THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG's Catherine Schreiber Announced As 2017 Broadway Global Producer Of The Year

Broadway Global has announced that Catherine Schreiber has been selected as the 2017 Broadway Global Producer of the Year. Schreiber, the first woman ever honored as Producer of the Year & chosen unanimously by the Board of Directors, is the very definition of the Broadway Global mission statement. Past winners include Cathy Rigby McCoy & Tom McCoy (2016 - McCoy-Rigby Entertainment), Michael A. Alden (2015 - Pippin, Porgy & Bess, An American in Paris), Tom Kirdahy (2014 - Mothers & Sons, It's only a Play), Dale Badway (2013 - Pippin) & JorDan Scott Gilbert (2012 - Ghost).

Every past & present Broadway Global Producer of the Year is proof that art imitates life. We honor investors in live stage works who inspire & teach respect for 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.

Catherine Schreiber is a Tony-winning, Olivier-nominated international producer with shows currently in the West End & on Broadway, as well as National Tours in both the US & the UK. In just three years & after being a producer on seven other shows, she went on to bring the 12-time Tony nominated, Kander & Ebb musical, The Scottsboro Boys, to London, which is her proudest moment as a producer. There, it won The London Critics' Circle Award, The Evening Standard Award & was nominated for seven Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical (Young Vic/Garrick Theatre). She is currently a lead producer on a newly created production of The Lion, Witch & the Wardrobe (with Elliot Harper Productions, in conjunction with West Yorkshire Playhouse & directed by Sally Cookson), which will open in December of 2017. She is also a lead producer on Heisenberg, directed by Curious Incident... director Marianne Elliot, as part of the first season of Elliot Harper Productions in the West End, opening this October. Along with Kevin McCollum, Kenny Wax, Stage Presence & J.J. Abrams, Catherine is a lead producer on the Broadway transfer of the Olivier award winning The Play That Goes Wrong, a producer of the multi-Olivier Award nominated Dreamgirls in London, with Sonia Friedman Productions & lead producer on The Life, directed by Michael Blakemore at Southwark Playhouse, London & the UK tour of Gabriel, written by Moira Buffini.

She was also quite honored to have received the key to the city of Scottsboro, Alabama for her work with the Scottsboro Boys Museum, as well as for giving the keynote address when Governor Bentley of Alabama signed the Scottsboro Boys Act, exonerating them. Governor Bentley has credited Schreiber's involvement in the Broadway production & her work with the museum, as helping to get the Act passed. Having made a difference, touching lives & getting the story of the Scottsboro Boys told worldwide, has been her proudest achievement.

A Tony winner for Clybourne Park, Catherine has been nominated for five Tonys including Next Fall, Peter & the Starcatcher, The Scottsboro Boys & Fiddler on the Roof. She has four Olivier nominations, including Dreamgirls, Show Boat, People, Places & Things & The Scottsboro Boys. She was also a producer on The King's Speech (West End), Stick Fly, (Broadway), The Boy from Oz (Winner of the 2013 Premio Luces Award - Best Musical, Peru), The Effect & Desperate Writers (Off-Broadway).

Having earned the epithet "Passionate Producer," Catherine started her extraordinary rise as a producer in 2010 with her first Broadway show, Next Fall, earning her a Tony nomination. Next Fall author, Geoffrey Nauffts, said that "Catherine was an unbelievable gift to this production. Her generosity of spirit, passion & commitment were unparalleled." John Kander (creator Scottsboro Boys, Chicago, Cabaret) praised Schreiber to the hilt, stating that "Catherine's great spirit, devotion & determination were of enormous help in making the production of 'The Scottsboro Boys' a reality." Matthew Amer of Official London Theatre.uk.co wrote, "You don't know passion until you speak to Catherine Schreiber about The Scottsboro Boys." Tony & Olivier-nominaTEd Scottsboro Boys author David Thompson wrote "Passion. That's what it takes to be a great producer. Passion for the art. Passion to share that art with the most people possible. And that's exactly what Catherine Schreiber has. What's more, she has imagination. She is always thinking about how to make something happen. How to bring people together, share ideas & share her passion. Catherine is unstoppable." Olivier & Tony nominaTEd Scottsboro Boys, film & tv star Colman Domingo wrote that, "Catherine Schreiber is the most passionate, thoughtful & generous producer in the business. Broadway needs more of her."

A Phi Beta Kappa, Yale College graduate, Catherine began her career as an actress & a writer in both New York & Los Angeles saying that, "I believe being an actress & writer has helped me to be a more understanding, knowledgeable & sensitive producer." Catherine is a member of the Broadway League, the League of Professional Theatre Women & is a contributing writer to the Huffington Post. She is a supporter of the Vineyard Theatre in NY, The Young Vic & the National Theatres in London. She is a Founding Member of the Center Theatre Group Los Angeles & a Patron of the Scottsboro Boys Museum.

She is happily married to nationally renowned Latham & Watkins Senior Partner, Miles N. Ruthberg. They have two children of whom she is so proud: Stephanie & Jeremy, both in medical school. Catherine now lives in New York City, with London becoming her second home.

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.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos