51: Producing on Broadway with Irene Gandy

Artistic Finance

The difference between producing and investing with Broadway press agent and producer Irene Gandy.

We discuss what a Broadway producer is and does, and find out the difference between a lead producer, associate producer, co-producer, and investor.

Some notable accomplishments of Irene’s career are that she is the only Black female member of the Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers on Broadway. She is a Tony-Award winning producer. She produced Lady Day At Emerson Bar and Grill starring Audra MacDonald. In 2008, she became the first female press agent to get a Sardis caricature. And on top of this all, she launched the Irene Gandy Fur Collection which was featured in Vogue Magazine.

At the bottom of this notes section is the FULL bio.

Irene's Instagram @iam_irenegandy:

https://www.instagram.com/iam_irenegandy/

Irene's Sardi's caricature:

https://www.broadway.com/photos/publicist-extraordinaire-irene-gandy-gets-her-very-own-sardis-caricature/

Jeffrey Richards - Broadway Producer Irene works with:

https://www.jeffreyrichardsassociates.com/

Mira Gandy - Artist (and Irene's daughter):

https://www.miragandyart.com/

Romare Bearden - Artist Irene likes:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romare_Bearden

Scott Rudin - Broadway Producer:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Rudin

Broadway's Best Shows - produced by Jeffrey Richard:

https://www.broadwaysbestshows.com/

Frank DiLella - NYC Theatre Journalist - Friend of Irene's:

http://www.frankdilella.com/about-frank/

Mirrors - A Play:

https://www.nytw.org/show/mirrors/

...

Interview by Ethan Steimel

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Irene Gandy is the only Black female member of ATPAM (Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers) on Broadway. 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 . 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 centered around her life being the 1st African-American woman Press Agent and Producer on Broadway for over 50 years . Gandy’s recent productions include The Great Society, starring Brian Cox, 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 , August Osage County starring Phylicia Rashad ,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. Gandy is the recipient of the 1997 National Action Network’s “Woman of Excellence Award” the 2007 Vanguard Award from Black to Broadway Productions, the 2004 Black Public Relations Society Award, 2013 “Inspire in New York” Award, 2015 Pioneer Award for BLACK PRIDE NYC and the 2015 Café Mocha “Salute Her” “Media Legend Award.” In 2017, She was the received the following Awards "Project 1 Voice Lifetime Achievement" for outstanding achievements and vision to artistic excellence in the American Theater; "HARLEM WEEK Vivian Robinson Arts and Culture; and "Life Changers" presented by WNBA players Teresa Weatherspoon and Rita Haywood for inspiring, transforming, and empowering others. In 2018 she was honored with Vivian Robinson/AUDELCO "Pioneer Award" for Recognition Awards for Excellence in Black Theatre. In 2019 she was honored with the NAACP-LGBQT David Weaver Prize for Excellence in the Arts. 2020 Gandy was inducted into New York Public Lincoln Center Performing Arts Library as part of The League of Professional Theatre Women’s Oral History Project. Currently serves on the boards of City College for the Arts, HARLEM WEEK and is the mother of renowned artist Mira Gandy who created The Gandy Art House (designed to provide creative opportunities for Youth, Family and the LGBTQ community) as a tribute to her family and legacy.