(New York, NY -- February 19, 2008) Nick Scandalios, Executive Vice President of The Nederlander Organization, will be presented The Commercial Theater Institute’s Robert Whitehead Award for “outstanding achievement in commercial theatre producing” at a reception on Tuesday, March 11, at Sardi's Restaurant.

The Robert Whitehead Award, established in 1993 by The Commercial Theater Institute (CTI), honors “outstanding achievement in commercial theatre producing” by a graduate of CTI. “Nick Scandalios's career at The Nederlander Organization involves the responsibility for the strategic, as well as day-to-day producing decisions of literally dozens of Broadway and road productions,” said Jed Bernstein, CTI's Program Director. “Nick's combination of brains, taste and class are several of the same traits that made Robert Whitehead one of the theatre's most beloved producers. I'm sure Mr. Whitehead would be proud to have such a talented producer following in his footsteps.”

“We are delighted that Nick has been recognized with this prestigious and meaningful award. As an Executive Committee member of The Broadway League, we know how proud he is of his association with CTI,” commented Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director, The Broadway League. “His dedication to Broadway, and his tireless efforts in encouraging a next generation of theater professionals, makes this recognition well-deserved.”

Victoria Bailey, Theatre Development Fund’s Executive Director added, “Robert Whitehead produced over 80 Broadway productions and they included original works by the greatest playwrights of the 20th Century -- including Arthur Miller, Eugene O’Neill, William Inge and Harold Pinter. TDF is honored to be connected with the award that bears Mr. Whitehead’s name and we congratulate this year’s recipient, Nick Scandalios.”

CTI is the nation’s only formal training program, which professionally trains commercial theatre producers. A joint project of The Broadway League and Theatre Development Fund, CTI was founded in 1981 by the late Frederic B. Vogel. The five decade long career of legendary producer Robert Whitehead inspired this award. Mr. Whitehead died in 2002.

Nick Scandalios is the Executive Vice President of the Nederlander Organization, one of the largest owners of legitimate theatres in the world, as well as one of the largest theatrical producing organizations in North America. He serves on the Executive Committee of The Broadway League and on the Board of Trustees for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. This year marks his 21st anniversary with the Nederlander Organization. The Nederlander family owns or operates theatres in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Diego, Detroit, Tucson, San Francisco, North Charleston and London. The Nederlander Organization is currently represented on Broadway by the following productions: Grease, Wicked, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Disney’s The Lion King, Rent, Hairspray and Legally Blonde. Upcoming productions include In The Heights and Cry Baby. Nick is a 1988 graduate of the CTI program.

The Commercial Theater Institute presented the first Robert Whitehead Award in 1993 to Benjamin Mordecai (Gem of the Ocean, Brooklyn) and Susan Quint Gallin (Other People’s Money, Man of LaMancha, Monty Python's Spamalot).
Subsequent honorees include: Dennis Grimaldi (Annie Warbucks, London Suite) in 1994; Kevin McCollum (Rent; Avenue Q) in 1995; Randall L. Wreghitt ( Little Women, Hedda Gabler) in 1996; Marc Routh (The Producers, Sweeney
Todd) in 1997; Liz Oliver (Wait Until Dark, Last Night of Ballyhoo) in 1998; Eric Krebs (Toxic Audio, Electra) in 1999; Anne Strickland Squadron ( Bill Maher: Victory Begins at Home, The Herbal Bed) in 2000 and David Binder (A Raisin in the Sun, Legally Blonde) in 2004.

Since its inception, The Commercial Theater Institute has provided resources and guidance to over 5,000 fledgling theatre producers. The Commercial Theater Institute, now in its 27th year, is the nation’s only formal program that professionally trains commercial theatre producers. It is a joint project of The Broadway League and Theatre Development Fund.
Both organizations are committed to encouraging and nurturing the next generation of theatre producers. Each year, CTI offers three comprehensive programs. The first is a three-day seminar that covers the legal, financial and managerial aspects of producing and is open to all applicants. The three-day program will be held this spring on May 2-4, 2008. The second, to which application is restricted, is a fourteen-session program presenting a comprehensive look at numerous aspects of theatrical producing in the commercial arena. CTI’s next fourteen-session seminar will begin in January 2009. Last fall, CTI introduced a third program, the Creative Development Intensive, a 6-part seminar which targeted those interested in the creative development process and the producer’s role therein.

For information and registration, please contact CTI at 1501 Broadway, Suite 1915, New York, NY 10036 • (212) 586.1109 or their Web site:
www.commercialtheaterinstitute.com.

Commercial Theater Institute is a joint project of The Broadway League, Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director and Theatre Development Fund, Victoria Bailey, Executive Director.