Cody Lassen Explained

Cody Lassen
Birth Place:Kenosha, Wisconsin, U.S.
Nationality:American
Occupation:Producer, Consultant
Notable Works:Revival of Spring Awakening

Cody Lassen is an American Tony Award-winning and Grammy nominated theater producer and consultant. He is best known for producing the revival of Spring Awakening, which won him an Ovation Award[1] and a Tony nomination.[2]

Career

Lassen was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He earned his MBA from the University of Notre Dame[3] and graduated from DePaul University.[4]

He held live entertainment management positions with Nielsen and NBCUniversal. While at NBCUniversal, Lassen was active in their corporate diversity initiatives and was part of the team that led the company to be named one of the best places to work for LGBT employees. In addition to producing his own projects, Lassen consulted for major studios, producers, theatres and agencies. He oversaw marketing efforts for Los Angeles' Center Theatre Group and was a production assistant for several films and TV series.[5]

His Broadway productions include Indecent and revival of Spring Awakening and co-productions include Macbeth starring Alan Cumming, "Significant Other", The Band's Visit, and Torch Song.[6] [7]

When Lassen joined the production of the Deaf West Theatre revival of Spring Awakening in 2015, it premiered at Inner-City Arts' Rosenthal Theater in L.A. Under his production management, the show went on to win six Ovation Awards (with 15 nominations), including best musical in two categories, intimate theater and large theater. The latter was won by Lassen together with the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts and Deaf West Theatre.

Lassen teamed up with producers Ken Davenport and the Deaf West Theatre, and transferred the show from the 99-seat Los Angeles production to Broadway in just 366 days, an unprecedented feat.[8] The production opened at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre in September 2015.[9] For the show, performed in both American Sign Language and spoken English,[10] the producers were honored with the Champion of Change Award by the New York Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities for their "efforts to increase diversity and inclusivity on Broadway."[11] The show was a success on Broadway and was even performed at the White House.[12]

He partnered with Daryl Roth to transfer the critically acclaimed Paula Vogel play Indecent to Broadway in the 2016/17 season[13] where it was honored with two Tony Awards for Best Direction and Best Lighting, and nominated for Best Play.

Lassen's upcoming projects include How I Learned To Drive, a Pulitzer-winning play by Paula Vogel opening on Broadway in 2021, with much of the original cast and creative team from its off-Broadway debut 23 years prior, Alice By Heart, a new musical by Duncan Sheik, Steven Sater and Jessie Nelson, premiering at MCC Theater in February 2019;[14] and Some Lovers, a new musical by Burt Bacharach and Steven Sater opening at the Adirondacks Theatre Festival in June 2018.[15]

Other activities

Cody serves on the board of New York's Vineyard Theatre and is a member of The Broadway League, The Recording Academy, Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the National Association of Musical Theatre and the Off-Broadway League.

He serves as vice-chair of the board of GLAAD, an LGBT advocacy organization.[16]

Private life

Lassen lives in New York.[17]

Productions

Recordings

Film and television

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2015Ovation AwardBest Musical – Intimate TheatreSpring Awakening
2015Ovation AwardBest Musical – Large TheatreSpring Awakening
2016Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Revival of a Musical or RevueSpring Awakening
2016Tony AwardBest Revival of a MusicalSpring Awakening
2017Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Musical or RevueIndecent
2017Tony AwardBest PlayIndecent
2018Tony AwardBest MusicalThe Band's Visit
2019Tony AwardBest PlayWhat The Constitution Means To Me
2019Drama Desk AwardOutstanding PlayWhat The Constitution Means To Me
2019Tony AwardBest Revival of a PlayTorch Song
2019Drama Desk AwardOutstanding MusicalTootsie
2019Tony AwardBest MusicalTootsie
2021Grammy AwardGrammy Award for Best Musical Theater AlbumBurt Bacharach & Steven Sater's Some Lovers
2022Drama Desk AwardOutstanding PlayHow I Learned to Drive
2022Tony AwardBest Revival of a PlayHow I Learned to Drive

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ovation Awards 2015: Wins for Deaf West's 'Spring Awakening,' Circle X's 'Trevor' . Los Angeles Times . Jessica Gelt . November 10, 2015 . February 7, 2016.
  2. Web site: The Tony Award Nominees – All Categories . TonyAwards.com . 2016-05-03.
  3. Web site: Gay Notre Dame students can buy football tickets for their spouses . SB Nation . Cyd Zeigler . March 18, 2015 . February 7, 2016.
  4. Web site: Businessman on Broadway: Cody Lassen (SNL '06) . DePaul Magazine . November 27, 2015 . February 7, 2016.
  5. Web site: Cody Lassen . IMDb . February 7, 2016.
  6. Web site: Jenny Sterlin and Brendan Titley Join Alan Cumming in Macbeth; Performances to Begin 4/7 . Broadway World . March 28, 2015 . February 7, 2016.
  7. Web site: The Company . Macbeth on Broadway . 2013 . February 7, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130212185710/http://www.macbethonbroadway.com/company.html . February 12, 2013 . dead.
  8. Web site: Deaf West's Spring Awakening: From 99-Seat to Broadway . This Stage Magazine . Maureen Lee Lenker . August 11, 2015 . February 7, 2016.
  9. Web site: Deaf West's 'Spring Awakening' Snags Broadway Theater for Fall Run . Variety . Gordon Cox . July 7, 2015 . February 7, 2016.
  10. Web site: Matlin & Manheim to depart Spring Awakening early . New York Theatre Guide . Tom Millward . December 14, 2015 . February 7, 2016.
  11. Web site: Spring Awakening Producers Honored for Inclusion and Diversity on Broadway . Playbill . Joe Gambino . October 20, 2015 . February 7, 2016.
  12. Web site: Spring Awakening's White House Performance Will Be Live-Streamed on 11/18 . Broadway World . November 13, 2015 . February 7, 2016.
  13. Web site: Cody Lassen – Broadway Cast & Staff . ibdb.com. 2018-05-19.
  14. News: New Duncan Sheik Musical 'Alice by Heart' Sets World Premiere . The Hollywood Reporter . 2018-05-19 . en.
  15. Web site: Some Lovers . atfestival.org . February 19, 2018 . en-US . 2018-05-19.
  16. Web site: GLAAD's Board of Directors . September 2011 . GLAAD . February 7, 2016.
  17. Web site: Cody Lassen (Malibu, CA) (May 2013 Present) . October 29, 2013 . GLAAD . February 7, 2016.
  18. Web site: Cody Lassen, producer . Internet Broadway Database . February 7, 2016.
  19. Web site: Gans . Andrew . August 8, 2021 . Recording of Alex Wyse Solo Musical Picking Up Speed Released August 8 . 2024-08-08 . Playbill . en.
  20. Web site: Culwell-Block . Logan . November 15, 2021 . A Commercial Jingle for Regina Comet Plans Off-Broadway Cast Album . 2021-11-16 . Playbill . en.
  21. Web site: Iconic Broadway Pairs Perform on Burt Bacharach and Steven Sater's Some Lovers. 2021-11-16. theatermania.com. October 14, 2021 . en-US.
  22. Web site: Cody Lassen, executive producer . Playbill . February 2, 2019.
  23. Web site: Cody Lassen, executive producer . BroadwayWorld . February 2, 2019.
  24. Web site: Ritman . Alex . February 16, 2023 . Berlin: Entertainment Squad Acquires LGBTQ Horror Comedy 'Summoning Sylvia' (Exclusive) . 2023-02-16 . The Hollywood Reporter . en.
  25. Web site: Meyer . Dan . February 16, 2023 . Alex Wyse and Wesley Taylor's Indoor Boys Scores Big at 2020 Indie Series Awards . 2023-02-16 . Playbill . en.