Entertainment Firm RWS & Associates to Acquire Binder Casting

Emmy Award-winning NYC based entertainment firm RWS & Associates (Ryan Stana, CEO and Bruston Manuel, COO) has announced the acquisition of Binder Casting, the 12-time Artios Award winning Broadway casting office led by industry veteran Jay Binder, along with his associates Mark Brandon and Jack Bowdan.

"We are thrilled to have Jay and his team join the RWS family," said RWS COO Bruston Manuel. "This acquisition is the first step of a long term strategic plan for RWS to expand into commercial theater production. This move will also position RWS to become a one-stop shop for development and production."

"RWS has built an impressive, multi-faceted entertainment company and I look forward to working with them to build upon what Binder Casting has done," said Jay Binder. "Their resources and infrastructure will be infinitely valuable to us as we look to expand our reach and we look forward to being part of the company's bright future."

With this acquisition, Binder Casting becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of RWS & Associates. Binder Casting's operations will continue seamlessly and the company will keep its midtown office location. The acquisition is effective immediately.

Binder Casting started by Jay Binder in the early 1980's, has cast over 70 Broadway shows including Dames At Sea, A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder, Lion King, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Born Yesterday, The Miracle Worker, Finian's Rainbow, Brighton Beach Memoirs, A Chorus Line, Gypsy, 39 Steps, White Christmas, Is He Dead?, Inherit The Wind, Journey's End, Butley, Virginia Woolf, Sweet Charity, Wonderful Town, Movin' Out, 42nd Street, Music Man, Iceman Cometh, Charlie Brown, Sound of Music, Beauty & the Beast, Last Night of Ballyhoo, Chicago, King & I, Damn Yankees, Lost in Yonkers, Jerome Robbins' Broadway, The Goodbye Girl and every City Center Encores! production since its inception in 1994. Film/TV/Other: Carousel (NY Philharmonic/PBS), "Six by Sondheim" (HBO), "So You Think You Can Dance," West Side Story (San Francisco Symphony), Every Little Step, Hairspray, Dreamgirls, Chicago, Nine. 12-time Artios Award winner.

RWS & Associates is an Emmy Award-winning NYC based entertainment firm. Operating out of a 32,000 square foot office and rehearsal studio complex, RWS is North America's largest provider of branded stage shows and experiences. Since 2003, the live entertainment Production Company has produced innovative productions and brand experiences for top resorts, cruise lines, theme parks and NYC fashion events while sustaining an impressive roster of clients that include Hard Rock Resorts, Prada, Cedar Fair, Hershey Entertainment and Resorts, Westfield, Macy's, Vera Wang, Mattel, and more. In 2013, RWS was tapped by Holland America Line as part of a renewed commitment to revolutionize the way live Stage Entertainment is presented on board their five-star cruise ships. Now in the third year of the partnership, RWS has produced over ten new and original, Broadway-caliber stage productions including Billboard Off The Charts in collaboration with Billboard Magazine. Additionally, in partnership with Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, launched Lincoln Center Stage - a ground breaking music experience featuring a resident ensemble aboard Holland America Line's luxury ships.