Dodgers and Stage Holding Discuss Change in Producing Partnership

By Kenneth Jones
21 Oct 2004

Employees of Dodger Stage Holding are facing staffing cutbacks as the producing company approaches the end of the run of its Tony Award-winning 42nd Street, a spokesperson confirmed.

"With Dodger Stages now open and 42nd Street counting down, like any company in our business, regrettably, when there are fewer shows you need fewer people," spokesperson Susanne Tighe said.

It was also confirmed that Stage Holding, the Amsterdam based company run by Joop van dan Ende, and Dodger Theatricals "have been discussing the restructuring of their producing partnership."

Their current productions of 42nd Street, Dracula, upcoming productions of Good Vibrations and Jersey Boys "as well as the new theater complex Dodger Stages are unaffected by this discussion."

It is not yet known how a potential parting with Stage Holding will impact the Dodgers' long-range producing plans.

Dodger Stages is the new complex of Off-Broadway theatres created in a former movieplex at Worldwide Plaza, at West 50th Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenues.

42nd Street will close at Broadway's Ford Center for the Performing Arts Jan. 2, 2005. It has not yet recouped its investment.

Dodger Stage Holding is a theatrical producing partnership comprising Michael David, Robin de Levita, Des McAnuff, Rocco Landesman and Edward Strong (of Dodger Theatricals) and Joop van dan Ende (the Dutch producer who runs Stage Holding).

The Dodgers, made up of American partners, "originated at BAM in 1978; migrating to the New York Shakespeare Festival and then off and on Broadway where they have shared in a host of Tony and Obie Awards."

Dodger Broadway productions include Urinetown, Into the Woods, The Music Man, Blast!, Titanic, Wrong Mountain, Footloose, Mandy Patinkin: Mamaloshen, High Society, 1776, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The King and I, The Who's Tommy, Ralph Fiennes' Hamlet, Guys and Dolls, Once Upon a Mattress, How to Succeed in Business..., Jelly's Last Jam, The Secret Garden, Into the Woods (original), Big River, Prelude to a Kiss, The Gospel at Colonus, Pump Boys and Dinettes.

Other Off-Broadway productions include Bare (which played a limited summer run and has not yet made it to a hoped-for open-ended run), Fame on 42nd Street, Barbra's Wedding, Savion Glover Downtown, Adobe Theatre's Duet.

Dodger subsidiaries include D-Tours, its touring arm; Dodger Costumes (Americas largest theatrical costume company); Dodger Management Group, Dodger Marketing, and Theater Stuff (theater merchandise).

Dodger is a partner in Stage Holding, an international group of live entertainment companies, assembled and founded by Joop van den Ende, whose head office is situated on the Museumplein in Amsterdam.  "Employing more than 4,500 people worldwide, Stage Holding activities range from theatrical productions and operating theatres to special events, ice shows, and concert presentations in Europe, the United States, South America and Great Britain."

Visit www.dodger.com and www.stageholding.nl.