Mike Karns & Greg Nobile Acquire Theater Review Website 'Did He Like It

Broadway producers and entrepreneurs Mike Karns and Greg Nobile have acquired the website DidHeLikeIt.com from producer Ken Davenport in a deal that closed in early October 2018.

Founded in 2007, DidHeLikeIt.com is an official guide and translator for all Broadway theater reviews by Ben Brantley, the chief theater critic for The New York Times, as well as several other prominent publications such as New York Daily News, Newsday, USA Today, Variety, and more.

A revamp of the platform has begun, under the brand DidTheyLikeIt.com, with plans to relaunch in Spring 2019. Digital producer Samantha Lazarus Levin joins the team as Chief Content Officer.

"Critical reviews of Broadway productions, and cultural events in general, are becoming less of an editorial priority. We hope to maintain a space where critic's insights and notices remain a centerpiece of our cultural consumption. Over the last 11 years, DidHeLikeIt has been a user-friendly review aggregator for Broadway which democratized and expedited the review-reading process. We are looking forward to building on what Ken started and expanding this digital community even further," Karns and Nobile shared in a joint statement.

"When I came up with the idea for DidHeLikeIt in 2007, I never imagined it would become so popular with industry insiders and fans alike. That popularity is what made me decide that the site was ready for new leadership to take it into the next decade and beyond, as I focus more on producing. As a user of DidHeLikeIt myself, I can't wait to see what Mike and Greg do with it," Davenport shared in a statement.

Mike Karns is a Tony nominated theater producer and entrepreneur. Credits include The Great Comet (Tony nom.), Allegiance, and the Emmy-nominated digital TV series "The Accidental Wolf" starring Kelli O'Hara. Currently, Mike is currently developing the Rachel Chavkin helmed musical Lempicka, which had its world premiere at Williamstown Theatre Festival this summer. Karns is also the founder and CEO of Marathon Digital, an innovative digital marketing company representing prominent influencers and revolutionary brands on Broadway and beyond. Currently representing Hamilton, Head Over Heels, The Cher Show, Ain't Too Proud, Hadestown, Be More Chill, Puffs, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Color Purple, BroadwayCon, Williamstown Theatre Festival, and more. Other credits and collaborators include The PublicTheater, The Vineyard, The American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards, and The Santa Fe Opera. MarathonDGTL.com @MKarns_Presents

Greg Nobile is a New York City based entertainment and hospitality entrepreneur. He is the co-founder of Seaview Productions with partner Jana Shea. Currently, Seaview is developing the Rachel Chavkin helmed musical Lempicka, recently seen at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Most recently, Seaview produced the Lortel Award winning revival of Sweeney Todd at the Barrow Street Theater and Hundred Days with New York Theatre Workshop, currently on tour. Greg also co-produced the Tony Award winning musical A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder as well as the Olivier Award winning revival of Gypsy and Show Boat on London's West End. Greg also manages an extensive investment portfolio of global entertainment investments. In the food and beverage space, he is the co-founder of Flying Horse Hospitality, a company that develops, builds, and operates experiential hospitality concepts on the shoreline of Connecticut.

Samantha Lazarus Levin is an Emmy-winning digital producer. With experiences ranging from ad agencies to start ups to major media companies, Sam has worked in almost every aspect of digital media. Starting out at Young and Rubicam, Sam worked on numerous major advertising campaigns. From there, Sam went to MTV to help run their new digital music service, URGE. When URGE was acquired by Rhapsody, Sam became the head of all of production for the new music service. She left to launch DoctorOz.com and to run all of Mehmet Oz's digital properties. During her time at Oz, Sam grew the Dr. Oz audience by over 500% and grew his social media presence to be one of the largest in the television space. From there, she was promoted to lead content for Sharecare overseeing all editorial content, user engagement and social strategy for the startup. She has now started her own consulting firm focused on using content to create meaningful digital experiences and grow digital audiences. A New York City Native, Sam is obsessed with the arts, and has seen almost every show on Broadway for the last 20 years. As part of this new venture, she is excited to bring her digital knowledge to the theater space.

Ken Davenport is a Broadway producer whose credits include Once On This Island (Tony Award), The Play That Goes Wrong, Groundhog Day (Tony nomination), Deaf West Theatre's Spring Awakening (Tony nomination), Allegiance, It's Only a Play, Macbeth starring Alan Cumming, Godspell, Kinky Boots (Broadway - Tony Award, National Tour, Toronto and West End), The Visit (Tony nomination), Mothers and Sons (Tony nomination), The Bridges of Madison County, Chinglish, Oleanna starring Bill Pullman and Julia Stiles, Speed-the-Plow, Will Ferrell's You're Welcome America, Blithe Spirit starring Angela Lansbury (Broadway, West End and tour), and 13, as well as Daddy Long Legs, That Bachelorette Show (Creator), Altar Boyz (Co-Conceiver), My First Time (Author), The Awesome 80s Prom (Creator), and Miss Abigail's Guide to Dating, Mating, & Marriage (Author) Off-Broadway. Ken's productions have been produced internationally in over 25 countries around the world. In addition to his own work, Ken was recently named the Executive Producer of North America for Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos

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