André Ptaszynski facts for kids

André Ptaszynski (born May 7, 1953 – died July 29, 2020) was a British producer who worked in theatre and television. He helped create and manage many famous shows and plays. From 2005 to 2011, he was the Chief Executive of the Really Useful Group, a big company known for musicals.

Early Life and Learning

André Ptaszynski was born in Ipswich, England. His father was from Poland, and his mother was English. André went to Jesus College, Oxford University, where he studied English.

His Career in Theatre and TV

André Ptaszynski was a very important person behind the scenes in many popular shows. He helped bring musicals and TV series to life.

Producing Big Musicals

André was a lead producer for the musical Groundhog Day, which started in London and then moved to Broadway in New York. He also worked as the President and Head of Programming for Andrew Lloyd Webber's theatre group in London's West End. This group owns famous theatres like the London Palladium.

He was also an Executive Producer for Matilda the Musical around the world. This show has been very successful in London, New York, on tour in the US, and in Australia.

Working with the Really Useful Group

From 2000 to 2011, André held top jobs at the Really Useful Group and Really Useful Theatres. During this time, he helped produce new versions of famous musicals like Evita and Love Never Dies, which is a follow-up to The Phantom of the Opera.

He was also an executive producer for Bombay Dreams and the Our House musical, which featured music by the band Madness.

To find new stars for their musicals, André's team at the Really Useful Group used TV talent shows. These shows, like How Do You Solve a Problem like Maria? and Any Dream Will Do, helped choose the main actors for popular musicals. He also helped produce Priscilla, Queen of the Desert in London.

Before the Really Useful Group

Before 2000, André had his own company that made theatre and TV shows. He helped produce five musicals that won important awards in the 1990s, including:

• Return to the Forbidden Planet
• Show Boat
• Tommy
• Chicago
• Spend Spend Spend

He also helped many famous comedians perform, such as Rowan Atkinson, Dave Allen, Rik Mayall, Victoria Wood, Eddie Izzard, and The League of Gentlemen.

Television Projects

André produced several TV series for the BBC. One show he produced was Joking Apart, a sitcom that won an award at the Montreux Television Festival in 1995. He also produced Chalk, another sitcom about a school, which aired on BBC One in 1997.

His last TV projects included The Lenny Beige Television Show and The Hidden Camera Show with Ainsley Harriott.

Leadership Roles

André was the president of the Society of London Theatre, which supports theatre in London. He was also on the board of the Royal National Theatre from 2001 to 2010.

Personal Life

André Ptaszynski married Judith Terry in 1985. They had four children: Anna, Jamie, Rebecca, and Charlie. André passed away on July 29, 2020, when he was 67 years old.