Cody Lassen

Cody Lassen
Born
Kenosha, Wisconsin, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Alma mater
Occupation(s)Producer, Consultant
Notable workRevival of Spring Awakening
Websitewww.codylassen.com

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

[edit]

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.[5] 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[4] and was a production assistant for several films and TV series.[6]

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.[4][7][8]

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.[1]

Lassen teamed up with producers Ken Davenport and the Deaf West Theatre,[9] and transferred the show from the 99-seat Los Angeles production to Broadway in just 366 days, an unprecedented feat.[10] The production opened at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre in September 2015.[9] For the show, performed in both American Sign Language and spoken English,[11] 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."[12] The show was a success on Broadway and was even performed at the White House.[13]

He partnered with Daryl Roth to transfer the critically acclaimed Paula Vogel play Indecent to Broadway in the 2016/17 season[14] 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;[15] and Some Lovers, a new musical by Burt Bacharach and Steven Sater opening at the Adirondacks Theatre Festival in June 2018.[16]

Other activities

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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.[17]

Private life

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Lassen lives in New York.[5]

Productions

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Recordings

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  • 2024, The Match (from Rutka: a new musical), Producer [19]
  • 2024, Picking Up Speed (World Premiere Recording), Producer[20]
  • 2022, A Commercial Jingle for Regina Comet (Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording), Producer[21]
  • 2021, Some Lovers (musical) (Concept Album), Producer[22]
  • 2019, Alice by Heart (musical) (Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording),[23] Executive Producer
  • 2017, Indecent (Original Broadway Cast Recording),[24] Executive Producer

Film and television

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  • 2023, Summoning Sylvia (feature film), Producer[25]
  • 2020, Indoor Boys (digital series), Executive Producer[26]

Awards and nominations

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  • 2015: winner of a Champion of Change Award for Spring Awakening[12]
Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2015 Ovation Award Best Musical – Intimate Theatre Spring Awakening Won
2015 Ovation Award Best Musical – Large Theatre Spring Awakening Won
2016 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Revival of a Musical or Revue Spring Awakening Nominated
[18]
2016 Tony Award Best Revival of a Musical Spring Awakening Nominated
[18]
2017 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Musical or Revue Indecent Nominated
[18]
2017 Tony Award Best Play Indecent Nominated
[18]
2018 Tony Award Best Musical The Band's Visit Won
[18]
2019 Tony Award Best Play What The Constitution Means To Me Nominated
[18]
2019 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Play What The Constitution Means To Me Nominated
[18]
2019 Tony Award Best Revival of a Play Torch Song Nominated
[18]
2019 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Musical Tootsie Nominated
[18]
2019 Tony Award Best Musical Tootsie Nominated
[18]
2021 Grammy Award Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album Burt Bacharach & Steven Sater's Some Lovers Nominated
[18]
2022 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Play How I Learned to Drive Won
[18]
2022 Tony Award Best Revival of a Play How I Learned to Drive Nominated
[18]

References

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  1. ^ a b Jessica Gelt (November 10, 2015). "Ovation Awards 2015: Wins for Deaf West's 'Spring Awakening,' Circle X's 'Trevor'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  2. ^ "The Tony Award Nominees – All Categories". TonyAwards.com. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  3. ^ Cyd Zeigler (March 18, 2015). "Gay Notre Dame students can buy football tickets for their spouses". SB Nation. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c "Businessman on Broadway: Cody Lassen (SNL '06)". DePaul Magazine. November 27, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Cody Lassen (Malibu, CA) (May 2013 Present)". GLAAD. October 29, 2013. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  6. ^ "Cody Lassen". IMDb. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  7. ^ "Jenny Sterlin and Brendan Titley Join Alan Cumming in Macbeth; Performances to Begin 4/7". Broadway World. March 28, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  8. ^ "The Company". Macbeth on Broadway. 2013. Archived from the original on February 12, 2013. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  9. ^ a b Gordon Cox (July 7, 2015). "Deaf West's 'Spring Awakening' Snags Broadway Theater for Fall Run". Variety. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  10. ^ Maureen Lee Lenker (August 11, 2015). "Deaf West's Spring Awakening: From 99-Seat to Broadway". This Stage Magazine. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  11. ^ Tom Millward (December 14, 2015). "Matlin & Manheim to depart Spring Awakening early". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  12. ^ a b Joe Gambino (October 20, 2015). "Spring Awakening Producers Honored for Inclusion and Diversity on Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  13. ^ "Spring Awakening's White House Performance Will Be Live-Streamed on 11/18". Broadway World. November 13, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  14. ^ "Cody Lassen – Broadway Cast & Staff". ibdb.com. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  15. ^ "New Duncan Sheik Musical 'Alice by Heart' Sets World Premiere". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  16. ^ "Some Lovers". atfestival.org. February 19, 2018. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  17. ^ "GLAAD's Board of Directors". GLAAD. September 2011. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak "Cody Lassen, producer". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  19. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan; Gans, Andrew (October 29, 2024). "Get a 1st Listen to 'The Match' From New Musical Rutka". Playbill.com. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  20. ^ Gans, Andrew (August 8, 2021). "Recording of Alex Wyse Solo Musical Picking Up Speed Released August 8". Playbill. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  21. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (November 15, 2021). "A Commercial Jingle for Regina Comet Plans Off-Broadway Cast Album". Playbill. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  22. ^ "Iconic Broadway Pairs Perform on Burt Bacharach and Steven Sater's Some Lovers". theatermania.com. October 14, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  23. ^ "Cody Lassen, executive producer". Playbill. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  24. ^ "Cody Lassen, executive producer". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  25. ^ Ritman, Alex (February 16, 2023). "Berlin: Entertainment Squad Acquires LGBTQ Horror Comedy 'Summoning Sylvia' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  26. ^ Meyer, Dan (February 16, 2023). "Alex Wyse and Wesley Taylor's Indoor Boys Scores Big at 2020 Indie Series Awards". Playbill. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
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