Off Broadway Alliance Presents Seminar On Producing Off-Broadway

The Off Broadway Alliance, the organization of Off Broadway producers, theaters, general managers, press agents, and marketing firms, will hold the next event in its Seminar series focused on the "Off Broadway Producing Experience" on Saturday, January 26th 2019.

The seminar is titled "My First Time." Commercial theatre producers discuss their first time at the helm of an Off Broadway production. Panelists will include Randy Donaldson, whose Broadway and Off Broadway credits include American Son, The Scottsboro Boys and Triassic Parq; Suzanne Gilad, co-founder of In Fine Company whose credits include the Tony Award-winning revival of Angels in America and Off Broadway's The Other Josh Cohen; Zachary Laks, co-founder of Form Theatricals and producer of Drew Droege's Bright Colors and Bold Patterns directed by Michael Urie; and Meredith Lucio whose credits include the Tony Award-winning revival of Porgy and Bess, and Bedlam's Hamlet and Saint Joan. Producer Robert Driemeyer (La Cage aux Folles, Tennessee Williams' The Two-Character Play) will moderate.

"My First Time" will be held on the 3rd floor of The Theater Center (210 West 50th Street). Check-in will begin 10:30am for networking and complimentary coffee and bagels. The panel discussion will take place from 11am to 12:30pm with additional time allotted afterward for conversation with fellow attendees.

Admission for the seminar is $5 (to offset the costs of presenting the seminar), and pre-registration is a must. Attendees are encouraged to pre-submit questions for the panelists when they submit their reservations. Questions will be asked live at the seminar.

The Off Broadway Alliance is a non-profit corporation organized by theater professionals dedicated to supporting, promoting and encouraging the production of Off Broadway theater and to making live theater increasingly accessible to new and diverse audiences. The Alliance holds monthly meetings and membership is open to everyone in the Off Broadway theater community. Among its initiatives, the Off Broadway Alliance sponsors 20at20, the event that runs twice a year for 20 days and lets theatergoers purchase $20 tickets to dozens of Off Broadway shows 20 minutes before curtain.

The Alliance also presents the Off Broadway Alliance Awards, including an annual tribute to the Legends of Off Broadway and inductees to the Off Broadway Hall of Fame. It also produces the Off Broadway Alliance Seminars Series focusing on the culture, business and history of Off Broadway, featuring major players from the Off Broadway scene. The Alliance operates the OBA Mentorship Program, which provides new producers with guidance and direction from Off Broadway veterans; and the Alliance created the Off Broadway Economic Impact Report, which outlines Off Broadway's over $500 million annual impact on the economy of the City of New York. www.OffBroadwayAlliance.com

About The Panelists:

Randy Donaldson - has produced shows both on Broadway and Off-Broadway. These productions include, the critically acclaimed American Son starring Kerry Washington, The Scottsboro Boys (nominated for 12 Tony Awards), The Pee Wee Herman Show, One Funny Mother; I'm Not Crazy!, Triassic Parq and Falling For Eve. Randy has a BFA in Theater from Webster University and has performed in 11 Broadway shows/national tours including: The Lion King, Kiss Me, Kate, Wonderful Town and Annie Get Your Gun.

Suzanne Gilad - is the lead producer of the award-winning hit musical The Other Josh Cohen, currently running at The Westside Theatre on 43rd Street. Sue's recent Broadway credits include Angels in America (Tony Award winner for Best Revival of a Play), Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 (nominated for 12 Tony Awards), M. Butterfly, Disaster! and Significant Other. Upcoming Broadway: Moulin Rouge and Jagged Little Pill.

Suzanne is the co-founder of In Fine Company (.com) and Custom Broadway(.com), which provides individualized, Broadway-level concerts and shows for theatres and Performing Arts centers around the US, Canada and international markets. Her career started with voiceovers for TV, film, radio and Broadway. Suzanne is the Co-Chair on the Leadership Council of Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS. Her favorite gig is playing the Voice of God for the Broadway Cares' annual Broadway Backwards benefit.

Zachary Laks - is the Co-Founder of Form Theatricals, a theater production and management company in New York City. Projects: Drew Droege's Bright Colors and Bold Patterns directed by Michael Urie which ran for five months Off Broadway at the Soho Playhouse, general manager of Josh Prince's Broadway Dance Lab, venue manager for The Gym at Judson and 64E4, and general manager of Off Broadway's The Book of Merman.

Meredith Lucio -Broadway: The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess (Tony Award) Off-Broadway- Bedlam's Hamlet and Saint Joan (Best Revival, OBA), The 39 Steps (New World Stages) and Rooms: a rock romance. Currently a co-producer on The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical National Tour. Cast Albums: Hello Dolly! Starring Bette Midler. Speaker/Teaching Engagements: Commercial Theatre Institute, the International Thespian Festival, Scottsdale Community College, Educational Theatre Association, Theatre Resources Unlimited and Off Broadway Alliance.

Robert Driemeyer (Moderator) - Robert's Broadway credits include the Tony Award-winning revival of La Cage aux Folles starring Kelsey Grammar and Douglas Hodge and Elling starring Brendan Fraser and Denis O'Hare. Off Broadway he produced Tennessee Williams' The Two-Character Play starring Amanda Plummer and Brad Dourif, and Party Face starring Hayley Mills and directed by Amanda Bearse. Other Off Broadway credits include Shear Madness and Forbidden Broadway. He produced David Parr's critically acclaimed Slap&Tickle directed by David Drake Provincetown, MA, and the Actors Fund benefit Dear George: Letters to the President which was simultaneously presented in 40 theatre across the country leading up to the 2004 presidential election. He and producing partner Morgan Sills formed Driemeyer-Sills Productions, which focuses on new works, classic revivals, and provides consulting and executive producing services, dsproducers.com.

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