2013 BROADWAY LEAGUE AWARDS HONOR GOVERNOR PAT QUINN AND THE ILLINOIS STATE LEGISLATURE RECIPIENT OF 2013 STAR OF TOURING BROADWAY AWARD

 Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce that Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and the Illinois State Legislature have received thedistinguished 2013 STAR OF TOURING BROADWAY AWARD at the annual Broadway League Awards today, May 15,2013, honoring excellence and achievement for Touring Broadway. 

As stated by Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director, The Broadway League, “Governor Pat Quinn & the Illinois State Legislature are strong and vocal supporters of the Illinois theatre community.  They raise awareness about the essential role theatre, specifically Broadway, plays in the social, economic, and educational growth and vitality of Illinois.  Their leadership brought passage of the “Live Theatre Production Tax Credit Act,” to support live theatre.  Since its enactment in 2012, the legislation has already supported the musical tryouts of Kinky Boots andBig Fish.”

“I’m pleased that The Broadway League chose to honor our Governor and State Legislature. Even in these tough economic times, or rather because of them, Governor Quinn and the State of Illinois Legislators have embraced the fact that theater is uniquely positioned not only to support the residents of our great state but also to serve as a major tourism attraction and economic engine.”

–          Lou Raizin, President, Broadway In Chicago

Many from the Broadway community endorsed Governor Quinn and the Illinois State Legislature, including:

“I have always thought of Chicago as a long-run town and the Broadway business as we all know in New York is an economic generator.  As such, I am happy to see that Chicago realized the smart investment it would be for both Chicago and all of Illinois to support pre-Broadway and long-run Musicals.”

–          James Nederlander Sr., Nederlander

“Chicago has a wonderful theatre community with people who appreciate new work and these elected officials found a way to entice producers like myself to think of Chicago first.  In this day and age when musicals are becoming harder and harder to t

ry out, it is leaders like this who deserve our admiration and accolades.”

–          Daryl Roth, Producer of Kinky Boots, Daryl Roth Productions

“Governor Quinn and the State of Illinois Legislators have made Chicago a more attractive place for us to bring new productions or those productions that we believe can run longer because of their leadership.”

–          David Stone, Producer, Wicked

ABOUT THE BROADWAY LEAGUE 
The Broadway League, founded in 1930, is the national trade association for the Broadway industry.  The League’s 700-plus members include theatre owners and operators, producers, presenters, and general managers who present in nearly 200 markets in North America, as well as suppliers of goods and services to the theatre industry.  Each year, League members bring Broadway to nearly 30 million people in New York and on tour across the U.S. and Canada.  For more information, visitwww.BroadwayLeague.com.

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO                                                                                                                                                               

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 13 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country.  A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining well up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including the Bank of America Theatre, Oriental Theatre, Palace Theatre, the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place.  For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.