Westbeth Entertainment
Timeline
WestBeth Entertainment
Arnold Engelman - President, is a creative development and producing organization that for 30 years has successfully and consistently produced critically acclaimed work in comedy, theatre and other performing arts.
1977:
WestBeth Theatre Center, Inc., not for profit producing organization, is formed with Arnold Engelman as the Producing Director and moves into 151 Bank Street.
1979:
BIG ROOM MONDAY NIGHT begins showcasing many new and diverse talents including David Cale, Quincy Long, Jonathan Katz, Fights R Us, Marc Shaiman, Paul Zaloom.
1980:
John Turturro and Michael Badalucco team up in the WestBeth production of STEEL ON STEEL by Brandon Cole. Many years later John directs and produces this play as a movie.
1981:
WestBeth Theatre Center produces LIMBO TALES by Len Jenkins and is awarded three OBIE Awards for the production.
1987:
TANGO APPASIONADA conceived and directed by Graciela Daniele opens in the Big Room for a sold out 8 week run prior to its commercial transfer to Broadway under the title DANGEROUS GAMES.
1987:
Daryl Hannah makes her stage debut in a new American play OUT IN AMERICA by Katie Ford. Also in the cast was an unknown actor by the name of Stephen Baldwin.
1988:
THE TAFFETAS become the first production to open in the first floor Music Hall and moves to a commercial production Off Broadway at The Cherry Lane Theatre.
1990:
WestBeth Theatre Center produces QUIET ON THE SET prior to its commercial transfer Off-Broadway at the Orpheum Theatre.
1991:
WestBeth Theatre Center produces the original production of Cy Coleman’s THE LIFE directed by Joe Layton. It will later appear on Broadway be nominated for 10 Tony Awards including Best Musical.
1993:
Byron Janis’/Hal Hackaday’s musical version of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME directed by Brian Murray plays the Big Room for one month as the largest showcase contract production ever mounted.
1995:
WestBeth Theatre Center presents Ray Davies as he performs his one man performance piece 20th CENTURY MAN for four weeks in the Music Hall prior to a National Tour.
1996:
John Cameron Mitchell’s HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH is produced by WestBeth Theatre Center prior to its commercial transfer Off Broadway at the Jane Street Theatre.
1997:
WestBeth Theatre Center produces Sandra Bernhard’s I’M STILL HERE…DAMN IT. This production moves to a commercial run on Broadway.
1998:
Eddie Izzard sits down in the Music Hall for DRESS TO KILL’S five month run establishing him as a major star in America. WestBeth Theatre Center presents Eddie in San Francisco and Los Angeles. DRESS TO KILL is filmed in San Francisco and goes on to win two Emmy Awards for writing and performance.
1999:
WestBeth originally produces THWAK in the Studio Theatre and the production is nominated for a Drama Desk Award. It is immediately transferred to a commercial production Off-Broadway at the Minetta Lane and runs for six months. Margaret Cho’s I’M THE ONE THAT I WANT plays 10 sold out weeks in the Music Hall prior to a 40 city national tour.
2000:
Bruce Vilanch’s ALMOST FAMOUS opens in the Music Hall and runs for 10 weeks as he regales his audience with tales of behind the scenes Hollywood. THE LOSER’S LOUNGE moves its tribute to pop icons from The Fez to The Music Hall in a new upgraded version and begins its ongoing residency with WestBeth. WestBeth produces Eddie Izzard’s CIRCLE tour for 12 weeks in 10 North American cities. It finishes in New York with an 8 performance sold out run at Town Hall.
2001:
WestBeth’s joint venture with BBC America begins with the launching of the DEAD FUNNY COMEDY SERIES featuring Bill Bailey and The League of Gentlemen. ARE YOU DAVE GORMAN? opens to rave reviews and plays three months in the Studio Theatre. The show is nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Solo Performance. THERE’S A STRANGER IN THE MANGER!, Kiki and Herb’s annual holiday show, plays to sell out audiences in the Music Hall. Response warrants productions in Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and London.
2002:
WestBeth’s relationship with BBC America continues with BBC AMERICA COMEDY LIVE with the New York Premiere of GRAHAM NORTON: RED-HANDED and the return of BILL BAILEY: BEWILDERNESS.
2003:
GRAHAM NORTON: RED-HANDED returns for sold out engagements in NY, Chicago, LA, and San Francisco. WIGFIELD, a staged reading of the book by Amy Sedaris, Stephen Colbert and Paul Dinello, plays 9 U.S. cities to sold out houses. KIKI AND HERB: COUP DE THEATRE completes a successful run at the Cherry Lane Theatre garnering critical acclaim. WestBeth produces Eddie Izzard’s SEXIE, selling out in 16 cities throughout North America.
2004:
WestBeth makes a temporary home at the Village Theatre in Greenwich Village, producing THE BRITISH/IRISH COMEDY INVASION, COLIN HAY: MAN AT WORK, MORT SAHL, DYLAN MORAN: MONSTER, TOMMY TIERNAN: CRACKED, and DAVE GORMAN’S GOOGLEWHACK! ADVENTURE. WestBeth also goes on a 14 city tour with poet/publishing magnate Felix Dennis in the DID I MENTION THE FREE WINE? tour.
2005:
WestBeth starts off 2005 with a bang, bringing BILLY CONNOLLY: TOO OLD TO DIE YOUNG to NY and Philadelphia for four sold-out shows. WestBeth also executive produces THE FAMILY GUY LIVE in New York and Los Angeles for 20th Century Fox and Just For Laughs. WBE makes its Carnegie Hall debut presenting LEWIS BLACK: NOTHING’S SACRED and produces a workshop production of GURU PITKA written and starring Mike Myers. In addition, WestBeth continues to tour DAVE GORMAN’S GOOGLEWHACK! ADVENTURE across the country and brings Graham Norton back to NY for a limited run of his show KNOW ALL. WestBeth ends the year producing rising star, Demetri Martin’s, show THESE ARE JOKES at the Village Theatre.
2006:
WestBeth picks up 2006 where it left off in 2005, producing Demetri Martin in Chicago for five sold-out performances. WestBeth then plays Tinsel Town, producing TOMMY TIERNAN: LOOSE and BILL BAILEY: PART TROLL at UCLA Live, both to critical acclaim. In the spring, WestBeth produces its biggest New York show in years, a sold-out six week run of BILLY CONNOLLY LIVE! at 37 Arts Theatre. Tommy Tiernan returns to New York in July, bringing LOOSE to the Actor’s Playhouse for a six week run, before taking the show to the Mercury Theatre in Chicago a few months later. WestBeth ends the year promoting a sold-out tour of BILLY CONNOLLY LIVE! across nine cities in Canada.