Photo Flash: Drama Desk 'Moving On' Panel

The Drama Desk held a panel discussion, titled "Moving On," with theater professionals from Grey Gardens and Spring Awakening on Wednesday, February 28, that focused on the challenges and advantages of moving theatrical productions from Off Broadway to Broadway. The discussion took place at BMI, 320 West 57th Street.        

The lively discussion, explored the hows, whys and wherefores necessary to move productions from Off Broadway venues, especially the not-for-profit sector,  to Broadway theatres. Guest panelists were: Andrew Hamingson, Managing Director, Atlantic Theatre Company; Tim Sanford, Artistic Director, Playwrights Horizons; Michael Korie, lyricist, Grey Gardens; Tom Hulce, Producer, Spring Awakening; Michael Rosenberg, Producer/East of Doheny, Grey Gardens; and Ira Pittleman, Producer, Spring Awakening.   Both Grey Gardens (Playwrights Horizons) and Spring Awakening (Atlantic Theatre Company) are current Broadway musicals that originated in the not-for-profit world of Off Broadway.      

The panel co-moderators were Leslie (Hoban) Blake, alternate theater critic for WFUV-FM Radio (90.7), video interviewer for TimesSquare.com and Vice President of the Drama Desk, and Ellis Nassour, lead columnist for BroadwayStars.com, contributor to Playbill and member of the Executive Board of the Drama Desk.

Photos by Barry Gordin

Drama Desk "Moving On" panel at BMI: Leslie (Hoban) Blake, DD vice president, and a co-moderator of the discussion; William Wolf, DD president, Spring Awakening producer Ira Pittleman, Ellis Nassour, DD executive board member and panel co-moderator

Guest panelists at the Drama Desk "Moving On" discussion: from Grey Gardens - Mike Rosenberg, producer/East of Doheny, lyricist Michael Korie, Playwrights Horizons Artistic Director Tim Sanford

From Spring Awakening: from Left - Atlantic Theatre Company Managing Director Andrew Hamingson, Spring Awakening producers Tom Hulce and Ira Pittleman