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Brian Becker And Scott Zeiger Announce The Formation Of
BASE Entertainment - A Global, Live Entertainment Company
Live Entertainment Veterans Open Offices in New York, Las Vegas and Houston
(May 5, 2006 -- New York, NY) Accomplished live entertainment executives
Brian Becker and Scott Zeiger announced today the formation of BASE
Entertainment, a producer, presenter, venue programmer, and operator involved in
live, theatrical entertainment and content on a worldwide basis. Partnered with
Los Angeles-based private equity firm, Clarity Partners, LP, BASE Entertainment
recently acquired interests in numerous properties from Live Nation (NYSE: LYV),
including Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom – The Las Vegas Spectacular, Cirque du
Soleil’s Delirium, rights to build and operate two venues in the newly branded
Planet Hollywood Las Vegas’ Resort & Casino and the Broadway-bound original
musical Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me.
Through a combination of development and acquisition, Becker and Zeiger will
continue to grow BASE Entertainment from its initial properties into a
worldwide, live entertainment company whose portfolio of projects already
includes Broadway and touring theatrical productions, entertainment venues, Las
Vegas attractions and various intellectual properties.
“Brian, Scott and the management team at BASE are among the most successful
executives working in live entertainment today and have helped affect
significant changes in the industry including the creation of the largest
national networks for touring theatrical productions, music amphitheaters, live
entertainment sponsorships and specialized motor sports entertainment,”
expressed Stephen Rader, Managing General Partner of Clarity Partners. “We have
known the BASE team for over a decade and watched them develop these concepts
within the framework of Clear Channel Entertainment, SFX and PACE. We believe
the groundwork has been planted to create a pre-eminent live entertainment
vehicle.”
“What a pleasure it is to be in business with BASE,” stated Bernie
Brillstein, founding partner of Brillstein-Grey Entertainment. “I’m impressed
with the honesty, integrity and efficiency with which they operate. The next
show I do and represent, I will be doing with them all over again.” Brillstein
represents actor and comedian Martin Short who is currently starring in a BASE
production, the original musical Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, currently
previewing in San Francisco.
“It takes an open and visionary mind to understand the kind of work we
create. With Brian and Scott, a trust has developed over the years that we’ve
never had with any other organization. Their creativity and dedication is in
concert with everything that Cirque du Soleil stands for and we will be working
on many projects in the future,” said Daniel Lamarre, President and CEO of
Cirque du Soleil.
Although many projects are in development, currently BASE Entertainment’s
ventures include:
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Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom – The Las Vegas
Spectacular – in partnership with leading live event producer Live Nation,
the legendary Broadway show opens in an excitingly re-imagined $35 million
production in a $40 million state of the art, custom-built opera house at
the Las Vegas Sands’ (NYSE: LVS) Venetian Resort Hotel. With a score by
Andrew Lloyd Webber and directed by legendary Harold Prince, the 90-minute
live spectacle opens late June 2006. |
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Planet Hollywood Las Vegas Resort Theatres –
BASE is constructing and will program and operate both a 7,000-seat state of
the art theatre for performing arts and a flexible 1,450 seat showroom at
the newly-branded Planet Hollywood Las Vegas Resort & Casino. BASE will also
develop, produce, and organize shows for both theatrical venues. |
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Cirque du Soleil’s Delirium -- BASE is an
associate producer of this Cirque du Soleil/Live Nation global arena touring
production, which began performances January 2006. |
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Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me – Broadway-bound
comedy musical starring the Emmy and Tony Award-winning Martin Short,
written by Tony Award-winning team of Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman
(Hairspray). Arrives on Broadway July 2006 after engagements in San
Francisco, Toronto and Chicago. |
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MBST Creative Partnership – BASE is joining
forces with MBST, a full-service management company that produces film,
television and live stage productions and has a roster of more than 35
clients, representing an array of Oscar, Tony, Emmy and Grammy-winning
artists including Robin Williams, Billy Crystal and Woody Allen. The joint
venture will create theatrical and comedic attractions for Broadway, Las
Vegas and touring markets. MBST is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CKX, Inc. |
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Gordie Brown Comedy Show – BASE is producing
this renowned stand-up comedian, impressionist/musician in a custom built
700-seat performance space at The Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. The $2.5
million production begins performances in August 2006. |
“Brian and Scott possess vast knowledge and experience in the area of live
entertainment,” said Robert G. Goldstein, President and Chief Operating Officer
of The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino. “They are industry leaders in the field who
also have a keen understanding of the nuances involved with doing business in
Las Vegas. Our relationship on Phantom – Vegas is a perfect fit.”
“We are fortunate and very excited to have acquired such wonderful properties
as we launch our new company. These projects involve some of the most successful
and creative talent in the entertainment industry,” said Co-Chief Executive
Officer Brian Becker.
“In addition to what we’ve announced, we have several exciting projects in
development,” said Co-Chief Executive Officer Scott Zeiger. “As our vision calls
for substantial creation of live entertainment, we’re also thrilled to have Live
Nation as an ally, partner and friend as we build our platform.”
BASE has offices in New York, Las Vegas and Houston. For more information
visit www.baseentertainment.com.
ABOUT BASE:
Brian Becker
Brian Becker is an entertainment industry veteran with more than 20 years of
experience building and managing worldwide live entertainment businesses. From
2000 to 2005 Becker served as Chairman and CEO of Clear Channel Entertainment,
establishing and operating national, industry-leading businesses in the music,
theater, motor sports, exhibitions, properties and sports agency industries.
During his tenure, he was named one of the 100 Most Powerful People in
Entertainment by “Entertainment Weekly” Magazine for four consecutive years.
From 1998 – 2000, Becker served as Executive Vice President and Director of SFX
Entertainment, and previously as the CEO and President of PACE Entertainment. He
serves on the Community in Schools, Gibson Guitar Corporation and other boards.
His career has included worldwide music tours (U2 and Madonna); Tony
Award-winning productions (The Producers and The Who’s Tommy); star athlete
management (Michael Jordan and Andre Agassi) and venue development (Boston Opera
House and Philadelphia/Camden Tweeter Center).
Scott Zeiger
Scott Zeiger has been producing and presenting live entertainment events and has
been an industry leader for over 20 years. In 2005 Zeiger founded and served as
Chairman and CEO of Clear Channel Entertainment’s newly formed Productions
Group. Prior to forming this new division, Zeiger served as CEO of CCE’s North
American Theatrical division from 2000 to 2005. From 1998 to 2000, Zeiger served
as President of SFX Theatrical Group and managed a period of sustained growth in
the Company’s international acquisition and producing efforts. As a founding
executive of PACE Theatrical Group in 1983 until the Company’s acquisition by
SFX Entertainment, Zeiger served in several capacities, from Vice President of
Marketing to President. He began his live entertainment career producing events
as an undergraduate and graduate student at the University of Florida. Zeiger
has earned five Tony Awards as a producer and many others for his productions,
including “The Who’s Tommy”, “The Producers”, and Billy Crystal’s “700 Sundays”.
He sits on the executive committee of the League of American Theatres and
Producers and the Tony Management Committee.
Clarity Partners, LP
Clarity Partners is a Los Angeles-based private equity firm with over $800
million in committed capital focused exclusively on investments in
communications, media, and business services. All of the senior members of the
Clarity team have been successful investors in these industry segments over long
investment careers and have had diverse and accomplished senior level operating
and financing experience. Other current Clarity investments in media companies
include ImpreMedia, Oxygen Media, Liberation Entertainment, Crescent
Entertainment/Village Roadshow Pictures, and Vue Entertainment.
www.claritypartners.net
CONTACT:
Michael Hartman
Barlow-Hartman Public Relations
212.398.1800
michael@barhart.com
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