213 - Irene Gandy

The Producer's Perspective Podcast with Ken Davenport

IRENE GANDY is the only Black female member of ATPAM (Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers) on Broadway. She has been a press agent works with Jeffrey Richards Associates. She is a Tony-Award winning producer on Broadway for The Gershwin’s' Porgy and Bess and was a producer for Lady Day At Emerson Bar and Grill starring Audra MacDonald. She was also co -producer with Voza Rivers of the National tour of the South-African musical Serafina. She currently serves on the board of City College for the Arts, HARLEM WEEK and The New Heritage Theatre. In 2008, she became the first female press agent to be immortalized with a Sardis caricature. Gandy recently launched the Irene Gandy Fur Collection designed by Mr. Pete and was featured in the 2015 August issue of Vogue Magazine. "A Day in the Life Irene Gandy" a documentary is being produced that will center around her life being the 1st African-American women Press Agent and Producer on Broadway for over 50 years. She was recently inducted into New York Public Library Lincoln Center Performing Arts Library.

Gandy’s recent productions include American Son starring Kerry Washington China Doll starring Al Pacino, Fiddler on the Roof ,You Can't Take It With You, starring James Earl Jones and Sylvia starring Matthew Broderick. Gandy began her career in 1968 as a publicist with Douglas Turner Ward and Robert Hooks’ Negro Ensemble Company. Since then, she has worked on over 100 Broadway shows including , Glengarry Glen Ross, Radio Golf, Bubbling Brown Sugar, Smokey Joe’s Care, Lena Horne: The Lady and her Music, Patti LaBelle on Broadway, The Wiz. In addition to her work in theatre, she was Associate Director of Special Markets for CBS Records, working with such artists as Earth, Wind and Fire, The Jacksons, Patti Labelle, The Isley Brothers, and many others. Gandy was the Press Consultant for the National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta and the 30th Anniversary of Harlem Week.

She currently serves on the board of City College for the Arts, HARLEM WEEK and The New Heritage Theatre. In 2008, she became the first female press agent to be immortalized with a Sardis caricature. Gandy recently launched the Irene Gandy Fur Collection designed by Mr. Pete and was featured in the 2015 August issue of Vogue Magazine. "A Day in the Life Irene Gandy" a documentary is being produced that will center around her life being the 1st African-American women Press Agent and Producer on Broadway for over years.

And this week’s #SongwriterOfTheWeek is Michael Sobie! If you enjoyed the outro song in this episode, go on over to www.michaelsobie.com or check him out on Facebook.

Enjoy and thank you for coming back to our new season!

Keep up with me @KenDavenportBway on Instagram.

Check out my blog for daily content: www.theproducersperspective.com

This episode was produced by Mary Dina.

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