If it's anyone's fault, it's the King's Singers' fault. They're the a cappella bug that bit me early in life (my mother used to rep them in North America) and I've been hooked ever since. Truth be told, music is in my genes but it was the KS singing I'm A Train that truly opened the floodgates. College work includes time with the all-male Pennchants, The Penn Singers (light opera), and The Penn Glee Club (a bit of everything), and reviewing performing arts for The Daily Pennsylvanian. Out of college and back in New York (born and raised in the Big Apple - woo hoo!), I joined the a cappella sextet Beat'achon with whom I spent 6 years and recorded 2 albums, including some original material written and/or arranged by yours truly.
For a living, I've spent most of my time since college working on the business side of Broadway shows -- what exactly that means is a bit long to go into here, but it keeps me darn busy. Right now, I'm the Director of Finance and Markering for a 101 Productions, Ltd, which manages the Broadway productions of "33 Variations", "Impressionism" and "Mary Stuart" as well as the national tours of the Tony-winning Best Musical "Spamalot" as well as "Frost/Nixon" and the upcoming new musical "The Addams Family".
I'm also one of three partners in an independent film and theatrical production company called Ergo Entertainment, and we're currently co-producing the Broadway revival of David Mamet's "Speed-the-Plow" and "You're Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush" starring Will Ferrell. Our other Broadway credits include the Tony-winning "Long Day's Journey Into Night", the Tony-nominated 40th anniversary production of Harold Pinter's "The Homecoming", David Mamet's "November" starring Nathan Lane, Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park" and "Steel Magnolias", as well as multiple off-Broadway productions. Film credits include the award-winning and Emmy-nominated documentary film "Paper Clips" (shameless plug: avaiable at Blockbuster and via NetFlix!).
In my spare time (guffaw), I moonlight as a conductor for regional theatre productions - favorites include West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof and my all-time fave (to conduct) City of Angels - and help out as an emergency fill-in for a few local choruses.
And now I have the chance to share my a cappella opinions with the world. Oh, the pressure! Well, whether you agree or disagree with me, thanks for "listening".
Elie Landau191 total reviews