London’s Aria Entertainment and New York’s Jim Kierstead announce new producing deal

Award-winning producer Katy Lipson has announced a major new transatlantic partnership with Tony and Olivier Award-winning theatre and film producer Jim Kierstead.

Aimed at developing and presenting new and ground-breaking work on both sides of the Atlantic, the partnership between Aria Entertainment and Kierstead Productions will launch with a co-production of the new musical Unexpected Joy.

With a book and lyrics by Bill Russell and music by Janet Hood, the story of three generations of female singers will premiere Off-Broadway at The York Theatre Company from 24 April until 2 May before transferring to London’s Southwark Playhouse from 6-29 September. Although both runs will be directed by Amy Anders Corcoran, each production will feature different casting and design elements.

Following on from Aria’s already successful partnership between Manchester’s award-winning Hope Mill Theatre, London-based Aria’s latest collaboration follows a meeting last summer between Lipson and Kierstead when Hope Mill’s acclaimed production of Yank! transferred to London’s Charing Cross Theatre.

Lipson and Kierstead, one of the original producers of Yank! when it debuted Off-Broadway at The York Theatre Company in 2010, discovered a shared interest in developing new musicals and re-imagining old and rarely-produced musicals in inventive new ways.

Announcing the new partnership Lipson said: “This is a very exciting time in Aria’s journey – not only are we delighted to be co-presenting this incredible new musical which celebrates female empowerment with four great roles for women both in New York Off-Broadway and London’s Southwark Playhouse, but also to be collaborating with American producer Jim Kierstead on a new relationship which will see us working on similar co-productions of new chamber musicals both in the UK and across the pond.”

Kierstead added: “From the moment I met Katy, I knew we would get along wonderfully. She has boundless energy and endless ideas. She is also a tremendous multitasker and is incredibly organised, so we get along amazingly well.

“We can discuss ten different ideas in the span of ten minutes without getting confused. It’s a rare trait. I’m looking forward to the first of many collaborations together using this new model, as Unexpected Joy is a show that’s near and dear to my heart as I’ve spent the past six years developing it with the authors. Stay tuned for our next collaboration!”

Angela Thomas