Broadway by the Bay, the largest theatre organization on the Peninsula, has announced the appointment of Jim Gardia as its new Executive Director, effective July 1, 2008, bringing the company's national search to an end. Said Broadway By the Bay Artistic Director Brooke Knight, "We are so pleased to have someone on board with Jim's vision, enthusiasm, and experience. The whole staff is looking forward to working with Jim toward continued growth of the company and keeping the arts alive and flourishing here on the Peninsula."
Gardia comes to Broadway By the Bay from the nationally acclaimed Reprise Theatre Company of Los Angeles, where he acted as Managing Director for three years and then as Producing Director for three years. Reprise, which has consistently drawn top Broadway and Hollywood talent, focuses on mounting rarely seen classic pieces of the American musical theatre canon. Across his six years with the company, including the last year with newly-appointed Artistic Director
Jason Alexander, Mr. Gardia presented highly-regarded productions including Sunday in the Park with George with Kelli O'Hara and Manuel Felciano directed by
Jason Alexander, Follies with
Patty Duke, Vikki Carr,
Harry Groener and
Donna McKechnie, Anything Goes (winner of the 2003 Ovation Award for Best Musical) with
Rachel York and
Brent Barrett, City of Angels with
Stephen Bogardus and
Vicki Lewis, Zorba with
Marc Kudisch and
Judy Kaye, and On the Twentieth Century with
Carolee Carmello and
Bob Gunton.
Previous to his work with Reprise, Mr. Gardia spent ten years as the General Manager/Company Manager with Oceanside Productions in Los Angeles, which presented Sony Pictures ShoWest with Leslie Nielsen and
Robert Goulet, as well as the L.A. premieres of
Steve Martin's Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Nude Nude Totally Nude with
Andrea Martin,The Last Night of Ballyhoo with
Rhea Perlman, After-Play with
Bea Arthur, Forever Plaid (Original Cast), Bermuda Avenue Triangle with
Bea Arthur,
Renee Taylor and
Joe Bologna, Ruthless!, Party, Bash with
Calista Flockhart,
Paul Rudd and
Ron Eldard, and many more. He hosted and produced such special events as The Odd Couple starring
Martin Short and
Jason Alexander, The Last Five Years starring composer
Jason Robert Brown, and Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda starring Tony Award-Winner
Patti LuPone. Mr. Gardia's time at Oceanside Productions overlapped with a ten year stretch at the Canon Theatre in Beverly Hills where he produced many landmark events including Ruthless! The Concert with
Bernadette Peters, a fundraising benefit for the California AIDS Ride 3.
Mr. Gardia replaces Greg Phillips as Executive Director at Broadway By the Bay. Mr. Phillips, who helmed the company for nearly 2 years, left in early January to accept a position as the Executive Director of Oregon's flagship theatre, Portland Center Stage. Regarding his new position, Mr. Gardia says "As much as I loved my work, and my colleagues at Reprise, I announced to its board some months ago that I was looking for the right opportunity to relocate to Northern California, where I have many personal ties. I was very fortunate to be matched with this incredible opportunity. I look forward to joining Brooke Knight, the rest of the dedicated staff and the community in continuing to produce professional quality musicals at Broadway By the Bay." Gardia arrives at Broadway By the Bay in time for the second production of its 43rd season, Thoroughly Modern Millie, which begins performances July 10, 2008.
Broadway By the Bay creates full scale musical theatre productions of professional quality that are affordable and accessible. The company continues to grow with nearly 7,000 season subscribers and over 6,000 single show ticket sales per production. Lauded for its efforts in education, the Youth Theatre Conservatory, for youths 4-18, gives younger students solid foundations in acting, singing, and dancing for the musical theatre. For those over 18, the company's Musical Theatre Conservatory offers professional classes to adults of all ages.
For tickets or more information about Broadway by the Bay, the public can call (650) 579-5565 or visit
www.broadwaybythebay.org.
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