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was hired to oversee business operations as producer. McKenzie went on to form the
Peninsula Players Theatre Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization created to operate the theater. In 1978 Carroad sold the property to McKenzie, who maintained ownership until 1993, when the Peninsula Players Theatre Foundation purchased the theater. McKenzie remained executive producer until his death in 2001
319:, vice president of the Council of Stock Theaters, president of the Council of Resident Summer Theaters, executive producer of the Connecticut Theater Foundation, a trustee of the Actors' Equity Association Pension and Health Fund, a member of the Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers, the Actors' Equity Association and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.
192:, McKenzie worked all over the United States as a stage manager, press agent, actor, stagehand, producer and general manager. In the professional theatre, his career spanned more than half a century working on over 2,000 productions. He was the producer or general manager of numerous regional theatres, including the famed
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In 1946 a canvas tent was erected over the audience to provide them shelter from the weather, and in 1957 a pavilion with open canvas sides was built as a permanent structure. In 1960, the theater was at public auction, where it was purchased by
Kenneth Carroad. Long-time “Player”, James B. McKenzie,
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in Fish Creek, WI, Mineola (Long Island) Playhouse and the Royal
Poinciana Playhouse in Palm Beach, FL. McKenzie produced over 60 national and international tours including tours of Russia, Japan, and South America. In the early 1950s he helped create over 100 original live television shows for NBC,
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to transform the interior of the barn into a theatre. In 1931, the first production at the
Westport Country Playhouse was presented. Over its history more than 700 plays have been produced and almost four million people have attended. Performers included Helen Hayes, Henry Fonda, Ethel Barrymore,
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McKenzie was
Executive Producer for the Westport Country Playhouse for 41 years beginning in 1959. He resigned on January 1, 2000, to focus on commercial theatre, and continued as executive producer of the Peninsula Players Theatre Foundation in Wisconsin and the presidency of CORST (Council of
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McKenzie was ACT's chief administrator from 1969 to 1985, helping to steer the company through its precarious years under founder and general director
William Ball. It was said that McKenzie's practical instincts and placid good nature formed an essential counterweight to Ball's mercurial
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McKenzie was the recipient of the St. Mary Alumni
Achievement Award, the Conservator of American Arts Award, the Connecticut Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Contribution to Theatre, and was presented a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Town of Westport in 1998.
249:® Best Actress in a Play nomination went to Estelle Parsons for her portrayal of Catherine Reardon, and the 1971 Tony Award® Best Featured Actress in a Play was won by Rae Allen for her performance of Fleur Stein.
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231:, Written by William F. Brown and directed by Marc Daniels and starring Susan Brown, Bruce Hyde, and Marjorie Lord, opened May 18, 1967. In November 14, 1972, he co-produced
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at the Geary
Theater in 1969 was accredited for saving ACT from financial ruin. As a producer he elevated the company's financial state with a 15-month run of
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He received his BA from the
University of Iowa and his MA from Columbia University. He served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific during World War II.
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Tyrone Power, Jessica Tandy, Gene Kelly and
Tallulah Bankhead. More than 75 original works premiered at the theater and produced on Broadway.
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The American Conservatory Theater, which Mr. McKenzie led from 1962 to 1982, was awarded the Tony Award® for best regional theater in 1979.
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in Westport, CT, Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ, the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, CA, the
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168:(May 1, 1926, Appleton, Wisconsin – February 20, 2002) was an American theater producer best known for heading
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525:"ARTS IN AMERICA: Act Naturally, Onstage or Off; Part Commune, Part Camp, Theater Clings to Tradition"
289:. They purchased a 100-year-old cow barn in an apple orchard of Westport. They commissioned designer
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In 1930, the playhouse was founded by American theater legend Lawrence Langner and his wife,
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377:"Producer James B. McKenzie, Westport Country Playhouse's Shepherd, Dead at 75"
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as well as mounting numerous other touring productions to San Francisco.
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502:"Westport's James B. McKenzie Resigns From CT Summer Stock Theatre"
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For Broadway, McKenzie co-produced three original plays including
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422:"James McKenzie, 75, Executive Producer of Westport Playhouse"
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He also co-owned the Merrill-McKenzie advertising agency.
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He is the father of David McKenzie, Kevin McKenzie,
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235:starring Maureen Stapleton and Florence Stanley.
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327:James B. McKenzie died on Feb. 20, 2002 in
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476:"James B. McKenzie-- theatrical producer"
317:League of American Theatres and Producers
69:Learn how and when to remove this message
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32:This article includes a list of general
572:American theatre managers and producers
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245:received two Tony Award® nominations.
238:Written by Paul Zindel and directed by
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315:McKenzie was an active member of the
16:American theater producer (1926-2002)
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233:The Secret Affairs of Mildred Wild
38:it lacks sufficient corresponding
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474:Winn, Steven (28 February 2002).
523:Belluck, Pam (August 13, 1998).
243:And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little
217:And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little
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227:which opened on Feb 25, 1971.
170:the Westport Country Playhouse
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400:"James B. McKenzie, Producer"
275:Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope
253:American Conservatory Theater
229:The Girl in the Freudian Slip
174:American Conservatory Theater
146:American Conservatory Theater
450:. Internet Broadway Database
269:and imported productions of
298:Summer Resident Theatres).
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557:Internet Broadway Database
281:Westport Country Playhouse
194:Westport Country Playhouse
142:Westport Country Playhouse
478:. San Francisco Chronicle
355:and Agatha Barrows Kerr.
261:McKenzie's production of
198:Peninsula Players Theatre
53:more precise citations.
329:Norwalk, Connecticut
115:Norwalk, Connecticut
448:"James B. McKenzie"
190:Appleton, Wisconsin
98:Appleton, Wisconsin
398:Taylor, Markland.
291:Cleon Throckmorton
553:James B. McKenzie
335:Awards and honors
302:Peninsula Players
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109:February 20, 2002
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582:2002 deaths
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122:Nationality
94:May 1, 1926
59:August 2012
51:introducing
566:Categories
504:. Playbill
379:. Playbill
359:References
247:Tony Award
176:, and the
130:Occupation
34:references
402:. Variety
219:starring
347:Personal
267:Godspell
211:Broadway
156:Children
133:Producer
125:American
555:at the
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47:improve
184:Career
172:, the
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536:2012
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263:Hair
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