Quick Facts
Biography
Cody Lassen is an American theater producer and consultant. He is best known for producing the revival of Spring Awakening, which won him an Ovation Award and a Tony nomination.
Career
Lassen was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He earned his MBA from the University of Notre Dame and graduated from DePaul University.
He held live entertainment management positions with Nielsen and NBCUniversal. While at NBCUniversal, Lassen was active in their corporate diversity initiatives and was part of the team that led the company to be named one of the best places to work for LGBT employees. In addition to producing his own projects, Lassen consulted for major studios, producers, theatres and agencies. He oversaw marketing efforts for Los Angeles' Center Theatre Group and was a production assistant for several films and TV series.
His theater co-productions included Macbeth starring Alan Cumming.
When Lassen joined the production of the Deaf West Theatre revival of Spring Awakening in 2015, it premiered at Inner-City Arts' Rosenthal Theater in L.A. Under his production management, the show went on to win six Ovation Awards (with 15 nominations), including best musical in two categories, intimate theater and large theater. The latter was won by Lassen together with the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts and Deaf West Theatre.
Lassen teamed up with producers Ken Davenport, Hunter Arnold, and the Deaf West artistic Director David J. Kurs, and transferred the show from the 99-seat Los Angeles production to Broadway in just 366 days, an unprecedented feat. The production opened at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre in September 2015. For the show, performed in both American Sign Language and spoken English, the producers were honored with the Champion of Change Award by the New York Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities for their "efforts to increase diversity and inclusivity on Broadway." The show was a success on Broadway and was even performed at the White House.
Lassen's upcoming projects include a revival of Merrily We Roll Along in Los Angeles and Indecent, a play with music by Paula Vogel opening on Broadway April 18, 2016.
Other activities
Cody serves on the board of New York's Vineyard Theatre and is a member of The Broadway League, the National Association of Musical Theatre and the Travel and Tourism Research Association.
He serves as Vice-chair of the board of GLAAD, an LGBT advocacy organization.
Private life
Lassen lives in Malibu and maintains an office in New York.
Productions
- 2013, Macbeth (Broadway)
- 2015/2016, revival of Spring Awakening (Broadway)
- 2016, Merrily We Roll Along (Los Angeles)
- 2016, Significant Other (Broadway)
- 2016, Indecent (Broadway)
- ^ "Cody Lassen, producer". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
Awards and nominations
- 2015: winner of a Champion of Change Award for Spring Awakening
- 2015: winner of an Ovation Award for Spring Awakening
- 2016: nominee for Drama Desk for 2016 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Revival of a Musical or Revue for Spring Awakening
- 2016: nominee for Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical for Spring Awakening