Sony Music Masterworks, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, has announced a strategic venture with Roast Productions, a London-headquartered live entertainment company that produces theatre, concerts, and family entertainment events.
Roast Productions, founded and led by experienced producers Bonnie Royal and Michael Stevens, will continue steering the company’s day-to-day operations while collaborating with Sony Music Masterworks on developing new productions. Their collaboration will be further bolstered by Mark Cavell, President of Sony Music Masterworks, and Ollie Rosenblatt, founder and CEO of Senbla, a UK-based producer and promoter of live shows globally.
Senbla, which Masterworks acquired in 2019, licenses, produces, and manages global intellectual property rights. It has worked on diverse projects like the Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse concert, Michael Bublé‘s shows, Diana Ross‘s UK Arena Tour, and theatrical productions like Six on Broadway.
Royal brings a wealth of experience to the partnership, having overseen an extensive portfolio of productions throughout her career. Her credits include 11 seasons of Peppa Pig in London’s West End, the family title The Smartest Giant in Town, and marketing for productions like Kenneth Branagh’s Plays at the Garrick season, which included Romeo and Juliet starring Lily James and Richard Madden, as well as Hairspray at the London Coliseum.
“I’m absolutely delighted to welcome Bonnie and Michael to the Sony Music Masterworks family. Their creativity and expertise will further support our endeavors in securing and creating new quality and original live productions that will captivate and entertain audiences across the globe.”
Mark Cavell, Sony Music Masterworks
Stevens, with over 20 years in the performing arts industry, has worked as an executive producer with organizations including the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Melbourne Festival and Arts Centre Melbourne. In London, he co-founded Fiery Angel Entertainment, bringing Circus 1903 to the city and producing shows like Guys and Dolls at the Royal Albert Hall.
Together at Roast Productions, they boast a repertoire of recent and ongoing productions, including Macbeth starring Ralph Fiennes and Indira Varma, 2:22 A Ghost Story in the West End, the Christmas variety show Christmas Actually curated by Richard Curtis, and the new musical Cowboy Bob in Houston, Texas.
The collaboration extends beyond theatrical productions, with Roast providing production, general management, and marketing services for a wider range of events.
Roast Productions recently signed strategic agreements with National Theatre Productions and Various Productions for the co-production of Standing at the Sky’s Edge opening in February, and with Ambassador Theatre Group as the Creative Producer for the inaugural Wimbledon Children’s Festival launching this summer.
“I’m absolutely delighted to welcome Bonnie and Michael to the Sony Music Masterworks family. Their creativity and expertise will further support our endeavors in securing and creating new quality and original live productions that will captivate and entertain audiences across the globe, and provide first-class content for our other partners to promote and market,” Mark Cavell, President of Sony Music Masterworks, said in a statement.
Sony Music Masterworks focuses on recording, producing, and promoting primarily non-pop music and live entertainment experiences. It curates film and television soundtracks, managing vast archives including Star Wars, The Phantom of the Opera, and Memoirs of a Geisha.
“It is an absolute honor to join Sony Music Masterworks and develop new work and new markets together. The strength of its vision and values makes it the ideal partner for us as we develop a diverse body of work in the UK and internationally.”
Bonnie Royal and Michael Stevens, Roast Productions
Commenting on the deal, Roast Productions’ Bonnie Royal and Michael Stevens said, “It is an absolute honor to join Sony Music Masterworks and develop new work and new markets together. The strength of its vision and values makes it the ideal partner for us as we develop a diverse body of work in the UK and internationally.”
This venture marks the latest in a series of strategic acquisitions and partnerships for Sony Music Masterworks. Its network boasts companies like Culture Creative, GEA Live, The Luna Entertainment Group, MAC Global, Proactiv Entertainment, Raymond Gubbay Ltd., RoadCo Entertainment, Seaview, Senbla, and Terrapin Station Entertainment.
Back in July, Terrapin Station acquired production services company Black Ink Presents, known for its “live-to-film” shows, for an undisclosed sum.
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