Key Brand Entertainment Inc. To Merge Broadway.com Group Sales And Broadway Across America Group Sales Divisions With Group Sales Box Office

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Apr 24, 2012, 02:09 ET

NEW YORK, April 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- John Gore, CEO and owner of Key Brand Entertainment, announced today the merger of Broadway.com's group sales and Broadway Across America's group sales with Group Sales Box Office (Stephanie Lee, President). Stephanie Lee will lead the joint venture as its President in consultation with Jerome Kane, Co-CEO with Matt Kupchin of Key Brand Entertainment's interactive division under the supervision of Miles Wilkin, Chief Operating Officer of Key Brand Entertainment. The joint venture will be based in New York at Broadway.com's office and will operate under the name Group Sales Box Office (GSBO).

John Gore remarked, "This joint venture is the perfect opportunity to align the group sales of these great companies. Broadway.com's rich content makes it the number one source for information and a top choice for groups and single ticket buyers to purchase tickets to their favorite shows, such as Wicked, The Lion King and The Book of Mormon in New York. We will continue to service group ticket buyers for the touring Broadway shows through Broadway Across America and are pleased to have the benefit of Stephanie Lee's expertise and leadership at the helm."

Miles Wilkin added, "Stephanie Lee and GSBO are an excellent strategic fit to complement the continued growth of Broadway.com and to continue to expand upon the ticketing services we provide to our customers across the country."

Co-CEOs Matt Kupchin and Jerome Kane remarked, "We remain focused on innovating Broadway.com's e-commerce platform to engage existing theatergoers while also reaching new audiences that share the passion for Broadway, including through our recently launched iPad app, enhanced editorial content in Broadway Across America touring markets, mobile website and social media tie-ins."

Stephanie Lee added, "I am delighted that Group Sales Box Office will be joining John Gore and the rest of the Broadway.com team. After decades of building Group Sales Box Office into a leading provider of group tickets it is the perfect time to join these companies. This merger will enable us to deliver the highest quality service and value to our groups' clients and shows including through programs such as the Broadway Co-op, Broadway Classroom and GSBO Club Program. Our mission is simple: bring groups to Broadway and provide quality customer service."

Founded in 1960, Group Sales Box Office has been a crucial economic engine and staple for Broadway. Ms. Lee has been with the business for over twenty years and its owner and President for ten, where as an entrepreneur she has focused on growing audiences for Broadway shows.

Led by CEO and Owner John Gore and Chairman and Owner Thomas B. McGrath, Key Brand Entertainment, Inc. wholly owns both Broadway.com and Broadway Across America. Broadway.com is a growing e-commerce website and under the direction of Editor in Chief Paul Wontorek, a leader for editorial theater coverage. Broadway.com's editorial coverage includes breaking news, interviews, opening-night photo ops, performance footage, theater reviews and original video features. A 2009-2010 Broadway League survey reported that Broadway.com is the number one destination for theatre goers looking for theater information. The website offers sales of single tickets, group tickets and gift cards. Broadway Across America presents first-class touring Broadway musicals and plays such as the smash hits Wicked and Disney's The Lion King, the upcoming touring productions of War Horse and The Book of Mormon, and other live events throughout a network of 43 North American cities. Under the supervision of Beth Williams Broadway Across America is also dedicated to the development and production on new and diverse theatre. Current and upcoming Broadway productions include How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying; The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess; Godspell; Jesus Christ Superstar; Memphis; One Man, Two Guvnors; Priscilla Queen of the Desert; and the New York and touring productions of Million Dollar Quartet. Stephanie Lee will be joining and collaborating with current Key Brand Executives Miles C. Wilkin COO and EVP; Beth Williams CEO Theater Division; Lauren Reid President Theater Division; Matt Kupchin Co-CEO Interactive Division and Chief Technology Officer; Jerome Kane Co-CEO Interactive Division; Paul Dietz Chief Financial Officer and Seth Popper, General Counsel and EVP.