| Ken Davenport, the young man the NY Times | | | | of producer. None of this success was due to |
| has dubbed "The P.T. Barnum of Off-Broadway" | | | | luck. It's a lot of hard work and years of learning |
| was my guest on Singers Key Notes this week. | | | | the ropes and a willing and relentless spirit. |
| As a result, I am confident that Broadway will not | | | | Also, and this is the piece of the puzzle for our |
| only survive but thrive because we have this | | | | discussion today, Ken Davenport has the |
| brilliant young man leading the way. | | | | creativity and the courage to use it. Wrote and |
| Ken is an innovator. He has unbridled creativity. He | | | | directed My First Time, the first-ever "Theatre |
| lives and works in the moment and uses | | | | 2.0", Ken set up a website and asked it's users to |
| technology to build his shows, the audience, and | | | | tell about their "first time" stories. All the words in |
| the buzz necessary for a long-running show. | | | | My First Time are from real people who shared |
| Not only is he the only producer with three shows | | | | their stories on the website. Ken then crafted |
| running off-Broadway at the same time (The | | | | their words into the show we now see. |
| Awesome 80s Prom, Altar Boyz and My First | | | | Ken is creator, crafter, actor, director, PR guy, |
| Time) but they have all recouped their | | | | producer, you name it, he does it! I questioned |
| investment, grossing a total of $30 million | | | | him about playing all these rolls in his business and |
| worldwide. Combined, his productions have | | | | how he gained experience in all these areas. His |
| grossed more than $100 million worldwide and are | | | | answer was wise beyond his 38 years. |
| being produced internationally in 25 countries | | | | To paraphrase, Ken said that you'll never be |
| including Germany, Mexico, France, and Korea. | | | | ready to take on a task until you actually do it. |
| Financial success Off-Broadway is a feat in itself. | | | | Will you always be successful? Maybe not. But if |
| Financial success in a major worldwide recession is | | | | you don't ever try, then you have no chance of |
| monumental. How does he do it? | | | | succeeding. This does not mean that you should |
| First of all, he's been in the theater all his life from | | | | produce a Broadway play your first time out, but |
| childhood actor to NYU to general manager on | | | | produce a high school musical, get involved, |
| several Broadway shows. Ken spent 10 years | | | | stretch your wings and learn. |
| working backstage to prepare himself for the role | | | | Nike is right: Just do it! |