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Tom D'Angora

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Tom D'Angora
Born (1979-01-13) January 13, 1979 (age 45)
Boston, MA
NationalityAmerican
OccupationProducer
Spouse
​
(m. 2012)​
Websitehttps://TomDangora.com

Tom D'Angora is an American producer who has received a Tony nomination, an Emmy nomination, three Drama Desk nominations, an Off-Broadway Alliance Award, and a special "Friends of off-Broadway Award" from the Off-Broadway Alliance. His Broadway credits include co-producer of the 2021 revival of Caroline, or Change, Harmony, How to Dance in Ohio, Suffs, and the 2024 revival of Cabaret.

Off-Broadway credits include lead producer of Walking With Bubbles, Newsical The Musical, Naked Boys Singing!, The Marvelous Wonderettes, A Musical About Star Wars, Back In Pictures, the Backstage Bistro Award-winning Divas I've Done and A Broadway Diva Christmas.

Between Dec 2020 and July 2021 D'Angora produced several virtual fundraiser concerts to save local theaters. This included The West Bank Cafe/Laurie Beechman Theatre, the Birdland, The LABrynth Theatre, and The York Theatre, as well as campaigns for The Theatre World Awards and The Stonewall Inn Safe Spaces.[1]

Early career

[edit]

D'Angora starred in the controversial 2001 Provincetown production of Naked Boys Singing and in 2007 took over the producing responsibilities.[2] He produced and directed the 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012 productions with Duling.[3] In addition to Naked Boys Singing he has also brought such acts as Golden Girls Rue McClanahan, Ellen Greene, Christine Pedi, Debbie Does Dallas: the Musical, and ICONS: drag extravaganza which has transferred to an Off-Broadway run in 2011.[4]

D'Angora's first foray into producing was with his one-man show titled Divas I've Done[5] that started at Don't Tell Mama's, transferred to LA's Room 5 Lounge, played the 2004 summer season in Provincetown, MA, and eventually played Off-Broadway. The show won D'Angora the Backstage Bistro Award for Best Musical Comedy.[6] [7] In 2005, D'Angora and his now husband Michael Duling, brought Greene as well as recording artist Maya Days, Kathy Brier, Marla Schaffel, and Christine Pedi together for the seasonal musical revue A Broadway Diva Christmas.[8]

Career

[edit]

In 2010 D'Angora began producing responsibilities of NEWSical: the Musical, the ever evolving Off-Broadway musical which spoofs newsmakers, celebrities, politicians, and pop culture trends.[9] The show was nominated for Drama Desk Awards for the 2010 edition, titled "We Distort You Decide". The 2011 edition, "Full Spin Ahead!", was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Best Musical Revue [10] and won the Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best New Musical.[11] in 2012 D'Angora opened his third consecutive edition of NEWSical titled "End of the World Edition" which was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Best Musical Revue.

In 2012 D'Angora announced that NEWSical would have a rotating cast of celebrity guest stars appearing. Celebrity guest stars included Perez Hilton, Andrea McArdle, Cheri Oteri, Carson Kressley, Jackee Harry, Kandi Burruss and La Toya Jackson. By the end of its run in 2019 at Theatre Rows Kirk Theater it was the longest running show in the theater complex and the 5th longest running off-Broadway musical.[12] During the Covid-19 pandemic, NEWSical was the only union approved NYC based production to perform when it did a socially distanced, one-night only, engagement at The Lied Center For Performing Arts in Lincoln, NE. The show was later live streamed as a benefit for The Actors Fund of America.[13]

In 2012, D'Angora took over producing and general management responsibilities for Naked Boys Singing! after having produced several versions of the show in Provincetown. In 2021 he opened a production of the show in Las Vegas. Originally set to star Aaron Carter, the production and the star parted ways due to breach of contract involving the star not wanting to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The production opened a few weeks after originally planned without Carter.[14]

D'Angora served as lead producer of the 2016 revival of The Marvelous Wonderettes.[15] The productions run surpassed the original production and after 567 performances closed on January 6, 2019.[16]

On May-The-Fourth, 2019 D'Angora opened the musical comedy A Musical About Star Wars. The show-within-a-show follows two "Star Wars nerds" as they attempt to put on a Star Wars tribute musical only to have their co-star interrupt their performance with a political protest. The show transferred from its original home at Theatre Row to a larger venue, St. Luke's Theater, shortly after opening.[17] The show's cast album was later released on Broadway Records.[18]

Addy & Uno was D'Angora's first foray into children's entertainment. It was the first Off-Broadway family musical to address disability. The show centered around a group of friends with various disabilities (Autism, ADHD, Low-Vision, Cerebral Palsy) as they encourage their friend Uno to overcome his nerves and compete in the school's math competition.[19] The show as nominated for the Off-Broadway Alliance Award.[20]

D'Angora made his Broadway debut as a co-producer on the Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of Caroline, Or Change.[21]

Television and streaming

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D'Angora created and produced the drama, Mélange, which starred Morgan Fairchild. The show was inspired by his love of ABC daytime soaps One Life to Live, All My Children, and the prime time camp-class Dynasty.[22] The pilot episode premiered on Logo TV's digital platforms on May 20, 2020.[23]

On December 25, 2020 D'Angora served as producer for an all-star "Christmas Day Telethon" to Save The West Bank Cafe and Laurie Beechman Theatre.[24] The event was attached to a GoFundMe which brought in over $300,000 for the venue which was in debt from the pandemic which shut down Broadway.[25]

A few weeks later, he with Michael D'Angora and Tim Guinee produced another fundraiser and streaming event to save the historic jazz club Birdland.[26] The concert featured President Bill Clinton, Clive Davis, Wynton Marsalis, Veronica Swift, Sting, Whoopi Goldberg, George Coleman, Ravi Coltrane, Norm Lewis, Lillias White.[27]

D'Angora has appeared in reality television shows Real Housewives of Atlanta (Bravo), Life with La Toya (OWN), and Edens World (Logo).[citation needed] NEWSical and D'Angora were the subject of a full episode of Life with La Toya in 2014. D'Angora has also worked in film serving as a co producer on The Big Gay Musical and Executive producer on Mangus.

Awards and honors

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NEWSical The Musical won the first annual Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best Musical in 2011.[28] It was nominated for The Drama Desk Awards in 2011 for Best Revue and Best Lyrics [29]

December 12, 2021 was declared "Tom and Michael D'Angora Appreciation Day" by the NY State Senate to commemorate the day they began their charitable fundraising for theatrical venues affected by the pandemic and for their work advocating for LGBTQ+ Equality.[30]

References

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  1. ^ "Branding The Producers Who Care".
  2. ^ Provincetown Banner.
  3. ^ Provincetown Magazine
  4. ^ Broadwayworld.com, Nov 14th, 2011
  5. ^ Playbill.com, The Leading Men, Dec 1 2003
  6. ^ Cabaret Hotline Online
  7. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Confessions of a Broadway Fan" playbill.com, July 7, 2005
  8. ^ Invoking the Touch of a Diva: Holiday Favorites with Wit, Neil Genzlinger, The New York Times, Dec 21, 2005
  9. ^ Gans, Andrew."Bianco, West, O'Malley, Griffin and Walker Will Join Pedi in Off-Broadway Return of NEWSical the Musical" playbill.com, November 10, 2009
  10. ^ DramaDesk.com
  11. ^ offbroadwayalliance.com/awards/
  12. ^ "Long Runs Off and Off-Off Broadway".
  13. ^ "Christine Pedi and Christina Bianco join Actors Fund benefit of NEWSical".
  14. ^ "Aaron Carter sacked from Naked Boys Singing. Here are the Famous Gays Taking Over..."
  15. ^ "The Marvelous Wonderettes Opens Tonight".
  16. ^ "The Marvelous Wonderettes to Close Off-Broadway".
  17. ^ "A Musical About Star Wars".
  18. ^ "A MUSICAL ABOUT STAR WARS Cast Album to be Released in November".
  19. ^ "Addy & Uno: Musical starring characters with disabilities spreads message of kindness".
  20. ^ "Nominees Announced for 8th Annual Off Broadway Alliance Awards".
  21. ^ "Caroline, Or Change".
  22. ^ "Morgan Fairchild to Lead LGBTQ TV Drama 'Mélange' (EXCLUSIVE)".
  23. ^ "Logo Premieres Pilot for Campy New LGBTQ Soap Drama "Mélange"".
  24. ^ Bahr, Sarah (23 December 2020). "With a Beloved Cafe Threatened, Broadway Stars Put on a Show". The New York Times.
  25. ^ "Fundraiser to Save the West Bank Cafe and Laurie Beechman Theater Raises Over $319,000".
  26. ^ "Fundraising Effort Underway to Save 'Birdland'".
  27. ^ "Elvis Costello, Billy Joel, Sting Boost Campaign to Save NYC Jazz Institution Birdland".
  28. ^ "Off-Broadway Alliance Awards".
  29. ^ "Drama Desk Award Winners Announced".
  30. ^ "Broadway Producers Tom and Michael D'Angora Receive Senate Proclamation for Their Charitable Work Benefiting the LGBTQ+ & Broadway Communities".
  • Hamstra, Stu. "'Naked Boy' Wins 2004 Bistro Award & Returns One More Time To Salute His Divas" Cabarat Hotline Online; Jan 1, 2006, SVHamstra.com
  • Wong, Wayman. "The Leading Men" Playbill.com, Dec 1, 2003
  • Gans, Andrew. "Confessions of a Broadway Fan" Playbill.com, July 7, 2005
  • Genzlinger, Neil. "Invoking the Touch of a Diva: Holiday Favorites with Wit" The New York Times, Nov 14, 2005
  • Bragg, Mary Ann. "Crown Emerges Unscathed at 'Naked' Hearing" Provincetown Banner, March 17, 2001, ProvincetownBanner.com
  • Deschroches, Stephen. "ICONS at the Post Office Cabaret", Provincetown Magazine, Aug 13, 2011
  • NewsDesk, "ICONS, the new drag tribute show launches off-broadway", Broadwayworld.com, Nov 14, 2011
  • Deschroches, Stephen. "ICONS at the Post Office Cabaret", Provincetown Magazine, Aug 13, 2011
  • Gans, Andrew. "Bianco, West, O'Malley, Griffin and Walker Will Join Pedi in Off-Broadway Return of NEWSical the Musical" playbill.com, November 10, 2009
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