Cameron Mackintosh Becomes First British Producer Inducted into Theater Hall of Fame Tonight

Cameron Mackintosh, widely considered to be the most successful theatrical producer of all-time, becomes the first British producer ever to be inducted into The Theater Hall of Fame at a ceremony this evening Monday, January 27 at the Gershwin Theatre in New York. Mackintosh is joined by this year's fellow inductees actors Cherry Jones and Ellen Burstyn; directors Jerry Zaks,George C. Wolfe and Lynne Meadow; designer David Hays; and, posthumously, playwright Lorraine Hansberry. Shubert Organization Co-CEO and President, Robert Wankel, will accept the honor on Mackintosh's behalf, who is unable to attend due to a long-planned trip to Myanmar.

Said Cameron Mackintosh, "I am deeply honored that The Theater Hall of Fame has selected me to join this remarkable group of Broadway talents. Being part of the Broadway community for more than 30 years has been one of the most satisfying, thrilling parts of my life and career, so I am extremely grateful for this recognition."

Founded in 1971 by James M. Nederlander, Earl Blackwell, Gerard Oestreicher and L. Arnold Weissberger, the Theater Hall of Fame honors Lifetime Achievement in the American Theater. To be eligible for nomination to the annual ballot, a theatre professional must have 25 years on Broadway and, at least, five major production credits. The annual ballot has 50 nominees in 10 categories, and over 300 members of the Theater Hall of Fame and American Theater Critics Association are the voting body. The top eight nominees receiving the most votes are annually inducted. http://www.theaterhalloffame.org/

For over 45 years, Cameron Mackintosh has been producing more musicals than anyone else in history, including the three longest-running musicals of all-time: LES MISERABLES, The Phantom of the Opera and Cats. He received the Tony Award for Best Musical as producer for all three shows. He also received the Tony Award for Best Revival of a musical for his production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel with Lincoln Center Theater. Mary Poppins, his co-production with Disney, is now also dispersing its magic globally. His new production of Miss Saigon, which has been a hit around the world, is the longest-running musical in the history of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and is going to open at the Prince Edward Theatre in London in May where advance ticket sales are already breaking box office records.

As well as original musicals, Cameron enjoys producing new versions of such classics as My Fair Lady and Oliver! - which all continue to be worldwide hits. Other original international productions include Little Shop Of Horrors, Side By Side By Sondheim, Martin Guerre and The Witches Of Eastwick. He also produced the most successful production ever of Stephen Sondheim's Follies in London. LES MISERABLES is now the longest-running musical in the world and is now in its 29th year. The new 25th anniversary production has been a huge hit all over again, currently breaking box office records across North America, Korea and Japan, and is soon to open in Australia and back on Broadway in March. His spectacular new version of The Phantom Of The Opera, having sold out a recent U.K. tour, is now on a North America tour. Over the next three years more than 20 new productions of his musicals are due to open around the world. Cameron, in conjunction with Working Title Films and Universal, has produced his first hugely successful film, the Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA award-winning LES MISERABLES, directed by Tom Hooper and starring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway. Cameron owns seven historic theatres in London's West End - the Prince of Wales, Gielgud, Queen's, Wyndham's, Noël Coward, Novello and Prince Edward - all of which have undergone spectacular refurbishment, giving him the opportunity to indulge his passion for architecture and the restoration of old buildings. He is also the co-owner of Music Theatre International, the world's largest owner of secondary rights of the great musicals. In the 1996 New Year's Honors, Cameron was knighted for his services to British theatre.

Photo by Walter McBride