Mick Leavitt
Encyclopedia
Mick Leavitt also known as Michael Leavitt, is a Tony Award
-winning producer
of theatrical production
s, including Thoroughly Modern Millie
starring Sutton Foster
, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
starring Gary Sinise
, and Death of a Salesman
starring Brian Dennehy
. Leavitt is president of Elephant Eye Theatrical, a Broadway
production company that develops new musicals. In addition to his work in New York
, he is a prominent member of the Chicago
theatre community, having produced and presented dozens of shows and operated numerous theatrical venues
, including the Briar Street Theatre (bringing Blue Man Group
to Chicago), the Apollo Theater
, and the Cadillac Palace
(opening with Elton John
's Aida
). In addition to being president of Elephant Eye Theatrical, he is the President of Landmark Education
and a member of the board of directors
of Chicago Children's Theatre.
. In 2003 he received the Award for Excellence in the Arts from the Theatre School, DePaul University.
. Leavitt is a multi-Tony Award winning producer with his productions earning dozens of awards including Tony Awards, Drama Desk Awards, Outer Critic Circle Awards, and the Pulitzer Prize.
Leavitt is known for producing One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
among other shows.
In the early 1980s, Leavitt started his own theatrical company, the Payne Leavitt Group, which he operated for almost a decade. In 1991, Leavitt accepted a bid from Fox Associates to buy his company. Leavitt was named Executive Producer and later President of the new theatrical production arm, Fox Theatricals. Leavitt has produced dozens of productions on Broadway, nationally and regionally.
In addition to producing theatre, Leavitt developed and operated numerous live theatrical venues. Leavitt brought the hit show Blue Man Group to Chicago, where it continues to enjoy record-breaking, sold-out performances for over a decade. He has operated numerous venues including overseeing a $25-million redevelopment of the 1926 Palace Theatre. As President of the Theatre, Leavitt opened the theatre in 1999 with the pre-Broadway opening of the Walt Disney production of the Elton John musical, Aida. Director turned producer Michael Leavitt also has deep Chicago roots.
Leavitt is on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Children's Theatre.
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
-winning producer
Theatrical producer
A theatrical producer is the person ultimately responsible for overseeing all aspects of mounting a theatre production. The independent producer will usually be the originator and finder of the script and starts the whole process...
of theatrical production
Theatrical production
A theatrical production is any theatre stage play, musical, comedy or drama produced from a written book or script. These works are protected by common law or statuary copyright unless in the public domain....
s, including Thoroughly Modern Millie
Thoroughly Modern Millie (musical)
Thoroughly Modern Millie is a musical with music by Jeanine Tesori, lyrics by Dick Scanlan, and a book by Richard Morris and Scanlan. Based on the 1967 film of the same name, Thoroughly Modern Millie tells the story of a small-town girl, Millie Dillmount, who comes to New York City to marry for...
starring Sutton Foster
Sutton Foster
Sutton Lenore Foster is an American actress, singer and dancer. Foster has received two Tony Awards, in 2002 for her role of Millie Dillmount in Thoroughly Modern Millie and in 2011 for her role of Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes...
, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (play)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a play based on Ken Kesey's 1962 novel of the same name. Dale Wasserman's stage adaptation, with music by Teiji Ito, made its Broadway preview on November 12, 1963, its premiere on November 13, and ran until January 25, 1964 for a total of one preview and 82...
starring Gary Sinise
Gary Sinise
Gary Alan Sinise is an American actor, film director and musician. During his career, Sinise has won various awards including an Emmy and a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for an Academy Award. In 1992, Sinise directed, and played the role of George Milton in the successful film adaptation of...
, and Death of a Salesman
Death of a Salesman
Death of a Salesman is a 1949 play written by American playwright Arthur Miller. It was the recipient of the 1949 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award for Best Play. Premiered at the Morosco Theatre in February 1949, the original production ran for a total of 742 performances.-Plot :Willy Loman...
starring Brian Dennehy
Brian Dennehy
Brian Mannion Dennehy is an American actor of film, stage and screen.-Early years:Dennehy was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the son of Hannah and Edward Dennehy, who was a wire service editor for the Associated Press; he has two brothers, Michael and Edward. Dennehy is of Irish ancestry and was...
. Leavitt is president of Elephant Eye Theatrical, a Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
production company that develops new musicals. In addition to his work in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, he is a prominent member of the Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
theatre community, having produced and presented dozens of shows and operated numerous theatrical venues
Theater (structure)
A theater or theatre is a structure where theatrical works or plays are performed or other performances such as musical concerts may be produced. While a theater is not required for performance , a theater serves to define the performance and audience spaces...
, including the Briar Street Theatre (bringing Blue Man Group
Blue Man Group
Blue Man Group is an organization founded by Chris Wink, Matt Goldman and Phil Stanton. The organization produces theatrical shows and concerts featuring popular music, comedy and multimedia; recorded music and scores for film and television; television appearances for shows such as The Tonight...
to Chicago), the Apollo Theater
Apollo Theater Chicago
The Apollo Theater Chicago was built in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood in 1978. Located at 2540 N. Lincoln Ave., the Apollo has 440 seats and a lobby featuring art exhibits and a full bar...
, and the Cadillac Palace
Cadillac Palace Theatre
The Cadillac Palace Theatre is operated by Broadway In Chicago, a Nederlander Presentation. It is located at 151 West Randolph Street in the Chicago Loop area downtown.-History:...
(opening with Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
's Aida
Aida (musical)
Aida is a musical with music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice, and book by Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls, and David Henry Hwang, and produced by Walt Disney Theatrical....
). In addition to being president of Elephant Eye Theatrical, he is the President of Landmark Education
Landmark Education
Landmark Education LLC is a personal training and development company which offers educational programs in approximately 115 locations in more than 20 countries worldwide....
and a member of the board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of Chicago Children's Theatre.
Education
Leavitt is a graduate of the Goodman School of Drama at DePaul UniversityDePaul University
DePaul University is a private institution of higher education and research in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul...
. In 2003 he received the Award for Excellence in the Arts from the Theatre School, DePaul University.
Theatre
President of Elephant Eye Theatrical, Leavitt is a prominent theatre producer based out of ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. Leavitt is a multi-Tony Award winning producer with his productions earning dozens of awards including Tony Awards, Drama Desk Awards, Outer Critic Circle Awards, and the Pulitzer Prize.
Leavitt is known for producing One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (play)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a play based on Ken Kesey's 1962 novel of the same name. Dale Wasserman's stage adaptation, with music by Teiji Ito, made its Broadway preview on November 12, 1963, its premiere on November 13, and ran until January 25, 1964 for a total of one preview and 82...
among other shows.
In the early 1980s, Leavitt started his own theatrical company, the Payne Leavitt Group, which he operated for almost a decade. In 1991, Leavitt accepted a bid from Fox Associates to buy his company. Leavitt was named Executive Producer and later President of the new theatrical production arm, Fox Theatricals. Leavitt has produced dozens of productions on Broadway, nationally and regionally.
In addition to producing theatre, Leavitt developed and operated numerous live theatrical venues. Leavitt brought the hit show Blue Man Group to Chicago, where it continues to enjoy record-breaking, sold-out performances for over a decade. He has operated numerous venues including overseeing a $25-million redevelopment of the 1926 Palace Theatre. As President of the Theatre, Leavitt opened the theatre in 1999 with the pre-Broadway opening of the Walt Disney production of the Elton John musical, Aida. Director turned producer Michael Leavitt also has deep Chicago roots.
Leavitt is on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Children's Theatre.
New York
- Three Tall WomenThree Tall WomenThree Tall Women is a play by Edward Albee, which won the 1994 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Albee's third.-Characters:* A: She is a very old woman in her 90s. She is thin, autocratic, proud, and wealthy. She also has a mild case of Alzheimer's disease. * B: B is A's 52 year-old version, to whom she...
by Edward Albee, 1994–95, winner Pulitzer Prize - Picasso at the Lapin AgilePicasso at the Lapin AgilePicasso at the Lapin Agile is a play written by Steve Martin in 1993. It features the characters of Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso, who meet at a bar called the Lapin Agile in Montmartre, Paris...
by Steve Martin, 1995–96, winner Outer Critics Circle Award - Jekyll and Hyde, 1997–2001
- You're a Good Man, Charlie BrownYou're a Good Man, Charlie BrownYou're a Good Man, Charlie Brown is a 1967 musical comedy with music and lyrics by Clark Gesner, based on the characters created by cartoonist Charles M. Schulz in his comic strip Peanuts...
, 1999, winner two Tony Awards, Outer’s Critics Circle award for Best Musical - Death of a SalesmanDeath of a SalesmanDeath of a Salesman is a 1949 play written by American playwright Arthur Miller. It was the recipient of the 1949 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award for Best Play. Premiered at the Morosco Theatre in February 1949, the original production ran for a total of 742 performances.-Plot :Willy Loman...
, starring Brian Dennehy, 1999, winner four Tony Awards including Best Production and Best Actor - One Flew Over the Cuckoo's NestOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (play)One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a play based on Ken Kesey's 1962 novel of the same name. Dale Wasserman's stage adaptation, with music by Teiji Ito, made its Broadway preview on November 12, 1963, its premiere on November 13, and ran until January 25, 1964 for a total of one preview and 82...
, starring Gary Sinise, 2001, Broadway, winner Tony Award Best Production - Thoroughly Modern MillieThoroughly Modern MillieThoroughly Modern Millie is a 1967 American musical film directed by George Roy Hill and starring Julie Andrews. The screenplay by Richard Morris focuses on a naive young woman who finds herself in the midst of a series of madcap adventures when she sets her sights on marrying her wealthy boss.The...
, 2002–04, winner six Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Actress - Trying starring Fritz Weaver, 2006
Chicago
- Noises OffNoises OffNoises Off is a 1982 play by English playwright Michael Frayn. The idea for it was born in 1970, when Frayn was standing in the wings watching a performance of Chinamen, a farce that he had written for Lynn Redgrave...
, winner 7 Jeff Citations (produced & directed) - Lost in YonkersLost in YonkersLost in Yonkers is a 1991 Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Neil Simon. After eleven previews, the Broadway production, produced by Emanuel Azenberg and directed by Gene Saks, opened on February 21, 1991 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, where it ran for 780 performances...
, (produced & directed) - Laughter on the 23rd FloorLaughter on the 23rd FloorLaughter on the 23rd Floor is a play by Neil Simon.Inspired by Simon's early career experience as a junior jokesmith for Your Show of Shows, the play focuses on Sid Caesar/Jackie Gleason-like Max Prince, the star of a weekly comedy-variety show circa 1953, and his staff, including Simon's...
(produced & directed) - Six Degrees of SeparationSix degrees of separationSix degrees of separation refers to the idea that everyone is on average approximately six steps away, by way of introduction, from any other person on Earth, so that a chain of, "a friend of a friend" statements can be made, on average, to connect any two people in six steps or fewer...
starring Marlo Thomas (produced & directed) - Lend Me a TenorLend Me a TenorLend Me a Tenor is a comedy by Ken Ludwig. The play was produced on both the West End and Broadway . Although it received seven Tony Award nominations, it won only one, for Best Actor. A Broadway revival opened in 2010. Lend Me a Tenor has been translated into sixteen languages and produced in...
, starring at different times, Mickey Rooney, Jamie Farr & * John AstinJohn AstinJohn Allen Astin is an American actor who has appeared in numerous films and television shows, and is best known for the role of Gomez Addams on The Addams Family, and other similarly eccentric comedic characters.-Early years:...
(produced & directed) - Having Our Say (produced)
- And Neither Have I Wings to Fly (produced)
External links
See also
- Theatrical producerTheatrical producerA theatrical producer is the person ultimately responsible for overseeing all aspects of mounting a theatre production. The independent producer will usually be the originator and finder of the script and starts the whole process...
- Landmark EducationLandmark EducationLandmark Education LLC is a personal training and development company which offers educational programs in approximately 115 locations in more than 20 countries worldwide....
- DePaul UniversityDePaul UniversityDePaul University is a private institution of higher education and research in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul...