Irene Gandy

Irene Gandy
Gandy with her Tony Award in 2021
Born
Westbury, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)Press Agent, Producer
Years active1968–Present

Irene Gandy (born November 21, 1943) is an American theater publicist and producer. Notable for being the only African-American female publicist in the history of ATPAM.,[1] Gandy received the 2020 Tony Award for Excellence in Theatre.

Early life

Gandy was born on November 21, 1943, in Westbury, New York.[2]

Career

Gandy attended NYU briefly, before dropping out and enmeshing herself into New York City's downtown theatrical scene.[3] In 1968, she began her publicity career working under Douglas Turner Ward and Robert Hooks at the Negro Ensemble Company[4][5]

In the late 1970s, Gandy turned away from theatre briefly to work as associate director of Special Markets for CBS Records, supervising Earth, Wind and Fire, The Jacksons, The Isley Brothers, and Labelle, among other artists.[6][7]

The bulk of Gandy's Broadway publicity career was spent alongside producer/publicist Jeffrey Richards, with whom she represented over 100 Broadway productions.[8]

Gandy was publicist for the 1987 revival of Sweet Charity, and was on hand when Bob Fosse died in Washington D.C. prior to an out-of-town preview.[9]

In 1990, Gandy served as producer of the national tour of Sarafina!.[10] In 2012, she made her Broadway producing debut with Porgy and Bess, for which she received the 2012 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical.

In 2020, Gandy was appointed to The Drama League Board of Directors, and in 2023, the Drama League renamed its Drama League Stage Directing Assistantships program to "The Drama League Irene Gandy Directing Assistantships" program.[11]

Personal life

Gandy is mother to artist Mira Gandy.[12]

Broadway Stage

Year Production Publicist Producer Notes
1970 Hay Fever Yes No
1971 Johnny Johnson Yes No
1976 Going Up Yes No
1976 Wheelbarrow Closers Yes No
1976 Don't Step On My Olive Branch Yes No
1977 Gemini Yes No
1979 Whoopee! Yes No
1980 Your Arms Too Short to Box with God Yes No
1980 A Lesson From Aloes Yes No
1986 Me and My Girl Yes No
1989 The Cirle Yes No
1998 Patti Labelle On Broadway Yes No
2001 A Thousand Clowns Yes No
2003 Enchanted April Yes No
2005 Glengarry Glen Ross Yes No
2006 Spring Awakening Yes No
2006 The Caine Mutiny Court Martial Yes No
2007 August: Osage County Yes No
2007 Radio Golf Yes No
2007 Talk Radio Yes No
2007 The Homecoming Yes No
2008 November Yes No
2008 Speed-the-Plow Yes No
2009 Blithe Spirit Yes No
2009 Desire Under the Elms Yes No
2009 Race Yes No
2009 Superior Donuts Yes No
2009 You're Welcome America Yes No
2010 A Life in the Theatre Yes No
2010 All About Me Yes No
2010 Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson Yes No
2010 Enron Yes No
2011 Bonnie and Clyde Yes No
2011 Chinglish Yes No
2012 Glengarry Glen Ross Yes No
2012 Porgy and Bess Yes Yes
2012 The Anarchist Yes No
2012 The Best Man Yes No
2012 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Yes No
2013 The Glass Menagerie Yes No
2014 All The Way Yes No
2014 Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill Yes No
2014 The Bridges of Madison County Yes No
2014 The Realistic Joneses Yes No
2014 You Can't Take It with You Yes No
2015 The Heidi Chronicles Yes No
2022 Ohio State Murders No Yes
2023 Purlie Victorious No Yes

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Project Result Ref.
2012 Tony Awards Best Revival of a Musical The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess Won [13]
2020 Excellence in Theatre Recipient [14]

References

  1. ^ Armstrong, Linda. "Irene Gandy to receive Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre". New York Amsterdam News.
  2. ^ "Irene Gandy". Internet Broadway Datatbase. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  3. ^ Rothstein, Mervyn. "A Life in the Theatre: Irene Gandy". Playbill.com. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  4. ^ Gillespie, Fern. "Irene Gandy Gets Her Tony!". The Positive Community. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Full Court Press". TDF. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  6. ^ "Full Court Press". TDF. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Irene Gandy: Trailblazing Broadway Press Agent and Producer". The Broadway Producers. The Broadway Producers. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  8. ^ Armstrong, Linda. "Irene Gandy to receive Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre". Amsterdamnews.com. New York Amsterdam News. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  9. ^ "Full Court Press". TDF. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  10. ^ "Sarafina! (National Tour)". Ibdb.com. Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  11. ^ Keddy, Genevieve. "Photos: The Drama League Announces The Irene Gandy Stage Directing Assistantships". Broadwayworld.com. Broadway World. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  12. ^ DANIELS, KARU. "An Out Life Evolved: Irene Gandy and Mira Gandy On Being Proud, African-American Gay Mothers". Playbill.com.
  13. ^ "66th Tony Awards". Tony Awards. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  14. ^ "Watch Irene Gandy, Beverly Jenkins, Fred Gallo, Woodie King Jr. Accept Honorary Tony Awards". Playbill. Retrieved March 6, 2024.