NEW
YORK, Jan. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Music
Masterworks, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, today
announced a new strategic venture with Roast Productions, a live
entertainment company founded by Bonnie
Royal and Michael Stevens.
Based in London and operating
internationally, Roast Productions focuses on producing theatre,
concerts, and family entertainment events.
Royal and Stevens will continue to lead the company's day-to-day
operations and collaborate with Masterworks on the development of a
range of new productions, working in close partnership with both
Masterworks President Mark Cavell
and Ollie Rosenblatt, founder and
CEO of Senbla, a UK producer/promoter.
Recent and current shows include MACBETH starring
Ralph Fiennes and Indira Varma playing in Liverpool, Edinburgh, London and Washington DC; 2:22 A GHOST STORY in
the West End (Apollo Theatre),
touring in the UK and Australia; CHRISTMAS ACTUALLY, a
Christmas variety show curated by "Love Actually" filmmaker
Richard Curtis and produced in
partnership with Senbla; the highly acclaimed West End run of
VANYA starring Andrew Scott;
and the new musical COWBOY BOB at the Alley Theatre in
Houston, TX; as well as the 2024
UK tour of THE 13-STOREY TREEHOUSE based on the best-selling
book by Andy Griffiths and
Terry Denton. The company will also
offer production, general management, and marketing services in the
West End and beyond.
At the same time, Roast Productions is pleased to announce
strategic agreements with National Theatre Productions and Various
Productions, as co-producer for STANDING AT THE SKY'S EDGE
at the Gillian Lynne Theatre opening in February, and with the
Ambassador Theatre Group, as Creative Producer of the inaugural
WIMBLEDON CHILDREN'S
FESTIVAL at the New Wimbledon Theatre, launching in Summer
2024.
Mark Cavell, President of Sony
Music Masterworks, said, "I'm absolutely delighted to welcome
Bonnie and Michael to the Sony Music Masterworks family. Their
creativity and expertise will further support our endeavours in
securing and creating new quality and original live productions
that will captivate and entertain audiences across the globe, and
provide first-class content for our other partners to promote and
market."
Bonnie Royal and Michael Stevens, Producers and Co-Managing
Directors of Roast, commented, "It is an absolute honour to join
Sony Music Masterworks and develop new work and new markets
together. The strength of its vision and values makes it the ideal
partner for us as we develop a diverse body of work in the UK and
internationally."
Sony Music Masterworks' agreement with Roast Productions is the
latest in a series of strategic partnerships and acquisitions
advancing its growth as a multi-faceted worldwide entertainment
business operating in more than 30 countries. The network of
companies includes Black Ink Presents, a Los Angeles-based creative design and
production services company; Culture Creative, a production
and project management team specialising in developing
site-specific and bespoke projects in unique heritage and landscape
settings; Netherlands-based GEA
Live, which designs, represents and produces shows and
experiences based on prominent IP in music, film, television, anime
and gaming; The Luna Entertainment Group, the UK
market-leader of open-air, drive-in and pop-up cinema experiences
which also stages high quality location-based entertainment
experiences, exhibitions and events; MAC Global, an
award-winning, pan-regional concert promotion, talent management,
events and production company based in Dubai, United
Arab Emirates; Proactiv Entertainment, the live event
producer and promoter based in Barcelona,
Spain; Raymond Gubbay Ltd., the music, dance &
Light Trail/Lightscape promoter; RoadCo
Entertainment, the New
York-based producing and distribution agency specialising in
live entertainment experiences; Seaview, the Tony and Olivier
award-winning media company with theatre, film, TV, and digital
verticals; Senbla, the London-based producer/promoter of quality
music, theatre and immersive events, shows and festivals and
Terrapin Station Entertainment, an artist management, tour
production and sports/stadium consultancy company which specialises
in family-friendly and brand-led events, immersive exhibits, game
shows and charity concerts.
Sony Music Masterworks comprises Masterworks, Sony Classical,
Milan Records, XXIM Records and
Masterworks Broadway imprints. For email updates and
information, please visit: www.sonymusicmasterworks.com/
For more information, follow Roast Productions:
Website: www.roast.productions
Facebook: @Roast.Productions
Instagram: @Roast.Productions
YouTube: @Roast.Productions
ABOUT BONNIE ROYAL
Over
her career, Bonnie Royal has headed
up an extensive and diverse portfolio of productions.
Previously as Commercial Director of Fierylight,
she worked with global brands including the children's
entertainment icon PEPPA PIG for over 10 years (including 11
seasons in London's West End), and
led the development and production of family titles such as
Julia Donaldson's THE SMARTEST GIANT
IN TOWN with Little Angel Theatre in 2020, which went on to have a
sell-out UK tour and played an Olivier Award-nominated West End
season.
As Marketing Director, Royal's credits include The Kenneth
Branagh Theatre Company: PLAYS AT THE GARRICK season (which
included THE WINTER'S TALE starring Dame Judi Dench and ROMEO AND JULIET starring
Lily James and Richard Madden) to HAIRSPRAY (London Coliseum),
CIRCUS 1903 (Southbank Centre), THE 39 STEPS (West End) and FLEABAG
(West End), as well as the West End transfers of The Almeida's
MARY STUART and the National
Theatre's HOME, I'M DARLING. Most recent projects include
Rodgers and Hammerstein's OKLAHOMA! (West End) and THE PADDINGTON BEAR
EXPERIENCE (County Hall).
ABOUT MICHAEL
STEVENS
With over more than 20 years in the
performing arts industry, Michael
Stevens has focused on creative collaboration, with a
sustained commitment to the commissioning and production of new
works. His work in an Executive Producer role with
organisations – including the Australian Chamber Orchestra,
Melbourne Festival and Arts Centre Melbourne – led to dozens of new
(and many award-winning) creations across theatre, musical theatre,
dance, opera, circus, classical and contemporary music, film,
visual arts and in the digital arena.
Returning in 2016 to London,
Stevens co-founded Fiery Angel Entertainment, with which he
introduced CIRCUS 1903 to London
for four seasons at Royal Festival Hall and Hammersmith Apollo and
BARRY HUMPHRIES' WEIMAR CABARET at the Barbican Theatre.
New productions have included GUYS AND DOLLS at the Royal Albert
Hall, directed by Stephen Mear with
an all-star cast, and the European premiere of DOLLY PARTON'S SMOKY MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS CAROL at
the Southbank Centre, as well as touring projects such as
ROB BRYDON – A NIGHT OF SONGS AND
LAUGHTER (80 shows at London Palladium and on tour around
UK/Australia/New Zealand); PEPPA PIG – MY FIRST CONCERT
(Royal Festival Hall, London Coliseum, & 90+ UK dates); BLACK
BLUES BROTHERS (UK regional tour) and TUBULAR BELLS – THE 50TH
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION (50 shows at Royal Festival Hall and on UK
tour).
ABOUT SENBLA
A leading producer and promoter of
hundreds of live shows around the world annually, Senbla provides a
wide range of services in support of performing arts productions,
artist tours, large scale artist concerts, and concept-based shows,
as well as theatrical and family entertainment events. Its
extensive capabilities includes licensing and production, plus
management of all aspects of global Intellectual Property
rights. The company has worked on numerous recent productions
including the 'Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse' concert with live
orchestra which played 85 dates globally; Michael Bublé at the Bath
Royal Crescent; a run of Lionel Richie UK shows; Diana Ross's recent UK Arena Tour; concert with
live orchestra dates from Ennio Morricone, Sophie Ellis-Bextor,
Joss Stone, The Holiday, Love
Actually, and A Muppets' Christmas Carol; opera events, the
Disney 100 UK Arena Tour, and
Circus 1903. Senbla also is an investor in theatrical shows
including "Six" on Broadway and its US Tour, and is a co-promoter
and producer of shows internationally.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Larissa Slezak | Sony Music
Masterworks
Larissa.Slezak@sonymusic.com
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SOURCE Sony Masterworks