Freddie Gershon

Freddie Gershon is an American entertainment attorney and author. He is the former president of the Robert Stigwood Group,[1] former co-chairperson of SESAC,[2] and current co-chairperson of Music Theatre International.

Education

Gershon studied classical music at the Juilliard School.[3] He graduated from Columbia Law School in 1964.[4]

Career

Gershon's clients included film director Michael Ritchie, choreographer Ron Field, playwright Tom Eyen, rock band Chicago,[5] drummer Pete Best,[6] and writer Shel Silverstein.[7]

In 1976, Gershon became Robert Stigwood's partner in RSO Records,[8] which he represented on landmark concert tours, including the Broadway production and film Jesus Christ Superstar,[9] as well as Eric Clapton,[10] the Bee Gees,[11] and the financing of Tommy the film.[12]

Later, Gershon partnered with CBS and Allan Carr to produce a breakthrough album for Plácido Domingo, Goya: A Life in Song,[13] as well as the Broadway show, La Cage aux Folles.[14] He also produced Evita,[15] Saturday Night Fever, Grease,[16] and Gallipoli.[17]

Since 2018, Gerson has been co-chairperson of Music Theatre International (MTI), which licenses amateur rights to Broadway shows.[18] At MTI, Gershon developed the Broadway Junior Program, which brings art, theater, dance, and music to children.[19]

Gershon's book Sweetie, Baby, Cookie, Honey, is a roman a clef novel about the music industry of 1960s through 1980s.[20][21][22][23][24]

After Freddie and Myrna Gershon in 2013 tracked the effects of a musical theater program for autistic children, the couple executive produced a 2014 documentary profiling the program, titled Spectrum of Hope, directed by Danny Mendoza.[25]

Gershon's latest project is Broadway Senior, which adapts shows, such as Into the Woods, for senior citizens.[26][27]

Philanthropy

Gershon has been active in charities such as the ArtsConnection, and has served as vice chairperson of the Development Committee for New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.[28]

Gershon also created the Freddie G Fellowship, which each year selects eight theater instructors to attend an all-expenses-paid, four-day trip to New York City to work one-on-one with industry professionals in seminars, master classes, and Broadway shows. Each teacher's school also receives $5,000 from Gershon and his wife, Myrna, to enhance their respective arts programs.[29]

In 2010, Gershon created and funded, with his wife, Myrna, the Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Awards. The awards provide grants to outstanding teachers in the United States.[30][31]

Awards

In 2012 Gershon was awarded a Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre for creating Broadway Junior.[32][33]

The New York Historical Society honored Gershon and his wife, Myrna at the 2013 American Musicals Project Benefit for the couple's philanthropic work benefitting children through performing arts.[34]

Personal life

Gershon lives in New York City with his wife, Myrna.[35]

Gershon grew up in Bayside, NY with his close friend Eddie Birnbaum (who passed away on April 23, 2022) for whom he wrote a long, loving and remarkable New York Times death notice.[36]

Gershon is married to former Screen Gems motion picture marketing executive, Myrna Gershon. She is widely credited as the mastermind behind the creation of Flintstones Chewable Vitamins. Gershon, Freddie (7 October 2010). "Myrna's Prehistoric Journey to Yabba Dabba Do". HuffPost.

References

  1. ^ Gubernick, Lisa (August 24, 1999). "Will Robert Stigwood's Disco Musical Be a Major Comeback or Swan Song?". Wall Street Journal.
  2. ^ Morris, Edward (December 21, 1995). "Taking It to the Stage". Nashville Scene.
  3. ^ "Freddie Gershon". Gawker. February 3, 2008.
  4. ^ "A Writer Shaped by Columbia Law School". Columbia Law School. April 8, 2016.
  5. ^ "Freddie Gershon Blows the Lid Off Rock 'N' Roll With Novel". The Baltimore Sun. May 27, 1986.
  6. ^ "Making Book on the Pop Music Minefield". The Chicago Tribune. October 21, 1986.
  7. ^ "Freddie Gershon Blows the Lid Off Rock 'N' Roll With Novel". The Baltimore Sun. May 27, 1986.
  8. ^ "The Hotshot". Philadelphia Daily News. October 8, 1986.
  9. ^ "Making Book on the Pop Music Minefield". The Chicago Tribune. October 1, 1986.
  10. ^ "Freddie Gershon Blows the Lid Off Rock 'N' Roll With Novel". The Baltimore Sun. May 27, 1986.
  11. ^ "Making Book on the Pop Music Minefield". The Chicago Tribune. October 1, 1986.
  12. ^ "Freddie Gershon: Building the Broadway Audience by Empowering Young Performers". The Tony Awards. June 3, 2012.
  13. ^ "Freddie Gershon: Building the Broadway Audience by Empowering Young Performers". The Tony Awards. June 3, 2012.
  14. ^ "On Stage". The New York Times. September 2, 1988.
  15. ^ "Making Book on the Pop Music Minefield". The Chicago Tribune. October 21, 1986.
  16. ^ "Staging a Play, and Exploring Possibilities". The Los Angeles Times. August 14, 2001.
  17. ^ "The Hotshot". Philadelphia Daily News. October 8, 1986.
  18. ^ "Theater Licenser MTI Elevates Drew Cohen To Global CEO". Deadline. February 21, 2018.
  19. ^ "Broadway Junior® has all the ingredients you need.... Just add kids!". Music Theatre International. February 21, 2018.
  20. ^ Patrick Goldstein (28 September 1986). "2 NOVEL APPROACHES TO ROCK TRUTH". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  21. ^ "SWEETIE BABY COOKIE HONEY Review". Kirkus Reviews. 3 October 1986. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  22. ^ Christopher Schemering (30 November 1986). "Making Beautiful Money Together". Washington Post. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  23. ^ Rea, Steven (7 October 1986). "A PRODUCER'S 'INSIDE' NOVEL ON THE MUSIC BIZ (book review)". Philadelphia Inquirer.
  24. ^ Van Matre, Lynn (21 October 1986). "MAKING BOOK ON THE POP MUSIC MINEFIELD (book review)". Chicago Tribune.
  25. ^ Viswanathan, Vidya (6 April 2015). "Making Theater Autism-Friendly". The Atlantic.
  26. ^ Hetrick, Adam (July 5, 2019). "Into Their 60s and 'Into the Woods'". The New York Times.
  27. ^ Coleman, Nancy (July 12, 2019). "MTI's Broadway Senior Creates Musical Theatre for a New Generation of Performers—the Senior Citizen Generation". Playbill.
  28. ^ "Freddie and Myrna Gershon Transforming Lives and Building Community". ArtsConnection. 28 June 2018.
  29. ^ Arnegger, Sarah Jane (25 August 2017). "What Does It Mean for Teachers to Be Named a Freddie G Fellow?". Playbill.
  30. ^ Healy, Patrick (September 28, 2010). "Kennedy Center to Award Grants in Honor of Sondheim". The New York Times.
  31. ^ Zongker, Brett (September 28, 2010). "Grant program will honor Sondheim, reward teachers". The San Diego Union-Tribune.
  32. ^ Gans, Andrew (12 March 2012). "Recipients of Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre Announced". Playbill.
  33. ^ "Freddie Gershon: Building the Broadway Audience by Empowering Young Performers". tonyawards.com.
  34. ^ Hetrick, Adam (7 May 2013). "NY Historical Society to Honor MTI's Freddie and Myrna Gershon". Playbill.
  35. ^ Kaufman, Joanne (August 9, 2013). "A Getaway Apartment, in Your Own Building". The New York Times.
  36. ^ "EDDIE BIRNBAUM Obituary (2022) New York Times". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2022-04-28.