Tom Smedes Selected As 2018 Broadway Global Producer Of The Year

Broadway Global has announced that Tom Smedes has been selected as the 2018 Broadway Global Producer of the Year.

Past winners include Catherine Schreiber (2017 - Angels in America, Pretty Woman, Play that Goes Wrong ), 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. Much like politics, we must honor producers & important participants in live stage works who inspire & teach respect of 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.

Catherine Schreiber, who received her second Tony for Angels in America, is thrilled to be passing the baton to Tom, who brought her into her first Broadway show, the Tony-nominated Next Fall, later working together on Peter & the Starcatcher. "There isn't a more deserving person than Tom Smedes. His commitment to important works of theatre, works that shed light on the human condition & his generous spirit in educating others about theatre, make him a truly worthy winner."

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.

Tom Smedes is a Tony Award-winning Theatrical Producer and General Manager with broad-scale industry experience spanning thirty years. Tom's career began in the proverbial mail room, having just received a master's degree in Theatrical Management from New York University and securing a job as a receptionist for Theatre Now, under the direction of Charlotte Wilcox. During his early career, Tom was an Associate General Manager, Broadway Company Manager and Broadway Theatre Manager before pursuing a producing career.

Among his achievements, Tom is particularly proud of the fact that his shows deal with important issues and help support non-profit organizations. He recently produced the Tony award-winning production of Bandstand, directed and choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler. Bandstand was filmed during its last few performances and was recently released by Fathom Events to over 700 theatres across the US. Both the Broadway production and the film help to support the veteran's organization TAPS.org (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors), as well as The Biden Foundation.

Last season on Broadway, Tom produced The Shakespeare's Globe production of Farinelli and the King starring Mark Rylance. Like Bandstand, Farinelli is a production that highlights the healing impact of the arts and in particular, the healing power of music.

During the 2016-2017 season, in addition to Bandstand, Tom was a producer on the Broadway production of Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, starring Josh Groban. He was also a partner in the production of the Great Comet when it played in tents in both the meatpacking district and midtown. Tom's managerial insights helped create the environmental production which then moved to Broadway, where it was received with great acclaim.

In 2015, Tom produced Kander and Ebb's The Visit, starring Chita Rivera and Roger Rees at the Lyceum Theatre, with John Doyle directing. He also produced Terrence McNally's box-office hit It's Only A Play on Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre; the Tony Award-winning Peter and the Starcatcher (Broadway, Off-Broadway and National Tour) and the Tony Award-winning revival of Pippin (Broadway and National Tour). Other Broadway shows include the Tony Award-nominated play Next Fall at the Helen Hayes Theatre and [title of show] at the Lyceum. Tom was one of the producers of the musical revue, Naked Boys Singing! Off-Broadway, which over the course of 13 years, played nearly 4,000 performances, making it the second longest-running Off-Broadway musical. In London, Tom produced Side By Side By Sondheim and Musical of Musicals (the Musical!). Tom also managed Lucille Lortel's White Barn Theater in Westport, CT, under the auspices of the Lucille Lortel Foundation.

Tom's General Management credits include: Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812; [title of show]; Naked Boys Singing!; Divorce Party, The Musical at The Kravis Center in West Palm Beach; Altar Boyz (Detroit & National Tour; The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!); High Fidelity starring Morgan Fairchild and John Davidson at The Promenade Theatre; Now Hear This, starring Kathy Buckley at the Lamb's Theatre; Love, Janis at the Village Theatre; Captain Louis by Stephen Schwartz and Ann Randolph's Squeezebox, produced by Anne Bancroft.

Prior to 1996, Tom was a Theatre Manager for The Nederlander Organization, managing at various times, the Nederlander, the Lunt-Fontanne, the Palace, the Brooks Atkinson, the Richard Rodgers, the Minskoff, the Neil Simon and the Gershwin Theatres.

Tom was also Company Manager for the award-winning Hal Prince revival of Show Boat, starring Elaine Stritch; Truly Blessed, a celebration of Mahalia Jackson; Cat on A Hot Tin Roof, starring Kathleen Turner; Oba Oba, a Brazilian Celebration; The Cemetery Club; Grease, starring Rosie O'Donnell; Me and My Girl; City of Angels & Fiddler on the Roof.

Tom Smedes is an alumnus of New York University where he received his MA in Theatre Administration. He is a member of The Broadway League, The League of Off-Broadway Producers and Theatres and the Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers (ATPAM). He is also a U.S. Board Member of The Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London.

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 societies, keeping artists employed & patrons informed.

The nominations for 2018 Broadway Global Producer of the Year are submitted prior to the 2018 Tony Awards & are accepted through social media in over 30 city/state Theatre Chat groups on Facebook, with over 200,000 arts lovers.

For information on Broadway Global Producer of the Year, visit www.BroadwayGlobal.org or Theatre Chat at www.TheatreChat.net.

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