Ken Davenport Explained

Ken Davenport
Birth Name:Kenneth Anjum Hasija
Birth Date:23 August 1972
Birth Place:Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Alma Mater:New York University, Tisch School of Arts
Occupation:Writer, Producer
Years Active:1993-present

Ken Davenport (born Kenneth Anjum Hasija, August 23, 1972)[1] is a two-time Tony Award-winning[2] theatre producer, blogger, and writer. He is best known for his production work on Broadway.

Early life

Davenport was born in Phoenix, Arizona to Dr. Kenny Hasija and Pamela Soper (née Davenport). He grew up in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, and attended the Bancroft School in Worcester, Massachusetts. He attended Johns Hopkins University for one year with the intention of practicing law, before transferring to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. He graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting.

Davenport began his professional theater career by working as a production assistant on the 1993 Broadway revival of My Fair Lady starring Richard Chamberlain. Before he began his producing career, he established himself as a company and general manager, working on shows such as Grease, Show Boat, Ragtime, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Gypsy.

Career

Davenport founded the company Davenport Theatrical Enterprises (DTE) in 2004, and has created, produced, and managed Broadway shows. His first ventures as a producer were the three Off-Broadway shows The Awesome 80s Prom, Altar Boyz, and My First Time, which he also wrote.[3] Davenport's first Broadway credit as a producer was 13, and since then he has produced over 20 Broadway shows, including the first Broadway revival of Godspell, the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Kinky Boots, and Deaf West Theatre's Spring Awakening.[4]

Since its founding, Davenport Theatrical Enterprises has expanded to other areas of the theater business. It founded Broadway Genius Group Sales, a group sales agency for Broadway and Off-Broadway shows;[5] DTE Agency, a theatrical marketing agency; and DTE Management, a general management division. In 2019, DTE Management relaunched as Architect Theatrical.[6]

Davenport Theatrical Enterprises has founded several websites, including Your Broadway Genius,[7] Best of Off-Broadway, and both the website and smartphone app Did He Like It?, a review aggregator for New York theater based on New York Times chief theatre critic Ben Brantley.[8] Additionally, Davenport is the creator of Be a Broadway Star, the only Broadway-themed board game.

Davenport's television and film credits include the documentary These Magnificent Miles: On the Road with Red Wanting Blue, and The Bunny Hole, an award-winning television pilot that has appeared in the LA Indie Film Festival, the Orlando Film Festival, the LA Comedy Festival and more.[9]

He managed and owned the Davenport Theatre, an Off-Broadway theater in Manhattan's Theater District until January 2019.[10] The Davenport Theatre had two performance spaces, a 149-seat main stage on the ground level, and a 60-seat blackbox theater on the upper level. Davenport named the theater after his great-grandfather, Delbert Essex Davenport, who was a theater producer, publicist, author and lyricist in the early 1900s.[11]

Other activities

Davenport was named one of Crain's "40 Under 40",[12] and received the 2010 Leonidas A. Nickole Award of Distinction from the Musical Theatre Society of Emerson College.[13] He won the 2008 Spirit of Theatre Award from Theatre Resources Unlimited,[14] and his television pilot The Bunny Hole has been honored at the Orlando Film Festival, the IndieFEST Film Awards, and more.[15]

In 2008, he appeared in one of the first Apple iPhone television commercials.

Davenport has been a guest lecturer at universities in the New York City metropolitan area.[16] He has taught “Acting As A Business” for America Online,[17] and his marketing techniques have been profiled in the New York Times[18] and in marketing guru's Andy Sernovitz's book Word of Mouth Marketing.[19] Davenport was a member of the BMI Librettist Workshop[20] and is a founding member of the Independent Theater Bloggers Association.[21]

Davenport is a member of The Broadway League and the League of Off-Broadway Theaters and Producers.

Productions

Awards and nominations

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 'Awesome' success:Tony nominations piling up for Sturbridge-born theater producer. Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Worcester, MA. May 13, 2009 . Craig S.. Semon .
  2. Web site: Ken Davenport- Broadway Cast & Staff Awards. 2019. Internet Broadway Database.
  3. Web site: Lortel Archives--The Internet Off-Broadway Database. www.lortel.org. 2015-12-08.
  4. Web site: Ken Davenport IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information. www.ibdb.com. 2015-12-08.
  5. Web site: Broadway Genius Group Sales. broadwaygeniusgroups.com. 2015-12-08.
  6. Web site: Architect Theatrical, New Theatre General Management Office Announced With Ryan Conway. BWW News Desk. BroadwayWorld.com. en. 2019-12-06.
  7. Web site: Deals > Your Broadway Genius. www.yourbroadwaygenius.com. 2015-12-08.
  8. Web site: Did He Like It? . www.didhelikeit.com. 2015-12-08.
  9. Web site: Ken Davenport. IMDb. 2015-12-08.
  10. Web site: The Davenport Theatre.
  11. Web site: Tada! Introducing The Davenport Theatre!. 2014-01-27. The Producer's Perspective. Davenport. Ken.
  12. http://mycrains.crainsnewyork.com/40under40/profiles/2008/ken-davenport Crain's 40 Under 40 - 2008
  13. Web site: Musical Theatre Society presents Leonidas A. Nickole Award of Distinction to Broadway producer Ken Davenport. Emerson College. 8 June 2015.
  14. Web site: TRU Love Benefit 08. Theatre Resources Unlimited. 8 June 2015.
  15. Web site: The Bunny Hole. The Bunny Hole Show. 2015-12-17. en-US.
  16. Web site: Speaking Engagements - The Producer's Perspective - Broadway Theater Industry Speakers The Producer's Perspective. en-US. 2020-02-13.
  17. Web site: Davenport and Weiner Create Interactive Theater Worldwide. Pincus-Roth. Zachary. 2007-04-25. Playbill. 2020-02-13.
  18. News: Dialing Up a Hit? Influence Over Musical Is in the Crowd's Hands. The New York Times. 2013-06-25. 2015-12-08. 0362-4331. Patrick. Healy.
  19. Web site: Word of Mouth Marketing: How Smart Companies Get People Talking. wordofmouthbook.com. 2015-12-17.
  20. Web site: BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop The Producer's Perspective. en-US. 2020-02-13.
  21. Web site: StageBuzz.com: Announcement - Independent Theater Bloggers Association Award Winners Announced. www.stagebuzz.com. 2015-12-08.
  22. Web site: Wild . Stephi . Erika Henningsen Will Lead World Premiere of New Musical JOY Opening in December at George Street Playhouse . 2023-03-01 . BroadwayWorld.com . en.
  23. Web site: Shows George Street Playhouse . 2023-03-01 . georgestreetplayhouse.org.
  24. Web site: Joy the Musical, Starring Erika Henningsen, Completes World-Premiere Casting TheaterMania . 2023-03-01 . www.theatermania.com . en-US.
  25. Web site: Harmony: A New Musical • TKTS Now On Sale!. 2021-10-13. National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene. en-US.