BB Promotion Mourns the Passing of Michael Brenner

Michael Brenner, producer and impresario, founder and managing partner of the Mannheim based BB Promotion GmbH, died in the early hours of Saturday, May 21, 2011 at the age of 59.

He and his much-loved wife were on a bicycle tour when he was hit by a motorbike. He never recovered from his injuries.

We are stunned and deeply shocked by this sudden and tragic loss. It is difficult to believe that the man whose unique spirit infused the entire organisation with a sense of vibrant creativity is no longer with us. His life's work, and the focus of his unfailing attention and inexhaustible energy, was the promotion of international live entertainment on the very highest level. His passion for, and whole-hearted commitment to, true artistry is evident from the caption which he added to BB's name many years ago: ‘the art of entertainment'. At the same time, his deepest love and devotion was to his family.

As captain of a ship which braved many rough seas, navigating in a perilous industry with great sensitivity, Michael Brenner led a devoted team of people. His most important collaborator for more than four decades was his wife and partner, Roswitha Brenner, later joined by their children Antonia and Marius, and his close personal friends.
Roswitha Brenner and her children will now take the helm at BB Promotion, and, together with all the members of the BB team, would continue Michael Brenner's life work.

Brenner produced Tanguera at New York City Center in October, 2009.

The funeral service will take place at 2pm on Friday 27th May 2011, in the Christuskirche in Mannheim. In place of any intended flowers or wreaths we would ask for a donation to Médecins Sans Frontières MSF (donations account 97 0 97, reference Michael Brenner, Bank für Sozialwirtschaft BLZ 370 205 00)

Michael Brenner was organizing musicals, ballet performances, and concerts in the 1980s, when in 1987 he laid the foundations in establishing BB Promotion. Along with the signing of international stars such as Shirley MacLaine, Diana Ross, Marcel Marceau, Rudolf Nureyev, and Mikhail Baryshnikov, it was as producer of innovative, high quality dance theater performances that he had developed. Brenner established a distinctive reputation over the following years, representing important dance ensembles such as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Martha Graham Dance Company, Ballet Nacional de España, the dance revue Fosse and Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake. He also introduced a wide selec- tion of original musical productions, music shows, and stage shows to European and international stages alike. Michael's areas of expertise encompass independent productions and co-productions of classics such as West Side Story (since 2003), Chicago (2005), The Original Broadway Swing! (1998), Rent (2000, 2007), The Harlem Gospel Singers and Queen Esther Marrow (since 1987), the new production of Richard O' Brien' s Rocky Horror Show (2008), as well as the organization of major tours for unique live shows, including STOMP! (since 1997), Yamato - The Drummers of Japan (since 2002), Tap Dogs (1998-2005), and many other exceptional productions. As a producer, he has also staged successful productions of Grease (1994-96) and Saturday Night Fever (1998-2006). In cooperation with QUEEN he produced the musical We Will Rock You (Cologne 2004-2008, Zurich 2006-2007, Vienna 2008, Stuttgart since 2008). In December, 2009, Brenner produced Hairspray in the German premiere as a sit-down production.

 

To post a comment, you must register and login.