respect of cultures, embrace diversity & educate on issues in our now global society. 100 years from now, when global citizens look back at the live stage works created, we expect that our Broadway Global winners will be looked upon as global leaders "on & off the stage." All Broadway Global Producers of the Year winners must be #1 accessible on social media, #2 - leave a legacy for live stage works for the Broadway brand that inspires respect, embraces diversity & brings nations together & #3 - give back to not-for-profits that make our global society a better world for all, sharing their time & efforts in charity work.

Each winner is presented with the "Producer's Puzzle" an original work of art created by artist, Steve Marshall, who is also an internationally acclaimed American magician living in Japan. Marshall donates the commissions of his works to The Smile Train, an international children's charity that provides 100% free cleft palate repair surgery & comprehensive cleft palate care to children in over 85 developing nations.

Founded in 2009, by Richard Cameron & director/choreographer Ron Hutchins, Broadway Global reminds us that all the arts - dance, music & theatre - are the international language that brings nations together on a global level, honoring our world arts society, keeping artists employed & patrons informed.

The nominations for 2017 Broadway Global Producer of the Year must be submitted by May 2017, prior to the 2017 Tony Awards. Nominations for Broadway Global Producer of the Year are accepted through social media in over 30 city/state Theatre Chat groups on Facebook, with over 200,000 arts lovers. You can also nominate by tweeting your nomination to @BroadwayGlobal or @TheatreChat We also accept nominations through direct email at TheatreChat@me.com Please use the hashtag #BroadwayGlobal & #BroadwayGlobalProducerOfTheYear.

For information on McCoy Rigby Conservatory of the Arts, visit www.mccoyrigbyarts.com

For information on McCoy Rigby Entertainment, visit www.mccoyrigby.com

For information on Broadway Global Producer of the Year, visit www.BroadwayGlobal.org

or Theatre Chat at www.TheatreChat.net