Royal Family Productions Welcomes Michael Perreca as Executive Director

Royal Family Productions has named Michael Perreca, a long-time arts management professional, as its Executive Director, effective September 15, 2015.

Located in the heart of Times Square, Royal Family is a not-for-profit theatre company established in 2007 by Katie Avebe, Mary Bernardi, Chris Henry and Andy Theodorou. Royal Family's mission is to produce fresh, story-driven productions that inspire audiences toward deeper engagement in theatre, and to help cultivate the next generation of artists. Royal Family has made an international impact during its initial producing seasons, with their acclaimed co-production of Anthony Rapp's autobiographical musical piece Without You, and having work produced from Off Broadway to London's Meiner Chocolate Factory to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Perreca's extensive career has encompassed such roles as producing director, artistic director, managing director, development director, director, actor and educator.

"Royal Family has had remarkable success in its first seven years, driven by the talent and tenacity of Artistic Director Chris Henry and her co-founders," says Perreca. "The recent New York premiere of John Cariani's LOVE/SICK was a huge success, and now we are very excited to see the company grow expansively and strategically."

"From the first moment I met Michael, I thought to myself, 'How do I get this incredible human being to work with us?' He brings a wealth of practical experience that Royal Family will absolutely benefit from," says Henry. "From our earliest conversations, he was very generous with his time and counsel-a true team player. We are thrilled to have Michael officially on board as our Executive Director, and we know that with Michael's guidance, savvy and experience, he's going to bring Royal Family to the next level. Many new, exciting works are in progress for our upcoming seasons."

Perreca served as producing director and other stages producer of the acclaimed Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, Mass., overseeing Stage II, which includes the Musical Theatre Lab, with Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist William Finn serving as its artistic producer.

He served as interim director of development for TADA! Youth Theater and as director of external relations of York Theatre Company, both Drama Desk Award-winning theatre organizations. Prior to those posts, he served as managing director of Making Books Sing (now New York City Children's Theater) and artistic director of Bristol Valley Theater, located in Naples, N.Y., in the Finger Lakes region.

He has directed extensively at regional and summer theatres and for several New York City companies, including The National Asian Artists Project, TADA!, The Workshop Theatre Co., Red Fern Theatre Co., Pulse Ensemble, The Eldridge Street Project and The Riant Theatre. He assistant directed Claire's Broom Detective Agency, a multi-arts production at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center, featuring famed violinist Itzhak Perlman. He's also directed large-scale corporate events in Las Vegas and Orlando.

Perreca is currently an adjunct professor for Brooklyn College, where he has also created a series of theatre- and literacy-based programs for Puppetry in Practice, and co-developed CLASSact, a teacher training initiative that enhances classroom learning through the performing arts. He's worked extensively for TADA!, LeAp (Learning Through an Expanded Arts Program) and other arts-based youth organizations in theatre education.

As a fundraiser and writer, he has been the lead writer of several high-profile events, including The New York Yankees Foundation Homecoming Dinner, Alzheimer's Association Rita Hayworth Gala, United Way Gridiron Gala, UNCF, Partnership with Children Spring Celebration, Financial Women's Association Women of the Year Awards Dinner, and the Center for Educational Innovation/Public Education Association Gala. These events have raised up to $2 million in a single evening.

As an actor, Perreca performed throughout the U.S. and New York City. His voice also can be heard on several anime series.

ROYAL FAMILY has produced more than 300 performances and created over 1,650 employment opportunities for performers and theatre professionals. Royal Family's productions have been reviewed by The New York Times, The Irish Times, Time Out, The Village Voice, Time Out London, The Boston Globe and The London Times, featured three years in a row in the esteemed Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and have involved accomplished members of the theatre community, including John Cariani (Fiddler on the Roof, Tony nominee; Something Rotten!), Kathleen Chalfant (Angels in America, Tony nominee; Wit), Elizabeth A. Davis (Tony nominee, Once) and Anthony Rapp (Rent, If/Then), among others.

In New York City, Royal Family has produced LOVE/SICK (by John Cariani), Without You (by Anthony Rapp, co-produced with The New York Musical Theatre Festival), Four Last Things (by Lisa Tierney-Keogh), Dedalus Lounge (by Gary Duggan) and Safe Home (by Sean Cullen). At the Edinburgh Fringe Festival: Romeo/Juliet and 3D Hamlet: A Lost Generation (by The Fundamental Theatre Project, in association with The Irish Arts Center). In London: Without You (by Anthony Rapp, co-produced with London's Meiner Chocolate Factory). Workshops: The Water Dream (by Shawn Cody), Born Blue (by Caren Lyn Tackett), Nobody Suspects a Butterfly (by Chris Henry, with additional writing by Katie Avebe) and Louie, Red, and the Jazzman (book by Chris Henry, music and lyrics by Wycliffe Gordon). Emerging Artists' Work: Fireside Theatre (adapted by Chris Henry), Don Pedro de la Cebolla (by Matthew Harrington), selections from Walking the Volcano (by Jon Lipsky), and Opal Ann Meets the Fabulous Kit Katt: a Play with Musical Fantasies (by Chris Henry with music and lyrics by Summer Hyde and Daniel A. Weiss).