Press Releases

AMBASSADOR THEATRE GROUP AND SONIA FRIEDMAN PRODUCTIONS OPEN NEW YORK OFFICE - DAVID LAZAR APPOINTED AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, NEW YORK

Issued : 13 March 2007

Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) and Sonia Friedman Productions (SFP) have announced the appointment of David Lazar as Chief Executive Officer - New York to head up their companies’ New York office, as part of their expansion in the United States.

The office will be involved both in production in North America and in the development and sourcing of ventures for the international theatrical market. Further appointments and other members of the creative team will be announced soon.

This is the second role created to drive ATG’s recently announced international expansion, which will see the company develop further into Europe, Australia and North America and produce more productions around the world. Last month, ATG appointed Peter Kavanagh to the new senior executive director role of Business Affairs Director.

David Lazar - most recently Executive Vice President, Business Affairs (Theatrical Division) for Live Nation in the United States - has worked for Live Nation (including its acquired companies SFX Entertainment and PACE Entertainment) for the past 9 years. He implemented and managed all business affairs relating to Live Nation Theatrical’s productions, presenting and venue management and also business development for new theatrical initiatives. He was central to the negotiation and co-ordination of many highly successful US productions including Cirque Du Soleil’s – Delirium (arena tour), Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera (Las Vegas) and Dora the Explorer Live!, and the business affairs oversight for all of the company’s many Broadway productions and investments.

Co-founded by Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire in 1992, ATG is currently the largest theatre group in the West End (London) and separately, the second largest in the UK regions, with a total of 24 venues. ATG is also one of the UK’s foremost theatre producers and has been behind some of the most successful and innovative productions in the UK and internationally, including Porgy and Bess at the Savoy, Michael Grandage’s award winning Guys and Dolls (soon to be produced on Broadway and in Australia); Stephen Sondheim’s Company on Broadway; The Rocky Horror Show (worldwide) and John Doyle’s production of Sweeney Todd (on Broadway, in the West End, on UK tour and soon to be on US tour). Other successful Broadway productions include The Weir and Noises Off.

SFP, a subsidiary of ATG, was formed in 2002 and has become one of the most dynamic, groundbreaking and prolific theatre producers in the West End and on Broadway, initiating and presenting dozens of new productions over this time. Prior to forming SFP, Sonia spent 3 years as the producer for ATG. Before joining ATG, she was the producer and co-founder of Out of Joint and from 1989 – 1993, she was the producer of Mobile Production and Theatre for Young People at the National Theatre. Since 1993, Sonia has produced over 75 major new productions in the West End and in New York. In the last 14 months alone, SFP has produced 14 shows in the West End and on Broadway including Faith Healer by Brian Friel starring Ralph Fiennes on Broadway, Rock n Roll by Tom Stoppard, Eh Joe by Samuel Beckett starring Michael Gambon, Donkeys’ Years by Michael Frayn, The Dumb Waiter by Harold Pinter and, most recently, Boeing-Boeing – all in the West End. SFP received a total of eight Olivier Award nominations this year.

Howard Panter, Managing Director, ATG, said:
“We see our New York office as an import/export gateway and we are genuinely thrilled that David will be heading up our New York office and leading our expansion there. He is one of the most respected, experienced and dedicated executives in American theatre and entertainment. We are delighted he has chosen to join ATG at this exciting time in our history and we welcome him to the company.”

Sonia Friedman, Producer of SFP, said:
“As announced recently, SFP is increasing its output and one of our chief aims is to have much closer links with the New York theatre industry. Working alongside Broadway-based producers, the plan is both to transfer and initiate as many productions as possible in New York, as well as forge links with American producers and artists and facilitate them in bringing their work here. David’s understanding of and experience in the American theatre industry is impressive, so to have him ‘on the ground’ in New York, supporting SFP’s ventures is vital and I am delighted he is there to represent me and my company.”

David Lazar said:
“This is an exciting time to be joining ATG’s team and working closely with Howard, Rosemary and Sonia to guide ATG’s North American expansion. We truly look forward to establishing permanent roots in New York’s Broadway community. Utilizing ATG’s significant venue and production platform in the West End and across the UK, we plan to expand the slate of projects geared towards both UK and North American presentation. I also welcome this great opportunity to support Sonia and her team on SFP’s Broadway transfers from the West End.”

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For more information, please contact John Chittenden, ATG Press Officer on 020 8545 7919 or email johnchittenden@theambassadors.com

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