Brandt Blocker Expands Role To Include New Orleans Theatre

Atlanta Lyric Artistic Director & GM Adds Management Role at Le Petit Theatre

(ATLANTA) Nov. 19, 2009 – Atlanta Lyric Theatre announced today its Artistic Director and General Manager, Brandt Blocker, has assumed a new management role with entertainment company Solomon Group of New Orleans. Blocker, who is a New Orleans native, will continue to lead the Atlanta Lyric Theatre as Artistic Director and General Manager in addition to his new duties at Solomon Group, which manages the Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre in New Orleans.

Blocker has held his current position as Artistic Director and General Manager at Atlanta Lyric Theatre since May 2007, and the local company has made great strides under his leadership.

“Brandt is a tremendous asset for Atlanta Lyric Theatre,” said Steven Hauser, board chair of Atlanta Lyric Theatre. “Under his leadership, Atlanta Lyric Theatre has made a significant impact on the Atlanta theatre scene. Our recent growth and higher profile in the Atlanta theatre scene are a direct result of Brandt’s high artistic standards, amazing energy and leadership. We are very fortunate to have a professional of his caliber at the helm of Atlanta’s only professional musical theatre company. This creative alliance with Solomon Group is the natural next step for Brandt professionally, and we are pleased to be able to collaborate with Solomon Group in this way.”

Under Blocker’s leadership, Atlanta Lyric Theatre has been a remarkable success story, especially in light of the recent tough economic times. Since Blocker joined the company, Atlanta Lyric Theatre has retooled its business model by securing a new theatre home at the newly renovated Earl Smith Strand Theatre and increasing its season subscriber base by 300 percent. The company also received critical acclaim for the consistent quality of its productions, including receipt of the 2009 Suzi Audience Choice Award for best overall season. During Blocker’s tenure, the theatre has been the recipient of grants from the Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund and the Woodruff Foundation.

Under the innovative arrangement between Atlanta Lyric Theatre and Solomon Group, Blocker will continue in his current position with Atlanta Lyric Theatre while assuming additional management duties for the historic Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre in New Orleans.

Gary Solomon, Jr., president of Solomon Group, said, “This creative arrangement secures Brandt’s services for Atlanta Lyric Theatre, while also allowing the Lyric to access Solomon Group’s overall expertise in entertainment management on an ongoing basis. It also opens the door to future collaboration between the Atlanta Lyric Theatre and Le Petit, which are both leading regional musical theatre companies. Both institutions are fortunate to have a professional of Brandt’s drive, creativity and caliber in a leadership position. In these tough economic times, it just makes good business sense for arts organizations to ‘stretch their dollars’ through alliances like this one. We feel confident that both organizations will benefit from this arrangement and from Brandt’s experience and expertise.”

About Atlanta Lyric Theatre
Atlanta Lyric Theatre, Atlanta’s only local professional musical theatre company, was formed in 1980 as the Southeastern Savoyards, a repertory theatre company dedicated to presenting the works of Gilbert & Sullivan. Since then, the company has grown into a highly regarded regional musical theatre company, and the company changed its name to Atlanta Lyric Theatre. In August 2008, Atlanta Lyric Theatre announced its partnership with the Friends of the Strand, Inc. to relocate to the historic and newly renovated Strand Theatre located on the Square in Marietta, Georgia, as the new performance home of Atlanta Lyric Theatre. In October 2009, the Atlanta Lyric Theatre was nominated for 19 Suzi Awards (Atlanta’s equivalent of the Tonys), the most of any professional Atlanta arts organization. The Atlanta Lyric Theatre was awarded three Suzis, including the inaugural Audience Choice Award for most outstanding season. For more information, visit www.AtlantaLyricTheatre.com.

Solomon Group
Solomon Group is a creative and technical production firm, dedicated to the art of storytelling to create memorable and effective audience experiences. Solomon Group provides design, management & production services to the live event, sports, theatre, and attraction markets. Recent projects include the creation of a signature live show, Let Freedom Swing, for the National World War II Museum, the general management of Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre, and technical production management of the Broadway bound musical White Noise. More at www.SolomonGroup.com.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:     Dianne Butler, Director of Marketing & Development
Atlanta Lyric Theatre
dbutler@atlantalyrictheatre.com / 404-605-8446