ABOUT OKC BROADWAY
OKC Broadway is a partnership between the Civic Center Foundation and The Nederlander Organization.
The Civic Center Foundation, created in 2001, has served as a partner with the City of Oklahoma City to assist in the funding for capital improvements and maintenance of the Civic Center Music Hall and to ensure it remains a premier performing arts center in the country. The name “Nederlander” has been synonymous with great entertainment since 1912. A show business dynasty began when David T. Nederlander, a smart young businessman living in Detroit Michigan, purchased a 99-year lease on the Detroit Opera House. In 1964, his son James M. Nederlander came to New York City and purchased the Palace Theatre on Broadway. His hard work, pioneering spirit and vision enabled him to build one of the largest privately held live entertainment companies in the world. Now under the leadership of James L. Nederlander, The Nederlander Organization continues the tradition of operating historic theatres, producing and presenting the best in theatrical and concert events, and innovating new ways to engage future generations of theatergoers.
OKC Broadway is proud to host a regional awards program for "The Jimmy Award,” a national program that celebrates outstanding student performances in high school musical productions across the United States. OKC Broadway's Kelli O'Hara Awards will debut in 2019. For more information:
THE CIVIC CENTER FOUNDATION
The Civic Center Foundation was formed in 2001 for the Civic Center Music Hall’s grand reopening after the renovations funded by the first Metropolitan Area Projects (MAPS I). The Foundation’s goal - to develop resources to foster advocacy for the Civic Center Music Hall and to provide for the improvement, maintenance and support of the CCMH. It adheres to the following mission statement:
To ensure a strong and vibrant performing arts presence in Oklahoma City through continued capital improvements of the Civic Center Music Hall and community-wide educational outreach.
Through fundraising and the ongoing support from suite holders, the Foundation has contributed millions in its partnership with the City.
THE NEDERLANDER ORGANIZATION
The Nederlander Organization has built a national network of theatres including nine Broadway venues in New York: the Brooks Atkinson, Gershwin, Lunt-Fontanne, Marquis, Minskoff, Nederlander, Palace, Richard Rodgers, and Neil Simon Theatres. Outside of New York, their venues include: Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, and The Broadway Playhouse (Chicago, IL); The Durham Performing Arts Center (Durham, NC); The Pantages and Greek Theatres (Los Angeles, CA); The Broadway Series at the Civic and Balboa Theatres (San Diego, CA); TCC Music Hall (Tucson, AZ); North Charleston Performing Arts Center (North Charleston, SC); The Grove (Anaheim, CA); The San Jose Center for the Performing Arts (San Jose, CA); and the Aldwych, Adelphi and Dominion Theatres (London, England).
For over five decades, The Nederlanders have been prolific producers of theatrical productions with over 100 Broadway and touring productions to their credit. The company has been instrumental in presenting many of Broadway’s most honored and successful shows most notably Annie, Copenhagen, La Cage aux Folles, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Noises Off, Peter Pan, Next to Normal, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, West Side Story, The Color Purple, My Fair Lady, The Elephant Man starring Bradley Cooper, The Undisputed Truth starring Mike Tyson directed by Spike Lee, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, and many others.
The Nederlanders are industry leaders and generous supporters of arts organizations and social causes for which they have received countless honors. In 2009, the Nederlanders launched the annual National High School Musical Awards, named “The Jimmy Award,” to celebrate outstanding student performances in high school musical productions across the United States. Jimmy Award winners have gone on to star in Broadway productions and national tours of Mean Girls, Dear Evan Hansen, Miss Saigon, SpongeBob SquarePants, Beautiful, The Book of Mormon, and Les Miserables among others.
For more information on The Nederlander Organization click here.