Global theatrical production company Lively McCabe Entertainment, based in Ridgewood, announced Feb. 15 that it acquired Broadway Theater Workshops, a year-round theatrical training company that works with children in grades three through 12.
In residence at the Inserra Theater at Saint Joseph Regional High School in Montvale, BTW offers private lessons, master classes, full-scale productions and a summer camp program. Neil Berg and John Asselta founded BTW in 2002 to address the need for training for students in Bergen County’s and Rockland County, N.Y.’s highly competitive high school musical programs.
Its instructors are working professionals, many with Broadway experience, including Rita Harvey (“Phantom of the Opera”), Michael Park (“Dear Evan Hansen”), John Treacy Egan (“The Producers”), Robin Irwin (“Titanic”), Richard Todd Adams (“Les Miserables” and “Cats”), Maria Eberline (“Wicked”), Michael Kostroff (“The Wire” and “The Producers”) and Betsy Wolfe (“Waitress”).
Lively McCabe was represented in the transaction by Jisoo Kim of law firm Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, Jason Giordano of JGS CPA PC, and Barron International Group’s Jack Ferrer and Lisbeth Barron. A purchase price was not disclosed.
The new Broadway Theater Workshops logo – LIVELY MCCABE ENTERTAINMENT
“We’re thrilled that Lively McCabe has been entrusted by John Asselta to become the stewards of the BTW legacy that he and Neil started over 20 years ago,” Michael Barra, CEO of Lively McCabe, said in a prepared statement. “Our team is looking forward to working with the BTW staff and instructors to continue to serve musical performance students in Bergen, Rockland, and Westchester counties and beyond as we look for opportunities to expand the reach of the BTW brand.”
Asselta added, “It’s been extremely rewarding for the last 20 years to watch BTW help young actors grow in their performance skills and mature in their life skills. I am both assured and excited to know Lively McCabe will add enthusiasm and fresh ideas to our successful program and will carry the BTW flag forward helping many young performers for years to come.”
Lively McCabe’s performances have included “Clue,” currently playing at the Paper Mill Playhouse; “Cluedo,” touring the U.K.; “Punk Rock Girl” by Joe Iconis, playing at The Argyle Theatre; and “May We All” in partnership with Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley, playing at Playhouse on the Square in Memphis.
