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Ken Davenport

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For the England international footballer, see Kenny Davenport.

Ken Davenport
Davenport in October 2020
Born
Kenneth Anjum Hasija

(1972-08-23) August 23, 1972 (age 52)
Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Alma materNew York University, Tisch School of Arts
Occupation(s)Writer, Producer
Years active1993-present
Spouse
Tracy Weiler
​
(m. 2014)​
Websitekendavenport.com

Ken Davenport (born Kenneth Anjum Hasija, August 23, 1972)[1] is a two-time Tony Award-winning[2] theatre producer, blogger, and writer. He is best known for his production work on Broadway.

Early life

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Davenport was born in Phoenix, Arizona to Dr. Kenny Hasija and Pamela Soper (née Davenport). He grew up in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, and attended the Bancroft School in Worcester, Massachusetts. He attended Johns Hopkins University for one year with the intention of practicing law, before transferring to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. He graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting. [citation needed]

Davenport began his professional theater career by working as a production assistant on the 1993 Broadway revival of My Fair Lady starring Richard Chamberlain. Before he began his producing career, he established himself as a company and general manager, working on shows such as Grease, Show Boat, Ragtime, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Gypsy.[citation needed]

Career

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Davenport founded the company Davenport Theatrical Enterprises (DTE) in 2004, and has created, produced, and managed Broadway shows.[1] His first ventures as a producer were the three Off-Broadway shows The Awesome 80s Prom, Altar Boyz, and My First Time, which he also wrote.[3] Davenport's first Broadway credit as a producer was 13, and since then he has produced over 20 Broadway shows, including the first Broadway revival of Godspell, the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Kinky Boots, and Deaf West Theatre's Spring Awakening.[4]

Since its founding, Davenport Theatrical Enterprises has expanded to other areas of the theater business including Broadway Genius Group Sales, a group sales agency for Broadway and Off-Broadway shows; DTE Agency, a theatrical marketing agency; and DTE Management, a general management division. In 2019, DTE Management relaunched as Architect Theatrical.[5] Additionally, DTE launched Did He Like It?, a review aggregator for New York Times chief theatre critic Ben Brantley and Davenport is the creator of Be a Broadway Star, the only Broadway-themed board game. Did He Like It was sold in 2018.[6]

Davenport's television and film credits include the documentary These Magnificent Miles: On the Road with Red Wanting Blue, and The Bunny Hole, an award-winning television pilot that has appeared in the LA Indie Film Festival, the Orlando Film Festival, the LA Comedy Festival and more.[7]

He managed and owned the Davenport Theatre, an Off-Broadway theater in Manhattan's Theater District until its January 2019 closure.[8].[9] The Davenport Theatre had two performance spaces, a 149-seat main stage on the ground level, and a 60-seat blackbox theater on the upper level. Davenport named the theater after his great-grandfather, Delbert Essex Davenport, who was a theater producer, publicist, author and lyricist in the early 1900s

Other activities

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Davenport was named one of Crain's "40 Under 40",[10] and received the 2010 Leonidas A. Nickole Award of Distinction from the Musical Theatre Society of Emerson College.[11] He won the 2008 Spirit of Theatre Award from Theatre Resources Unlimited,[12] and his television pilot The Bunny Hole has been honored at the Orlando Film Festival, the IndieFEST Film Awards, and more.[13]

Davenport has taught “Acting As A Business” for America Online,[14] and his marketing techniques have been profiled in the New York Times.[15] Davenport was a member of the BMI Librettist Workshop and is a founding member of the Independent Theater Bloggers Association.[16]

Davenport is a member of The Broadway League and the Off Broadway League.

Productions

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Awards and nominations

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  • 2018: Tony Award, Best Revival of a Musical, Once on This Island (winner)[2]
  • 2018: Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Revival of a Musical, Once on This Island (nominee)[2]
  • 2017: Tony Award, Best Musical, Groundhog Day (nominee)[2]
  • 2016: Tony Award, Best Revival of a Musical, Spring Awakening (nominee)[2]
  • 2016: Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Revival of a Musical, Spring Awakening (nominee)[2]
  • 2016: Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Musical, Daddy Long Legs (nominee)[2]
  • 2015: Tony Award, Best Musical, The Visit (nominee)[2]
  • 2015: Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Musical, The Visit (nominee)[2]
  • 2014: Tony Award, Best Play, Mothers and Sons (nominee)[2]
  • 2014: Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Musical, The Bridges of Madison County (nominee)[2]
  • 2013: Tony Award, Best Musical, Kinky Boots (winner)[2]
  • 2013: Broadway.com Audience Choice Award, Favorite Play Revival, Macbeth (winner)
  • 2012: Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Play, Chinglish (nominee)[2]
  • 2012: Broadway.com Audience Choice Award, Favorite Musical Revival, Godspell (winner)
  • 2009: Tony Award nominee, Best Special Theatrical Event, Will Ferrell's You're Welcome America (nominee)[2]
  • 2009: Broadway.com Audience Choice Award, Favorite Long-Running Off-Broadway Show, Altar Boyz (winner)
  • 2009: Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Revival of a Play, Blithe Spirit (nominee)[2]
  • 2005: Drama Desk Award, Outstanding New Musical, Altar Boyz (nominee)[2]
  • 2005: Outer Critics Circle Award, Outstanding Off Broadway Musical, Altar Boyz (winner)
  • 2005: Lucille Lortel Award, Outstanding Musical, Altar Boyz (nominee)

References

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  1. ^ a b Semon, Craig S. (May 13, 2009). "'Awesome' success:Tony nominations piling up for Sturbridge-born theater producer". Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Worcester, MA.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Ken Davenport- Broadway Cast & Staff Awards". Internet Broadway Database. 2019.
  3. ^ "Lortel Archives--The Internet Off-Broadway Database". www.lortel.org. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  4. ^ "Ken Davenport | IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  5. ^ BWW News Desk. "Architect Theatrical, New Theatre General Management Office Announced With Ryan Conway". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  6. ^ Musbach, Julie. "Mike Karns & Greg Nobile Acquire Theater Review Website 'Did He Like It". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  7. ^ "Ken Davenport". IMDb. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  8. ^ Gans, Andrew (February 11, 2019). "Off-Broadway's Davenport Theatre Closes Its Doors".
  9. ^ "The Davenport Theatre".
  10. ^ Crain's 40 Under 40 - 2008
  11. ^ "Musical Theatre Society presents Leonidas A. Nickole Award of Distinction to Broadway producer Ken Davenport". Emerson College. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  12. ^ "TRU Love Benefit 08". Theatre Resources Unlimited. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  13. ^ "The Bunny Hole". The Bunny Hole Show. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  14. ^ Pincus-Roth, Zachary (April 25, 2007). "Davenport and Weiner Create Interactive Theater Worldwide". Playbill. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  15. ^ Healy, Patrick (June 25, 2013). "Dialing Up a Hit? Influence Over Musical Is in the Crowd's Hands". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  16. ^ "StageBuzz.com: Announcement - Independent Theater Bloggers Association Award Winners Announced". www.stagebuzz.com. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  17. ^ Wild, Stephi. "Erika Henningsen Will Lead World Premiere of New Musical JOY Opening in December at George Street Playhouse". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  18. ^ "Shows | George Street Playhouse". georgestreetplayhouse.org. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  19. ^ "Joy the Musical, Starring Erika Henningsen, Completes World-Premiere Casting | TheaterMania". www.theatermania.com. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  20. ^ "Harmony: A New Musical • TKTS Now On Sale!". National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  21. ^ Bonazzo, John (August 16, 2018). "Here's How Broadway Marketers Use Deceptive Tactics to Make Their Shows Look Better". Observer. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
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