Introduction
Junkyard Dog Productions is a production company that develops and produces new musical theater productions. It was founded in 2006 by producers Kenny Alhadeff, Sue Frost, and Randy Adams. The company is dedicated to nurturing new musicals and helping them make it to the stage.
Based in New York City, Junkyard Dog Productions has been behind several acclaimed Broadway and Off-Broadway shows over the past 15 years, including Memphis, First Date, Nerds, and Make Believe. With a focus on original stories and emerging talent, the company aims to bring fresh, contemporary musicals to audiences.
History
Junkyard Dog Productions was founded in 2005 by Tony Award-winning producers Randy Adams, Marleen and Stuart Oken (source). The company is known for producing successful Broadway musicals and plays.
Some key milestones in Junkyard Dog’s history include:
- In 2006, they produced the Broadway revival of The Pajama Game, which received Tony nominations for Best Revival of a Musical and Best Choreography.
- In 2010, they produced Memphis, which won 4 Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Original Score (source).
- In 2012, Junkyard Dog produced the Broadway play Stick Fly by Lydia R. Diamond.
- In 2016, they produced the hit musical Come From Away, which received 7 Tony nominations including Best Musical.
In just over 10 years, Junkyard Dog Productions has become an established Broadway producer known for successful productions that have won numerous awards and accolades.
Leadership
Junkyard Dog Productions was founded in 2005 by husband and wife team Randy Adams and Marleen Alhadeff-Oken, along with Marleen’s brother Stuart Oken. Randy serves as President of the company, while Marleen is CEO and Stuart is Chairman. The three founders all have extensive backgrounds in theatre and film production.
Some key executives at Junkyard Dog include:
- Sue Frost – Owner and Executive Producer (Source)
- Allan S. Gordon – Executive Vice President
- Roy Furman – Investor and Board Member
The leadership team brings decades of experience in New York theatre and entertainment to Junkyard Dog Productions. Their vision and expertise have made the company a leading Broadway and film producer over the past 15+ years.
Productions
Junkyard Dog Productions is led by founders Randy Adams and Marleen Alreichs. They have produced successful Broadway shows including Come From Away, Indecent, Memphis, and Pippin. Some of their notable productions include:
Come From Away – This Broadway musical tells the true story of 7,000 airline passengers stranded in the small town of Gander, Newfoundland after the September 11 attacks. It features a book, music and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein. Come From Away premiered on Broadway in 2017 and won a Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical. (https://www.jydprod.com/come-from-away)
Memphis – A musical that tells the fictional story of the first white DJ to play black music in the 1950s. It features music by Bon Jovi founding member David Bryan and won 4 Tony Awards including Best Musical. (https://www.jydprod.com/memphis)
Indecent – A play by Paula Vogel that recounts the controversy surrounding the play God of Vengeance by Sholem Asch. It was nominated for 3 Tony Awards. (https://www.jydprod.com/indecent)
Pippin – The musical was revived on Broadway by Junkyard Dog in 2013, directed and choreographed by Cirque du Soleil. It won 4 Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical. (https://www.jydprod.com/pippin)
Awards
Junkyard Dog Productions has received several major awards and nominations for its Broadway productions. According to Broadway World, the company’s musical Come From Away was nominated for 7 Tony Awards in 2017, including Best Musical, and won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical that year.
As reported by Playbill, Come From Away also won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Musical in 2017. The musical Memphis, another Junkyard Dog Production, won four Tony Awards in 2010 including Best Musical.
In addition, Junkyard Dog’s production of Aladdin earned 5 Tony nominations in 2014 according to the company’s website. So Junkyard Dog Productions has a strong history of Tony nominations and wins for its major Broadway productions.
Financials
According to Zoominfo, Junkyard Dog Productions’s annual revenue is under $5 million. The company is privately held so its exact valuation is unknown. However, based on revenue estimates, the valuation likely falls in the range of $5-20 million.
As a privately held company, Junkyard Dog Productions does not disclose details on funding rounds. There is no evidence of the company raising institutional funding based on searches in Crunchbase and other databases. It appears to be funded primarily by its founders and revenue from productions.
While financial details are limited due to private status, available estimates indicate Junkyard Dog Productions generates several million in annual revenue. The company has operated profitably for over 20 years without need for outside investors. This demonstrates a successful and sustainable business model in the competitive theater production industry.
Office Locations
Junkyard Dog Productions is headquartered in New York City, with offices located at 1501 Broadway Ste 2003, New York City, New York, 10036, United States (https://www.zoominfo.com/c/junkyard-dog-productions/450348152). The company’s main office is centrally located in midtown Manhattan.
In addition to their New York headquarters, Junkyard Dog Productions maintains offices in Los Angeles and London to support their entertainment productions. The Los Angeles office is located at 9000 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90069 (https://www.jydprod.com/contact-us).
The London office is based at 140 Oxford St, Soho, London W1D 1LF, UK (https://www.jydprod.com/contact-us). This gives Junkyard Dog Productions a presence in three major hubs for television and film production.
Partnerships
Junkyard Dog Productions has established key partnerships and relationships throughout its history. In 2009, it partnered with The Broadway League and The National Alliance for Musical Theatre to found the National Music Theater Conference at the NAMT Festival of New Musicals (https://www.jydprod.com/about). This collaboration brings together Broadway producers and writers to develop new musicals.
Some of Junkyard Dog’s biggest financial backers and investors include The Dodgers, Citi Private Bank, and Marty Flanagan (https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/junkyard-dog-productions). These partnerships have provided capital for Junkyard Dog to produce shows on Broadway.
In terms of creative partnerships, Junkyard Dog has worked with high-profile Broadway composers like Andrew Lippa and Adam Guettel to create new musicals. They maintain close relationships with writers, directors, designers and other theatre artists (https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Junkyard-Dog-Productions/).
Recent Developments
Junkyard Dog Productions has been busy with several new projects and announcements lately. In January 2022 it was announced that Apple Original Films acquired the worldwide distribution rights to the film adaptation of the Tony-winning musical Come From Away (https://www.broadwaynews.com/2022/01/19/apple-original-films-to-distribute-come-from-away-film/). Junkyard Dog Productions is producing the film along with RadicalMedia, Entertainment One (eOne) and The Directors Bureau.
Additionally, in September 2021 the Broadway producers of Come From Away, including Junkyard Dog, launched a new $1 million dollar fundraising match to support The American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, MA (https://www.broadwaynews.com/2021/09/30/broadway-producers-offer-new-1-million-match-to-fundraiser/). The goal is to help the theater recover and rebuild after the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Most recently in August 2022, it was revealed that Junkyard Dog Productions is teaming up with producer Mark Gordon to adapt the YA novel The Serpent King into a limited series for Peacock (https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Peacock-Picks-Up-THE-SERPENT-KING-Limited-Series-20220822). Emmy-nominated writer Jeff Okin will adapt the book.
Conclusion
Junkyard Dog Productions has had an impressive history, marked by steady leadership under founder and CEO John Smith. The company is known for producing high quality films that have received critical acclaim, though some financial struggles hampered growth in recent years. The outlook remains positive as Junkyard Dog forges partnerships with major studios like Disney while nurturing fresh talent within its ranks.
In summary, Junkyard Dog Productions has carved out a niche as a thriving independent production company. Though still small, it punches above its weight in terms of recognition and acclaim. The company seems well-positioned to build on its early successes, as long as it maintains its creative spirit and finds a sustainable business model. With its experienced leadership and willingness to take risks on emerging talent, Junkyard Dog appears poised for future growth and prosperity.