Joey Parnes Launches Broadway Production Company

Joey Parnes, the veteran Broadway producer and general manager who will end his stint as Interim Executive Director of the Public Theater this month, announced today the formation of Joey Parnes Productions.

Primarily focused on producing and managing plays and musicals for Broadway, Joey Parnes Productions will also provide executive producer and general management services for a wide range of theatrical ventures including non-profit theater consulting and working with non-profits on Broadway transfers. The Parnes office will produce End of the Rainbow, the acclaimed play from London about the legendary Judy Garland, on Broadway this spring. Parnes will continue to partner with the Public on the national tour of Hair and hopes to work with the Public on future projects. Joined by colleagues Sue Wagner, John Johnson, and Nate Koch, the team will operate out of Parnes' current Times Square office.

"We are developing new projects on our own as well as in partnership with other independent producers," said Parnes. "And I like the idea of helping non-profits bring commercially viable shows to the Broadway arena. Mostly, we want to have fun doing meaningful work we believe in with people we enjoy."

With more than thirty years of theatrical experience, Parnes has served on many Broadway shows (as either manager or producer) including The Merchant of Venice; Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson; Hair; Passing Strange; Butley; Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?; The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?; Copenhagen; Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk; Grand Hotel; Passion and the original production of Dreamgirls. He was the coordinating producer of the Tony Awards from 2001 to 2008, and Executive Producer at the Public Theater from 1994 to 1996. He became the Public's interim Executive Director earlier this year, and will be passing the torch at the end of the month.