HIPZEE

HIPZEE

Industry	Entertainment
Founded	2013
Founders	Tara Sickmeier Rob Baunoch III
Website	hipzee.com

HIPZEE is an American entertainment production company co-founded by husband-and-wife team Rob Baunoch III and Tara Sickmeier. The company was formed in Brooklyn, NY in 2013 and is currently based in Los Angeles, CA. HIPZEE produces theatre and on-screen content that targets adult audiences.

Background

After a period of working in the theatre and film industry, Rob Baunoch III and Tara Sickmeier transitioned to executive roles, establishing their own production company, HIPZEE, in 2013.[1]

During the company's initial few years, in addition to production, HIPZEE provided services such as marketing research, consulting, and financing.[1] More recently, it is shifting to a focus on production.

HIPZEE's projects have included the Off-Broadway show HEATHERS: The Musical which was nominated for 'Best New Musical' by the Off-Broadway Alliance in 2014;[2][3] the 2017 Tony-Award-winning musical Natasha, Pierre, & The Great Comet of 1812; and the company's first feature film Above the Shadows, which stars Olivia Thirlby, Alan Ritchson, Jim Gaffigan, and Megan Fox.[4][5][6]

Production history

Stage

Following its success in producing the Off-Broadway show, HEATHERS: The Musical,[3] HIPZEE received a Tony Award nomination for its work on the Broadway musical Natasha, Pierre, and The Great Comet of 1812.[7]

Title	Creator(s)	Year(s) Active
HEATHERS: The Musical	Laurence O’Keefe, Kevin Murphy	2014 (Off-Broadway)
Natasha, Pierre, & The Great Comet of 1812	Rachel Chavkin, Dave Malloy	2016-2017 (Broadway)

Screen

HIPZEE's first feature film (Above the Shadows) was released in select theaters and VOD on July 19, 2019.[8] Above the Shadows’ World Premiere was on May 31, 2019 as the opening night film of the 22nd Brooklyn Film Festival.[9] It won the Audience Choice Award for Best Narrative Feature at BFF.[10] HIPZEE most recently represented the film Feral as its sales company.

Title	Director	Released	Distributor
Above the Shadows	Claudia Myers	July 19, 2019	Gravitas Ventures (US)
Feral	Andrew Wonder	June 2, 2020	1091 Media (US)

References

1. BWW News Desk. "Fresh from HEATHERS Off-Broadway, HIPZEE Launches New Company and Website". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2019-06-26.
2. "2014 OBA Awards — Off Broadway Alliance". Retrieved 2019-06-26.
3. "Heathers: The Musical - Lortel Archives". iobdb.com. Retrieved 2019-06-26.
4. "AFM: Megan Fox, Olivia Thirlby, Alan Ritchson Board 'Shadow Girl'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2019-06-26.
5. McNary, Dave (2017-11-01). "Olivia Thirlby, Alan Ritchson to Star in Magical Realism Story 'Shadow Girl'". Variety. Retrieved 2019-06-26.
6. WSBT 22 (2018-12-14). "Jim Gaffigan to perform at Morris Performing Arts Center". WSBT. Retrieved 2019-06-27.
7. "Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812". TonyAwards.com. 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-06-13.
8. N'Duka, Amanda (2019-05-06). "Gravitas Nabs 'Above The Shadows' Starring Olivia Thirlby & Megan Fox; Cinedigm Secures 'The Outsider'". Deadline. Retrieved 2019-06-27.
9. "Above the Shadows Clip & Poster: Olivia Thirlby is Invisible". ScreenRant. 2019-05-28. Retrieved 2019-06-27.
10. Desk, TV News. "SANCTUARY Wins Grand Chameleon Award at 2019 Brooklyn Film Festival - Full List of Winners". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2019-06-27. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)

External links

• Official Website
• HIPZEE on Playbill