Photo Flash: Peter LeDonne Introduces The Ciccone Theatre

A successful advertising and marketing executive Peter LeDonne was the owner and partner of Ash/LeDonne, Inc. one of the most prominent entertainment marketing firms in the Industry. With offices in New York, Los Angeles, Boston and London, the agency represented theatre, films, personalities, record companies and major entertainment venues.

While working on over 1000 Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, Mr. LeDonne altered the way theatre was marketed - worldwide. He made the first live-action television commercial for the original Broadway production of Bob Fosse's Pippin. The seismically successful commercial delivered an entirely new audience to Broadway and, by so doing, redefined the lengths of successful Broadway runs from several months to several years.

In addition to Broadway, Ash/LeDonne also represented many other major clients such as: Resorts International Hotels and Casinos; The Sands Hotel & Casino; Helmsley Hotels; Radio City Music Hall Productions; Universal Studios; Crum & Forster Insurance; Marcal Paper Products; Metro One Cellular Telephone System; First Jersey Securities; Doubleday Publishing; St. Martin's Press as well as Janis Joplin, Frank Sinatra, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Diana Ross, Liza Minnelli, Stevie Wonder, Barry Manilow and Elton John.

He has also produced for the stage in New York and London and was one of the first Americans invited to The Soviet Union to produce films for several dance companies, folk troupes and The Moscow Circus. Over a period of several weeks, he and his film crew were permitted to travel throughout Russia, documenting both performance and behind the scenes material. The subsequent promotional films and commercials made the U.S. tours of those companies an unprecedented triumph.

Upon his return to the USA, he signed The Alvin Ailey Dance Company, American Ballet Theatre, The Dance Theatre of Harlem, The Joffrey Ballet, The Kirov Ballet, The Moiseyev Dance Company and The Bolshoi to his Agency's glittering roster.

When he added television and film production to his endeavors, he achieved early success with his first production, Curtain Call, which began a partnership with Steve Kalafer and was nominated for an Academy Award®.

One year later their Sister Rose's Passion was also nominated for an Academy Award®.

He has since produced four other films; directed two; the most recent production, Barrymore, starring Christopher Plummer.

Mr. LeDonne has been the recipient of several major advertising industry awards, including: The Clio, The Andy, The International Broadcasting Award, The Big Apple Award, The London International Advertising Award and others.

He actively supports several non-profit organizations, which expose young people to the arts, particularly The Actors' Fund of America, American Theatre Wing, Young Audiences and Arts Horizons.

His pro-bono work has included producing, a live benefit performance of Come a Waltzing With Me, An Evening With Zoe Caldwell for Young Audiences and a documentary film, The Power of The Arts, featuring Harold Prince, Celeste Holm and Robert Whitehead, for Arts Horizons.

Ciccone Theatre Specs

Capacity: 300 Seats

Stage:

40' wide x 22' high - Proscenium stage with 15' extended apron.

45' from plaster line to rear wall.

Counterweight system with 40 manual line sets.

5 electrics with full complement of over-stage lighting.

Three phase 208 & 400 company box.

Front of House (FOH):

2 FOH Coves with full complement of ETC Source Four theatrical lighting instruments.

FOH Booms Audience Right & Left ETC Source Four various degree lens.

Intelligent Lighting - Martin 350, 301, 101

2 Spot Lights

Control Booth housing ION Lighting Console

Crest Analog Sound Console

Projection - NEC & Panasonic

Photo credit: Carol Rosegg

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