Education NewsJohn Prignano Named Director of Education and Development at Music Theatre InternationalPrignano will also continue as the Chief Operating Officer.
By
Andrew Gans
August 07, 2018
John Prignano has been appointed to the newly created role of Director of Education and Development for Music Theatre International, the global leader in the Educational Theatre market, licensing musical theatre rights in the U.S. and around the world.
Prignano will also continue as the company’s Chief Operating Officer.
For over two decades, Prignano has been instrumental in coordinating the development of shows in MTI's Broadway Junior collection and School Editions, working with MTI's authors and partners to create abridged versions of Broadway musicals directed at the elementary, middle school, and high school markets. He has played a key role in identifying the obstacles that educators and community theatres face in producing musical theatre.
MTI President and CEO Drew Cohen stated, “John's two decades of work in theatrical licensing and, in particular, his dedication to driving the growth of the Amateur and Educational markets, have kept him in close contact with the large volume of schools and groups who license our authors' shows. His sensitivity to the goals, challenges and needs of these customers—including many whose performers have special needs—has allowed MTI to be both responsive to those needs and proactive in developing the means by which these groups are able to produce more musicals.
Cohen continued, “John's personal reach extends from groups with the youngest performers, through high schools and beyond, all the way to the Community Theatre and Professional/Regional theatre market. Importantly, a great deal of John's work involves supporting teachers and students in underserved schools with inadequate arts programs, schools and groups with students who have special needs, and performing arts centers that feature youth theatre programs. John's reach and impact have been simply immeasurable.”
In addition to his career at MTI, Prignano is on the board of directors of the Educational Theatre Association. He continues to work with the American Association of Community Theatre to develop programs to help better serve their members and make the right shows available for their stages. Prior to joining MTI, he was an accomplished performer/choreographer, who received a B.A. in Dance/Theatre from Montclair State College and traveled around the world as a performer in many musicals.
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