Robert Ahrens
Robert Ahrens | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1970 (age 53–54) |
| Education | Cornell University |
| Occupation(s) | Theatrical producer, film producer |
| Known for | Producer of the Tony-nominated musical Xanadu and Little Shop of Horrors |
Robert Ahrens (born 1970)[1] is a film and theatrical producer based in New York City.
Early life and education
[edit]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
[edit]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]
He produced three films, Bumping Heads, Book of Love, and WTC View. He also produced Evita on Broadway and executive produced Finding Neverland for Harvey Weinstein. He has presented Kathy Griffin Wants a Tony, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, and The Temptations and The Four Tops on Broadway.
He produced the long-running hit revival of Little Shop of Horrors at the Westside Theatre in Manhattan starring Jonathan Groff and Christian Borle and directed by Michael Mayer. The revival received universal critical acclaim and won all of the major 2020 Best Musical Revival Awards given that year from the Drama Desk, the Drama League, and the Outer Critics Circle.
References
[edit]- ^ a b David, Cara Joy (July 7, 2007). "Old Movie, New Musical, First-Time Producers". New York Times. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
- ^ a b Stasio, Marilyn (April 22, 2008). "Rob Ahrens Up Next: Broadway's Brightest". Variety. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
- ^ a b "Who's Who – Robert Ahrens: Xanadu Opening Night: July 10, 2007". Playbill Vault. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
- ^ Robertson, Campbell (May 14, 2008). "This Year's Tony List Is Filled With Unusual Suspects". New York Times. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
External links
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