'Producing and the Theatre Business' Book Released 5/14

The American Theatre Wing's Producing and The Theatre Business: Working in the Theatre (Continuum International Publishing Group/The K.S. Giniger Company Inc.; $14.95; paperback), a collection of advice and anecdotes from many of the most influential and successful producers working in theatre today, will be available in bookstores on May 14, 2007. The book's release coincides with the annual announcement of the nominees for the American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards, scheduled for May 15.

The original content is drawn from more than 30 years of the American Theatre Wing's acclaimed "Working in the Theatre" program, and is the second in a series of four books drawn from the rich conversations fostered by ATW. The book features a foreword by eight-time Tony Award-winner Elizabeth Ireland McCann; the book series is edited by Robert Emmet Long.

Chapters in the book include "What is a Producer," "What About The Money," "Not-for-profit and Regional Theatres," and "Broadway and Off-Broadway," as well as in-depth sections on the creation of the musicals The Producers, Mamma Mia!, Avenue Q, Hairspray, Thoroughly Modern Millie and The Drowsy Chaperone. Also included is a chapter on The Critics, intermingling producers thoughts with the words of such influential critics as Michael Feingold of the Village Voice, Elysa Gardner of USA Today, Michael Kuchwara of the Associated Press and Linda Winer of Newsday.

"Readers will find a variety of reflections – from poignant to practical -- within Producing and The Theatre Business: Working in the Theatre, as Fran Weissler talks about winning over a sexist Anthony Quinn, Emanuel Azenberg talks about the need to dispel rumors within any company, Marc Routh observes the marketing challenges faced by Off-Broadway, Susan Stroman recalls the benefits of starting The Producers out of town, and Michael David considers the particular challenge of marketing Broadway – as opposed to toothpaste. All told, the thoughts and insights of more than 100 producers and the artists who work with them are included in the book," according to press materials.

Elizabeth Ireland McCann, who both wrote the foreword and is featured in the book, has received eight Tony Awards as a producer, for The Goat, Copenhagen, A View from the Bridge, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Amadeus, Morning's at Seven, Dracula and The Elephant Man.  Her other recent productions include Lisa Kron's Well and the revivals of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Butley.  She is the Managing Producer of Tony Award Productions.

Editor Robert Emmet Long is the author of Broadway, the Golden Years, profiles of the great American choreographer-directors, as well as the definitive book on the films of Merchant Ivory. Long is currently writing a book about Truman Capote, American Enfant Terrible, to be published by Continuum International in the spring.

Now in their fourth decade, the American Theatre Wing's "Working in the Theatre" (WIT) panels have brought together theatre's best-known performers, producers, playwrights, directors, choreographers, composers, agents and others for peer-to-peer, in-depth conversations about theatre. Begun simply as public forums, the WIT programs have been broadcast in New York City since 1979 on CUNY TV, the country's largest university-based television station, as well as on select cable systems around the country. Since 2003, the seminars have been available to theatre students and fans internationally as free, on-demand streaming video from ATW's website, www.americantheatrewing.org.  More than 175 WIT programs are currently available in this unprecedented archive of theatrical conversation.  Current leadership support for the American Theatre Wing Seminars is provided by The Annenberg Foundation and The Dorothy Strelsin Foundation.

Visit www.americantheatrewing.org for more on the American Theatre Wing.