Craig Zadan

Craig Zadan
Born	April 15, 1949 (1949-04-15) (age 62) Miami, Florida, USA
Occupation	Producer, Director, Writer
Nationality	United States of America

Craig Zadan (born April 15, 1949) is an American executive producer, director, and writer. Zadan is openly gay^[1] and is one half of the successful production team Storyline Entertainment with partner Neil Meron since their meeting many years ago in the New York theatrical community.

Early life

Zadan was born in Miami, Florida. He moved with his family from Florida to New York City when he was 2 years old. He wrote for New York magazine and also contributed articles to such publications as After Dark. He co-produced a Broadway tribute to Stephen Sondheim, Sondheim: A Musical Tribute, featuring Angela Lansbury and Alexis Smith in 1973. He wrote a book relating the "behind-the-scenes" of the musicals of composer Stephen Sondheim titled "Sondheim & Co." in 1976, which has been updated with a subsequent edition and revisions until 1990. Meron invited Zadan to speak at a lecture series at Brooklyn College, and they became professional partners upon Meron's 1976 graduation. They worked for Joseph Papp at the Public Theater before going to California in the early 1980s to work for Peter Guber.^[2][3]

Storyline Entertainment

The duo is rapidly becoming a power force in the entertainment industry known for their careful planning, adherence to budget and uncompromising eye toward quality and honesty in their projects. The Zadan/Meron team is transforming film and television production with a philosophy and culture which is favorable to both studios and actors, yet retaining a high level of fiscal responsibility.

The legacy of Zadan/Meron works has shown specialization in reviving the film musical genre with particular note to their box office successes of Chicago and Hairspray, both based on Broadway musicals.

One hallmark of Zadan's musical remakes is cameo appearances of persons connected with earlier productions. For example, Andrea McArdle, who originated the title role in Annie on stage, featured prominently in Zadan's televised version. Chita Rivera appears briefly in Chicago; she played "Velma Kelly" in the original 1975 production.

But his film of Hairspray has the record number so far. From the original film, it featured John Waters (writer/director) as "the flasher who lives next door;" Jerry Stiller ("Wilbur Turnblad") as "Mr. Pinky;" and Rikki Lake ("Tracy") as a reporter. On the soundtrack, Lake joins Nikki Blonsky and Marissa Jaret Winokur ("Tracy" from the Broadway production) to sing "Mama I'm a Big Girl Now" over the closing credits, and Harvey Fierstein (Broadway's "Edna") can be heard briefly soon after. Mink Stole ("Tammy" in the original film) appears as the smoking woman on the street whom Waters flashes, and is also seen in the musical number, "Welcome to the 60's." Corey Reynolds ("Seaweed" in the Broadway production) appears on the soundtrack as singer of "Trouble on the Line."

Back, from Storyline Entertainment and CBS Paramount Network, is a 2009 CBS television pilot which centers on a man (Skeet Ulrich) who disappeared in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks- but who suddenly shows up, eight years later. The story follows him as he reconnects with his family and adjusts to a world that has dramatically changed. Dean Widenmann is the writer and will serve as supervising producer, while Storyline's Zadan and Neil Meron will be executive producers.

Filmography

• Footloose (1984) (producer)
• Sing (1989) (producer)
• If Looks Could Kill (1991) (producer)
• Gypsy (1993) (executive producer)
• Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story (1995) (executive producer)
• Cinderella (1997) (executive producer)
• Annie (1999) (executive producer)
• Brian's Song (2001) (executive producer)
• Chicago (2002) (executive producer)
• The Music Man (2003) (executive producer)
• 16th GLAAD Media Awards (2005) (executive producer)
• Wedding Wars (2006) (producer)
• Filthy Gorgeous (2006) (producer)
• The Banshee and Fin Magee (2007) (producer)
• Hairspray (2007) (producer)
• Living Proof (2008) (executive producer)
• Family Man (2008) (executive producer)
• A Raisin in the Sun (2008) (producer)
• The Bucket List (2008) (producer)
• The Mayor of Castro Street (2009) (producer; about life around Castro Street)
• Fahrenheit 451 (2009) (producer)

Awards and nominations

In 2008, Zadan and Meron were awarded the "Career Achievement Award" by the Casting Society of America. He has been nominated for the Emmy Award eight times, along with his co-executive producer Meron (and the respective producers).

References

1. ^ Moylan, Brian (June 24, 2005), "Not worth repeating", Washington Blade, http://www.washblade.com/2005/6-24/arts/television/tv.cfm, retrieved 2007-10-25 
2. ^ Zadan and Meron Career glbtq.com, accessed September 7, 2009
3. ^ "Sondheim: A Musical Tribute" sondheim.com, accessed September 7, 2009

External links

• Craig Zadan at the Internet Movie Database
• Storyline Entertainment
• Sondheim & Co (2nd ed.) by Zadan, Craig New York: Harper & Row, 1986.
• Internet Broadway Database listing
• Internet Off-Broadway Database listing

Persondata
Name	Zadan, Craig
Alternative names
Short description	American film director
Date of birth	April 15, 1949
Place of birth	Miami, Florida, USA
Date of death
Place of death