Robert Ahrens

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Robert Ahrens
Born1970 (age 54–55)
Education Cornell University
Occupations Theatrical producer, film producer
Known forProducer of the Tony-nominated musical Xanadu and Little Shop of Horrors

Robert Ahrens (born 1969) [1] is a film and theatrical producer based in New York City.

Contents

Early life and education

Ahrens grew up in Long Island, New York. [2] He graduated from Cornell University, where he was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. [3] He began his career at the Chase Manhattan Bank.

Career

Ahrens is best known as a producer of the Broadway musical Xanadu , [3] which was nominated for Best Musical at the 2008 Tony Awards. [4] Ahrens began acquiring the stage rights to the Xanadu musical in 2002 [2] after seeing an unauthorized 2001 stage production of the film. Working as an assistant to an executive at Paramount Pictures at the time, he pursued the rights to Xanadu and its soundtrack by the Electric Light Orchestra and swiftly began courting writer Douglas Carter Beane to write the book. [1]

This season, Robert is lead producing Just in Time, the smash hit Broadway musical of the year, directed by Tony Award winner Alex Timbers and starring Jonathan Groff as the legendary Bobby Darin. He also lead produced Call Me Izzy, a gripping new play by Jamie Wax, directed by Sarna Lapine and featuring six-time Emmy Award winner Jean Smart in a highly acclaimed theatrical performance. This fall, he is lead producing the first-ever Broadway revival of Chess, directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer and starring Aaron Tveit, Emmy nominee Lea Michele, and Nicholas Christopher.

Also currently running is the hit revival of Little Shop of Horrors at the Westside Theatre in New York City, directed by Michael Mayer and choreographed by Ellenore Scott. The production has earned widespread acclaim and numerous honors, including Best Musical Revival Awards from the Drama Desk, the Drama League, and the Outer Critics Circle, with Christian Borle earning multiple Outstanding Featured Actor awards for his performance as “Orin.”

He produced three films, Bumping Heads, Book of Love , and WTC View . He also co-produced Evita on Broadway and executive produced Finding Neverland . He has presented Kathy Griffin Wants a Tony, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, and The Temptations and The Four Tops on Broadway. He also produced the play Grey House directed by Joe Mantello on Broadway.

References

  1. 1 2 David, Cara Joy (July 7, 2007). "Old Movie, New Musical, First-Time Producers". New York Times. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  2. 1 2 Stasio, Marilyn (April 22, 2008). "Rob Ahrens Up Next: Broadway's Brightest". Variety . Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  3. 1 2 "Who's Who – Robert Ahrens: Xanadu Opening Night: July 10, 2007". Playbill Vault. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  4. ↑ Robertson, Campbell (May 14, 2008). "This Year's Tony List Is Filled With Unusual Suspects". New York Times . Retrieved July 20, 2012.


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