Drama Desk Panel YOU GOTTA HAVE A GIMMICK...OR A STAR Set for Stage 72, 2/10

Peter Filichia, theater critic emeritus for the Star-Ledger newspaper in Newark and "News 12 New Jersey" will join theater publicists Joshua Ellis and Susan Schulman as panelists at the Drama Desk's first Panel Discussion of 2014 -- entitled "You Gotta Have A Gimmick....Or A Star!" - on Monday, Feb. 10, at 6 PM at Stage 72/Triad, 158 W. 72nd St., in Manhattan. Recommended arrival for the panel is at 5:30 PM ; the discussion will be held from 6-7:15 PM. A cash bar will be available. Tickets may be ordered online at https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/931127 or by calling (212) 352-3101. Tickets are $20 online and at the door. Randie Levine-Miller will moderate the panel discussion about the effort and skills it takes to promote a show, both Broadway and Off-Broadway.

Panelist Joshua Ellis has represented more than 60 Broadway shows, including the original productions of Into the Woods, 42nd Street, Fences, The Elephant Man, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Love Letters, Big River, Penn & Teller, and revivals of The King and I (Yul Brynner), Dracula (Frank Langella), Morning's at Seven, Peter Pan (Sandy Duncan), The Merchant of Venice (Dustin Hoffman), and Cyrano de Bergerac (Derek Jacobi). He is developing a one-man show about his adventures as a Broadway press agent.

Peter Filichia, a former Drama Desk President, writes a column for Masterworksbroadway.com every Tuesday and for Mtishows.com and Kritzerland.com each Friday. His latest book, Strippers, Showgirls, and Sharks, was published in May 2013 by St. Martin's Press; his next book, A Great Parade on Broadway, is scheduled for release in 2015.

Susan L. Schulman has been a theatrical press agent for more than 40 years, handling Broadway, Off-Broadway, not-for-profit arts institutions, dance, film, books, special events, and individuals. She has her own press office, and her recently published memoir, Backstage Pass to Broadway, is currently near the top of Amazon's list of the 100 best-selling theater books. Her website is Schulmanpublicity.com.

Panel host Randie Levine-Miller spent 30 years as a publicist (Accent on Broadcasting) and is Director of Special Events for the Drama Desk. Since 1997 she has produced the annual breakfast gathering for the Drama Desk nominations, most recently held at 54 Below. She also produces and hosts benefit concerts for The Actors Fund and The Actors Temple. On Jan. 21 she is producing and hosting "Tomatoes Got Talent," the first talent contest for women over 40, at Stage 72/Triad.

Drama Desk Awards, which are given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway and Off-Off Broadway compete against one another in the same category. Formed in 1949 by a group of New York theater critics, editors, reporters, and publishers, the organization was created to educate the community on vital issues concerning the theater.

In 1955, Drama Desk became the first major organization to honor Outstanding Achievement Off Broadway, with the Vernon Rice Awards, named for the late New York Post critic who had pioneered Off-Broadway coverage in the New York press. In 2012, Theatremania.com presented the 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards. Currently, the president of Drama Desk is Isa Goldberg and the chairperson of the nominating committee is Barbara Siegel.