Busker Alley Logo  

Production Team

Margot Astrachan, Producer
Robert R. Blume
, Producer
Heather Duke, Producer
Kristine Lewis/Jamie Fox, Producers
Joanna Kerry, Producer

Niko Companies, LTD General Management
Springer Associates (SAPR) Public Relations

Jerold L. Couture, Esq. Production Counsel


Margot Astrachan, Producer

Margot Astrachan is the American Artistic Director of the Jermyn Street Theatre in London. She has over 30 years experience producing special events for Arts Organizations such as The York Theatre Company (including 2006 NEO Concert), The Theatre Museum (including the 2007 Theatre Museum Awards Gala) and The St. George’s Society, which features British and American theatre professionals in readings and panels at the National Arts Club in New York. These monthly events are hosted by Jim Dale.  Ms. Astrachan is a member of The Association of Performing Arts Presenters, The League of American Theatres and Producers, The Dramatists Guild, the Advisory Board of Theatre Resources Unlimited and BAFTA East Coast (British Academy of film and Television Arts).  She is also a graduate of CTI (The Commercial Theatre Institute)

As a writer: She is working with Dancer/Choreographer Carmen de Lavallade on the book of a new jazz musical, tentatively titled Summer.  It has been read at Lincoln Center and at The York Theatre and will receive a new staged reading in the fall of 2008.

As a performer:  She wrote, produced and performed five one-woman shows, in New York at The Plaza Hotel, The Oak Room of The Algonquin Hotel and The National Arts Club as well as in London at the Jermyn Street Theatre, Pizza on the Park and Centre Stage.

In Her Early Career:  She was Stills Editor and Head of the Stills Department of Twentieth Century Fox—and subsequently Vice President of Optronics Library, a pioneer in Video Cassette programming, where she originated programming and negotiated international rights.

As a Freelance Photographer and Writer:  She was published in New York Times Sunday Magazine, Show, Show Business Illustrated, Popular Photography, Modern Photography and others.  She had her first national magazine story published at the age of 21.

top

Robert R. Blume, Producer

In his 11th year as Presenter/Executive Producer of the annual Drama Desk Awards, Mr. Blume is a longtime producer of commercial live entertainment and broadcast events.  He serves as President of the production/consulting firm, Blume Media Group Ltd.  Under his guidance, the Drama Desk Awards has grown in stature and prestige and is regarded by many in the industry as the ‘Golden Globes’ of the theatre, as well as the televised precursor to the annual Tony Awards broadcast several weeks later.  Last year’s 52nd Annual Awards show was hosted by Broadway/Film/TV star Kristin Chenoweth, and televised nationally on PBS for the fourth consecutive year.  Previous hosts have included Harvey Fierstein, Bernadette Peters, Chita Rivera, Lily Tomlin, Rue McClanahan and Bebe Neuwirth.

Mr. Blume is currently a producer on both a new musical in development based on the music catalog of  legendary composer Jule Styne and a new musical starting in the Regionals called Earthlings, by Grammy nominated composer Earl Wilson Jr. He also serves as consulting producer on both the $14.5 million Australian musical, Angels (Broadway debut in 2008) and the new tour of the long-running family musical revue based on the Cotton Club, Shades of Harlem.

Previous producing ventures include the musical Long Road Home, starring Brenda Braxton (Smokey Joe’s Café, Dreamgirls) at the Hudson Guild Theatre, NYC; a co-production of the Off-Broadway comedy, Me And Jezaebel; Legends in Concert at what is now the Hilton Theatre, NYC; of Coming Of Age, staged by Tony Tanner, Los Angeles; The Head, directed by former Love Boat star Lauren Tewes; Slask, The National Folk Ballet of Poland (28 cities in the U.S. and Canada) and the Broadway limited engagements of Manny, The Edward G, Robinson Story and Marlowe.  Previously, Mr. Blume was the executive producer of the 1992 Cannes Film Festival entry, Looping.  He was the associate producer of the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon in New York, Entertainment director for the National Fitness Foundation Awards ceremony honoring former President Richard M. Nixon and IBM Chief Executive, John Akers; producer of corporate events for Lot Airlines, IBM Int’l Marketing Group, Bonwit Teller and others.

Mr. Blume’s career began during his college years as an NBC Page and as a production staff member of The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson.  He is a current member of NATAS (National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences), the National Arts Club, The Players Club and The Lambs Club and the League of American Theatres and Producers for which he has served on the Public Relations committee during his 20-year membership.

top

Heather Duke, Producer

As a producer, Heather Duke’s last Broadway venture was working on the successful Little Women starring Maureen McGovern and Sutton Foster.  

Off Broadway:  Ms. Duke’s credits include Annie Reiner's reading of The New Living Room at the American Place Theatre with Joe Bologna and Renee Taylor and a Showcase of A Tale of Two Cities, the Musical.

Regional credits: A Mad Hatters Tea, Peter and the Wolf, with Ellen Burstyn; Truman Capote's A Christmas Memory with Patricia Neal; For the Maxwell Anderson Centennial, she conceived and co-produced Memories of Max, a documentary featuring Helen Hayes and Burgess Meredith. She produced the World Premiere of A Tale of Two Cities, the Musical at the Helen Hayes Performing Arts Center in Nyack.

She is the founder and president of a 25- year old full service agency, Duke Marketing, Inc., providing public relations, publishing, advertising, marketing services for major special events, theatrical productions and tourism promotion.

Special & Fundraising Events: A celebration at the Kennedy Gallery starring Rockland County Executive Scott Vanderhoef and Mayor Guiliani, with Elaine Stritch and Arlene Dahl; Speakeasy...and all that Jazz! a benefit held in a pre-Civil War factory honoring Mandy Patinkin and Lorraine Bracco; New York Philomusica and George Plimpton; Twelve Birthday Parties for Helen Hayes, both regionally and at the Plaza and Algonquin Hotels IN NYC; Celebrity Softball with "Mr. G”; auctions at Sardi's with Len Cariou and at the New York City Armory with Faith Prince;  Cabaret & Lecture Series featuring advisor to Presidents Clinton and Carter, Leon Charney, Betty Friedan and MAC Award winners K.T. Sullivan, Richard Skipper, Sue Matsuki and John Wallowitch; Rockland County’s first International Dance and Music Festival, a week-long ethnic event featuring dancers from around the world and "Springfest in Nyack”, a juried crafts street fair.

Memberships:  Ms. Duke is a member of The League of American Theatres and Producers, Theatre Resources Unlimited, and ConsERT ( Consolidated Eastern Regional Theatres ).
           
Recognition Awards: “I love NY” Award for Best Travel Guide in NYS - 2005, Big W Silver Designers Award for designing the Helen Hayes Commemorative Book, a Chair Plaque for her years of devoted service to the Helen Hayes Performing Arts Center and "Woman of the Year" from the Business & Professional Women’s Club of Rockland and most recently was one of ten to receive an “Honor Our Heroes” award.

top

Kristine Lewis/Jamie Fox, Producers

Kristine Lewis was managing producer on Burleigh Grime$ (Off-Broadway) and an associate producer on Enchanted April (Broadway). With partner Jamie Fox, she is a producer on Vigil, opening at Westport Playhouse in February, followed by a New York production.  Ms. Lewis has produced new works under the umbrella of the Bucks County Regional Theatre Company.  Her career spans performing, directing, producing and teaching throughout the U.S. and London. She is the founder and artistic director of the Theatre Arts Center (TAC). TAC productions have appeared regularly for the past 17 years in regional theatres including Bristol Riverside Theatre, Sellersville Theatre, Bucks County Playhouse, Pearl S. Buck International and in New York at Queensborough Performing Arts Center.

In 2000, Ms. Lewis and Ms. Fox established Lewis & Fox Casting, an agency that casts live, film, commercial and industrial productions.

Theatrical Credits: The up-coming Sherman Brothers musical, MerryGoRound (Broadway), The 5000 Fingers of Dr. T., with Eric McCormack (Broadway) and Vigil with Timothy Busfield (Regional);  Burleigh Grime$ with Wendie Malick, Nancy Anderson and Mark Moses; Medea in Jerusalem, It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Murder, The Most Happy Fella;  Flights of Angels, The Kid From Brooklyn (Regional); They have cast numerous readings for the Nuyorican’s 5th Night series and The Player’s Club First Course, including the recent Timor Mortis with John Heard and Modern Man with Maxwell Caulfield, Kathleen McNenny and Becky Ann Baker.  Their live events work includes celebrity casting for the Olympic Torch Services.

In 2005, they cast the feature film Love Ludlow, which became a Sundance Selection as well as cult favorite. Other credits include: E-Day with Chevy Chase (film short for NY Comedy Film Festival); Pet the Goat (film short); Chaining the Hudson (Docudrama); Biker Billy (TV pilot); Feel It in the Air, Gotta Have It (music videos for Roc-A-Fella Records), numerous commercials and industrials.

top

Joanna Kerry, Producer

Joanna Kerry’s professional background as an actress and entertainer, led her to establish and operate the successful Event/Production Company, Showstoppers Entertainment.  Showstoppers creates prestigious galas for fortune 500 companies, charity events, holiday parties, award dinners, and private functions.

As a Real Estate Broker, with many showbiz luminaries on her client roster, she incorporates her knowledge and experience with her Event Company. As a location expert, she opens doors to ballrooms, elegant mansions, castles, and fabulous yachts.

Professional Performer: Regional musical theater including Westbury Music Theatre; Carousel with Robert Goulet; Fiddler on the Roof with Hershel Bernardi and Electric God at the Bijou Theater; Band work throughout Florida as a singer, booking agent, and consultant. Films: Godfather II, Stuart Little, Marathon Man, Unfaithful  (Richard Gere), and Industrials for Colter Pharmaceuticals, Baxter Medical, The Milliken Breakfast Show etc. Television Soap Opera: Appearances in As The World Turns, One Life To Live and All My Children. Commercials: Ban Roll On, Dunhill Cigarettes, Ragu Spaghetti Sauce, Prince Spaghetti, and Ford Motors. Voice-overs for Napa Auto Parts, Pritikin Longevity Center, and many others. She studied voice with famed opera coach, Carlo Menotti.

Ms. Kerry is a Graduate of The LaGuardia High School (Performing Arts- Drama) and New York University. Born in Brooklyn, New York, she grew up in a show business family. She is related to Gertrude Berg of the television show, The Goldbergs, Comedian Ben Blue, .and the one and only….Joan Rivers.  She is member of Actor’s Equity, The Screen Actor’s Guild and Local 802.

top

Niko Companies, LTD General Management

Niko Companies, LTD is a theatrical management company formed by its president, Manny Kladitis in 1988.  Recent productions include national tours of the Tony Award winning  Billy Crystal 700 Sundays and I Am My Own Wife.  Other recent credits include Marc Salem’s Mind Games on Broadway and producing and managing the national tour of Best Little Whorehouse In Texas starring Ann-Margret.

Broadway and Off-Broadway credits: Right You Are, Portraits, The Persians, Amour, Arturo UII  starring Al Pacino, Judgment at Nuremberg, Jekyll and Hyde, Saturday Night Fever, The Ride Down Mt. Morgan  by Arthur Miller, Fascinating Rhythm, The Life, Sandra Bernhard,  I’m Still Here…Damn It!, Victor Victoria starring Julie Andrews, Steel Pier, Taking Sides, The Gin Game  starring Julie Harris and Charles Durning, The Sunshine Boys, Hello Dolly! starring Carol Channing,  She Loves Me, The Kentucky Cycle, Solitary Confinement starring Stacy Keach, and Man of La Mancha starring Raul Julia and Sheena Easton. 

 top

Springer Associates (SAPR) Public Relations

Springer Associates (SAPR)  is a full service entertainment public relations firm, representing a range of clients from theatre, film releases, film festivals, personalities, and events. Among the shows they represent are the upcoming Broadway productions of Treasure Island, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof  and Busker Alley (Jim Dale).  SAPR has represented Tony winners M Butterfly and Side Man. Recent credits include: Broadway's Hot Feet, numerous off-Broadway productions including Gazillion Bubble Show  (NYC & Las Vegas) , NTDTV's Holiday Wonders (The Beacon Theatre), Chinese New Year Spectacular (Radio City Music Hall), A Kid’s Life and C.S. Lewis's Screwtape Letters. Theatre companies include: The Actors Company Theatre, TADA! Youth Theatre, The Actors Company Theatre, Broken Watch Theatre, Babel Theatre Company AMAS, Gotham Stage Company, Cell Theatre Company, and Our Time Theatre Company. For film, Springer has brought their PR expertise to the recently released O' Jerusalem, the documentaries  Rape of Europa and The Kind of King: A Fistful of Quarters, The Treatment, Macbeth, as well as The Sarasota Film Festival, Hamptons International Film Festival, High Falls Film Festival, and The Other Israel Film Festival.

top

Jerold L. Couture, Esq. Production Counsel

Jerold L. Couture, Esq.,Production Counsel
Fitelson, Lasky, Aslan & Couture

Photos from the York Theatre Benefit.
Copyright © 2006 by Douglas Craib.
Jim Dale • Sherman Brothers • Tony WaltonAJ Carothers
HomeProduction Team • History • SynopsisContact Us