The founding of Shaffer-Coyle Public Relations is the result of a four-year association between Coyle and Shaffer at two of New York's top theatrical publicity firms — first at Barlow-Hartman PR and then at The Pete Sanders Group.

After three seasons in the publicity department at The Public Theater, Bill Coyle moved to The Pete Sanders Group in 1999. From 2000-2004, he was an account executive at Barlow-Hartman PR, where he represented The Producers, Movin' Out, Dance of Death, The Graduate and Taboo, in addition to the Off-Broadway productions of Here Lies Jenny and Alan Bennett's Talking Heads. On an independent basis, he currently represents The Zipper Theatre and its current production of Kathie Lee Gifford and David Pomeranz's Under the Bridge.

One of the original staff members at Barlow-Hartman, Jeremy Shaffer's accounts have included the recent productions of Thoroughly Modern Millie, Bombay Dreams, Little Shop of Horrors, Salome, Bea Arthur on Broadway, Noises Off, Bells Are Ringing and Fosse, as well as four mainstage seasons at Off-Broadway's Irish Repertory Theatre. In October 2004, Shaffer joined The Pete Sanders Group, representing Chicago, Whoopi and Little Women.

Shaffer-Coyle Public Relations will set up shop in midtown Manhattan at 325 W. 38th Street.

Meanwhile, at OPR/Tony Origlio Public Relations, the entertainment PR firm, Candi Adams has joined the company as senior account executive. She was most recently served as press manager at City Center, responsible for events including Encores! and the Fall For Dance Festival. She has previously worked at Barlow-Hartman, The Publicity Office, Williamstown Theater Festival, Dodger Theatricals and James Morrison & Associates managing press campaigns for such Broadway and Off-Broadway shows as Movin' Out, Fiddler on the Roof, The Stendhal Syndrome, Man of La Mancha and Burn This.