Really Useful Group Taps Broadway’s Ken Davenport for North American Activity
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group has named Broadway producer Ken Davenport the company’s executive director for North America, giving him a role in the oversight of RUG’s North American activities.
In his new post, Davenport and the company’s UK team will direct RUG business on this side of the Atlantic, spearheaded by ongoing Broadway titles “The Phantom of the Opera,” “School of Rock” and “Cats,” as well as a likely upcoming New York run for Glenn Close in “Sunset Boulevard.” There are also tours out or coming up for “Phantom” sequel “Love Never Dies,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and “Jesus Christ Superstar,” among other Lloyd Webber titles.
Davenport comes to the position as an independent producer whose commercial work has included the recent revival of “Spring Awakening” and “Macbeth” with Alan Cumming, as well as Off Broadway’s “Daddy Long Legs,” which livestreamed around the world. He’s also been on the producing teams of “It’s Only a Play,” “Kinky Boots,” and “The Visit,” among other shows, and is one of the co-founders of TEDxBroadway.
The hiring of Davenport comes after RUG recently partnered with U.S.-based recorded music and publishing company Concord Bicycle Music to launch a new firm called The Musical Group, which focuses on professional and amateur musical licensing, music publishing and original cast recordings.
Reporting to RUG president Jessica Koravos, Davenport begins his new gig immediately. At the same time, the producer will continue work on independent projects that include a developing revival of “Once On This Island.”
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