Leo Burnett New York Announces New Off-Broadway Production, 8 Million Protagonists

NEW YORK, Oct. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Leo Burnett New York announced plans to launch an Off-Broadway play in NYC called 8 Million Protagonists, building from the success of its creative platform NewYorkWritesItself.com – the platform recently won a 2012 Cannes Gold Lion in the inaugural year of the Branded Content & Entertainment category. And now, New York Writes Itself is heading to the big stage.

"Thanks to the technological age we are living in, those great stories that might have otherwise vanished on the streets can now make their way onto the real stage. The show is wild, beautiful, funny, honest, crazy, intimate and at times emotional. Don't miss it," says LBNY Chief Creative Officer Jay Benjamin.

Premiering this November as a first of its kind Off-Broadway production, 8 Million Protagonists is a crowdsourced theatre play with its plot driven by the online submissions from everyday New Yorkers at NewYorkWritesItself.com. These submitted stories capture the real, uncensored streets of New York, and for the first time are being brought to life as a theatre production that reflects the reality entertainment of NYC streets - as the play's description states it is "An Off-Broadway play written by the streets of New York."

"By bringing the real stories of New Yorkers to the stage, 8 Million Protagonists is a new model of theatre that New Yorkers have played a genuine part in helping to create - you can't make up the stuff that happens every day in NY so this will definitely be a different type of show," says LBNY Executive Creative Directors Michael Canning and Kieran Antill.

8 Million Protagonists takes you on a journey that captures the true essence of New York City. The audience will meet a variety of bizarre and quirky characters that make New York so special. From the nervous newcomers to the hardened natives, New York is presented through the eyes of New Yorkers real stories.

"The Village Voice has dozens of writers, but the NewYorkWritesItself.com platform has allowed us to engage a writing staff of 8 million New Yorkers. To see these real stories and experiences of New Yorkers come to life in 8 Million Protagonists is something we're extremely excited about, and a first of its kind in New York theatre," says Village Voice Publisher Josh Fromson.

8 Million Protagonists premieres November 1 at 9th Space (150 1st Avenue) and will run with limited performances through November 10, 2012.

Tickets & more information at 8millionprotagonists.com

Location:
9th Space theatre
150 1st Avenue New York, NY 10009
New York, NY 10009
Located in downtown Manhattan, 1st Ave between E 9th St and E 10th St

Price:
$20.00 per seat

Show Nights:
Thursday, November 1, 2012, 8PM
Friday, November 2, 2012, 8PM
Saturday, November 3, 2012, 2PM and 8PM
Wednesday, November 7, 2012, 8PM
Thursday, November 8, 2012, 8PM
Friday, November 9, 2012, 8PM
Saturday, November 10, 2012, 2PM and 8PM

Credits:
Advertising Agency: Leo Burnett New York
Advertising Agency City: New York
Chief Creative Officer(s): Jay Benjamin
Executive Creative Director(s): Michael Canning and Kieran Antill
EVP General Manager: Tom Jump
EVP Managing Director: Tom Flanagan
Assistant Account Executive: Emily Brau
Copywriter(s): Simen Braathen, Michael Canning
Art Director(s): Stian Bugten, Kieran Antill
Designer: Steve Jordao
Cultural Architect: Max Goodwin
Executive Producer: Jeremy Fox

Production Company: LB Entertainment
Playwright: Caitlin Gallo
Director: Stephen Bishop Seely
Choreography: Jimmy Burgio
Production Producer(s): Shaina Stigler, Lance Bryant

Village Voice Publisher: Josh Fromson
Village Voice President and COO: Scott Tobias
Village Voice Marketing Director: Rosemary Jorda
Village Voice Marketing Manager: Christina Pettit
Village Voice Web Editor: Nick Greene
Village Voice Online Operations Manager: Tara McGuiness

About Leo Burnett
Leo Burnett Worldwide, part of Publicis Groupe, is one of the world's largest agency networks with 96 offices and nearly 10,000 employees. In 2012, the global network was awarded a record-breaking 55 Lions at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity and was also named "Network of the Year" by YoungGuns, Dubai Lynx and MENA Cristal Awards. A HumanKind communications company, Leo Burnett Worldwide has a simple and singular approach: put a brand's purpose at the center of communications to truly connect with people. Leo Burnett works with some of the world's most valuable brands including The Coca-Cola Company, Fiat, Kellogg's, McDonald's, Nintendo, P&G, Samsung and Tata among others. To learn more about Leo Burnett Worldwide visit our site, Facebook page and follow us via @leoburnett.

SOURCE Leo Burnett New York