ABOUT NEDERLANDER
Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment, LLC ("Nederlander
Worldwide"), founded and managed by Robert Nederlander, Jr., a
third generation member of the Nederlander entertainment family, is
involved in a variety of live entertainment projects including the
expansion of the Nederlander operations into China, the development
of an off-Broadway theatre circuit, and various theatrical
production projects.
The Nederlander family of companies has been a major force in
the live entertainment business for nearly 100 years. Their
expertise covers the gamut of theatre management and operations,
along with all facets of live entertainment, including ticketing,
management, promotion, marketing, and advertising.
The Nederlanders are regarded as one of the most important
leaders in the international theatre industry. Their interest in
China began over 35 years ago when Robert Nederlander, Sr., as a
Regent of the University of Michigan, hosted the Chinese ping-pong
team during their historic visit to the United States.
Shortly thereafter, Mr. Nederlander led one of the first U.S.
delegations of scholars and academics to China since the Cultural
Revolution, thus playing an important role in the forging of
U.S.-China relations.
In 2000, Robert Nederlander, Jr. led the Nederlanders' efforts
to develop business relations with China by exploring the viability
of presenting Broadway productions throughout a network of Chinese
cities. In 2005, under the Chinese Revised Regulations on the
Administration of Commercial Performing Arts, Nederlander Worldwide
Entertainment created the first foreign entity
permitted to operate in the Chinese performing arts
industry.
Nederlander Worldwide has established a circuit of theatres in
China with the purpose of bringing first-class dramatic and musical
productions to major Chinese cities, including, in part, Beijing,
Shanghai, Nanjing, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Xi'an, Wuhan, Tianjin,
etc.
In 2007, Nederlander Worldwide presented the Tony-Award-winning
42nd Street across nine Chinese cities, at that
time the most extensive Chinese tour of a Broadway show. In
September of the following year, Nederlander Worldwide spearheaded
a ten city tour of Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida, which
began in Shanghai, and is expected to return to China in
2010. In December 2008, Nederlander Worldwide also partnered
with the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing to produce and present
a Mandarin language version of Fame: The Musical. The
English version of Fame is scheduled to tour in China from
December 2009 through February 2010.
Nederlander Worldwide established the "China on Broadway"
initiative to bring the best of Chinese culture to Broadway
audiences in New York City and across North America. In January
2009, Nederlander Worldwide presented Soul of Shaolin, the
first Chinese production to appear on Broadway, at the Marquis
Theater. In celebration of the opening of Soul of Shaolin,
both the Mayor of New York City and the Governor of New York State
proclaimed January 15, 2009 as "China On Broadway Day". In May
2009, Soul of Shaolin received one Tony Award Nomination
and one Drama Desk Award Nomination. Soul of Shaolin was
the second Chinese production that Nederlander Worldwide brought to
New York audiences. In February 2008, Nederlander Worldwide
presented The Dream of the Red Chamber, a "cultural
exchange gift" from the city of Shanghai to the city of New York,
at Lincoln Center's Rose Hall.
In addition to collaborating with Chinese partners to produce,
present and tour shows across China and North America, Nederlander
Worldwide has been actively involved in the fast emerging Chinese
cultural industry. In China, Nederlander Worldwide staff members
have given numerous lectures and seminars on musical theatre at
academies and universities, while in America, Robert Nederlander
Jr. has hosted dozens of Chinese delegations made up of theater
managers, cultural attaches and government officials in New York,
Chicago and San Francisco.