Cody Lassen

{{Short description|American theater producer and consultant}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Cody Lassen | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_date = <!-- {{birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} for living people supply only the year unless the exact date is already widely published, as per WP:DOB --> | birth_place = Kenosha, Wisconsin, U.S. | alma_mater = {{unbulleted list | University of Notre Dame (MBA) | DePaul University (BA) }} | occupation = Producer, Consultant | years_active = | known_for = | notable_works = Revival of ''Spring Awakening'' | website = {{URL|www.codylassen.com}} }}

'''Cody Lassen''' is an American Tony Award-winning and Grammy nominated theater producer and consultant. He is best known for producing the revival of ''Spring Awakening'', which won him an Ovation Award<ref name="LATimes">{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-2015-ovation-awards-spring-awakening-trevor-20151109-story.html |title=Ovation Awards 2015: Wins for Deaf West's 'Spring Awakening,' Circle X's 'Trevor' |work=Los Angeles Times |author=Jessica Gelt |date=November 10, 2015 |access-date=February 7, 2016}}</ref> and a Tony nomination.<ref name="tonyawards.com">{{Cite web |url=http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/nominees/index.html |title=The Tony Award Nominees – All Categories |website=TonyAwards.com |access-date=2016-05-03}}</ref>

==Career==

Lassen was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He earned his MBA from the University of Notre Dame<ref name=SBNation>{{cite web |url=http://www.outsports.com/2015/3/18/8203085/gay-notre-dame-football-tickets |title=Gay Notre Dame students can buy football tickets for their spouses |publisher=SB Nation |author=Cyd Zeigler |date=March 18, 2015 |access-date=February 7, 2016}}</ref> and graduated from DePaul University.<ref name=DePaul>{{cite web |url=http://depaulmagazine.com/2015/11/27/businessman-on-broadway-cody-lassen-snl-06/ |title=Businessman on Broadway: Cody Lassen (SNL '06) |work=DePaul Magazine |date=November 27, 2015 |access-date=February 7, 2016}}</ref>

He held live entertainment management positions with Nielsen and NBCUniversal. While at NBCUniversal, Lassen was active in their corporate diversity initiatives and was part of the team that led the company to be named one of the best places to work for LGBT employees.<ref name=GLAAD2 /> In addition to producing his own projects, Lassen consulted for major studios, producers, theatres and agencies. He oversaw marketing efforts for Los Angeles' Center Theatre Group<ref name=DePaul /> and was a production assistant for several films and TV series.<ref name=IMDb>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0489818/ |title=Cody Lassen |publisher=IMDb |access-date=February 7, 2016}}</ref>

His Broadway productions include ''Indecent'' and revival of ''Spring Awakening'' and co-productions include ''Macbeth'' starring Alan Cumming, "''Significant Other''", ''The Band's Visit'', and ''Torch Song''.<ref name=DePaul /><ref name=World>{{cite web |url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Jenny-Sterlin-and-Brendan-Titley-Join-Alan-Cumming-in-MACBETH-Performances-to-Begin-47-20130328 |title=Jenny Sterlin and Brendan Titley Join Alan Cumming in Macbeth; Performances to Begin 4/7 |publisher=Broadway World |date=March 28, 2015 |access-date=February 7, 2016}}</ref><ref name=Macbeth>{{cite web |url=http://www.macbethonbroadway.com/company.html |title=The Company |publisher=Macbeth on Broadway |date=2013 |access-date=February 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130212185710/http://www.macbethonbroadway.com/company.html |archive-date=February 12, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

When Lassen joined the production of the Deaf West Theatre revival of ''Spring Awakening'' in 2015, it premiered at Inner-City Arts' Rosenthal Theater in L.A. Under his production management, the show went on to win six Ovation Awards (with 15 nominations), including best musical in two categories, intimate theater and large theater. The latter was won by Lassen together with the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts and Deaf West Theatre.<ref name=LATimes />

Lassen teamed up with producers Ken Davenport and the Deaf West Theatre,<ref name=Variety /> and transferred the show from the 99-seat Los Angeles production to Broadway in just 366 days, an unprecedented feat.<ref name=Stage>{{cite web |url=http://thisstage.la/2015/08/deaf-wests-spring-awakening-from-99-seat-to-broadway/ |title=Deaf West's Spring Awakening: From 99-Seat to Broadway |publisher=This Stage Magazine |author=Maureen Lee Lenker |date=August 11, 2015 |access-date=February 7, 2016}}</ref> The production opened at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre in September 2015.<ref name=Variety>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2015/legit/news/deaf-west-spring-awakening-broadway-1201535233/ |title=Deaf West's 'Spring Awakening' Snags Broadway Theater for Fall Run |publisher=Variety |author=Gordon Cox |date=July 7, 2015 |access-date=February 7, 2016}}</ref> For the show, performed in both American Sign Language and spoken English,<ref name=NY>{{cite web |url=http://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/news/nytg15/springawakening557946.htm |title=Matlin & Manheim to depart Spring Awakening early |publisher=New York Theatre Guide |author=Tom Millward |date=December 14, 2015 |access-date=February 7, 2016}}</ref> the producers were honored with the Champion of Change Award by the New York Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities for their "efforts to increase diversity and inclusivity on Broadway."<ref name=Playbill>{{cite web |url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/spring-awakening-producers-honored-for-inclusion-and-diversity-on-broadway-368050 |title=Spring Awakening Producers Honored for Inclusion and Diversity on Broadway |publisher=Playbill |author=Joe Gambino |date=October 20, 2015 |access-date=February 7, 2016}}</ref> The show was a success on Broadway and was even performed at the White House.<ref name=White>{{cite web |url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/SPRING-AWAKENINGs-White-House-Performance-Will-Be-Live-Streamed-on-1118-20151113 |title=Spring Awakening's White House Performance Will Be Live-Streamed on 11/18 |publisher=Broadway World |date=November 13, 2015 |access-date=February 7, 2016}}</ref>

He partnered with Daryl Roth to transfer the critically acclaimed Paula Vogel play ''Indecent'' to Broadway in the 2016/17 season<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/cody-lassen-494600 |title=Cody Lassen – Broadway Cast & Staff |website=ibdb.com|access-date=2018-05-19}}</ref> where it was honored with two Tony Awards for Best Direction and Best Lighting, and nominated for Best Play.

Lassen's upcoming projects include ''How I Learned To Drive'', a Pulitzer-winning play by Paula Vogel opening on Broadway in 2021, with much of the original cast and creative team from its off-Broadway debut 23 years prior, ''Alice By Heart'', a new musical by Duncan Sheik, Steven Sater and Jessie Nelson, premiering at MCC Theater in February 2019;<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/new-duncan-sheik-musical-alice-by-heart-sets-world-premiere-1096407 |title=New Duncan Sheik Musical 'Alice by Heart' Sets World Premiere |work=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=2018-05-19 |language=en}}</ref> and ''Some Lovers'', a new musical by Burt Bacharach and Steven Sater opening at the Adirondacks Theatre Festival in June 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.atfestival.org/event/some-lovers/ |title=Some Lovers |website=atfestival.org |date=February 19, 2018 |language=en-US |access-date=2018-05-19}}</ref>

==Other activities==

Cody serves on the board of New York's Vineyard Theatre and is a member of The Broadway League, The Recording Academy, Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the National Association of Musical Theatre and the Off-Broadway League.

He serves as vice-chair of the board of GLAAD, an LGBT advocacy organization.<ref name=GLAAD1>{{cite web |url=http://www.glaad.org/about/board |title=GLAAD's Board of Directors |date=September 2011 |publisher=GLAAD |access-date=February 7, 2016}}</ref>

==Private life==

Lassen lives in New York.<ref name=GLAAD2>{{cite web |url=http://www.glaad.org/about/board/codylassen |title=Cody Lassen (Malibu, CA) (May 2013 Present) |date=October 29, 2013 |publisher=GLAAD |access-date=February 7, 2016}}</ref>

==Productions==

* 2013, ''Macbeth'' (Broadway)<ref name=IBDB>{{cite web |url=http://www.ibdb.com/Person/View/494600 |title=Cody Lassen, producer |publisher=Internet Broadway Database |access-date=February 7, 2016}}</ref> * 2015, revival of ''Spring Awakening'' (Broadway)<ref name=IBDB /> * 2016, revival of ''Merrily We Roll Along'' (Los Angeles)<ref name=IBDB /> * 2016, ''Significant Other'' (Broadway)<ref name=IBDB /> * 2017, ''Indecent'' (Broadway)<ref name=IBDB /> * 2017, ''The Band's Visit'' (Broadway)<ref name=IBDB /> * 2018, ''Some Lovers'' (Regional)<ref name=IBDB /> * 2018, ''Torch Song'' (Broadway)<ref name=IBDB /> * 2019, ''Alice by Heart'' (Off-Broadway)<ref name=IBDB /> * 2019, ''Tootsie'' (Broadway)<ref name=IBDB /> * 2019, What the Constitution Means to Me (Broadway)<ref name=IBDB /> * 2019, ''The Flamingo Kid'' (Regional)<ref name=IBDB /> * 2020, ''Indecent'' (London)<ref name=IBDB /> * 2021, Thoughts of a Colored Man (Broadway)<ref name=IBDB /> * 2021, A Commercial Jingle for Regina Comet (Off-Broadway)<ref name=IBDB /> * 2022, ''How I Learned To Drive'' (Broadway)<ref name=IBDB /> * 2022, Hyprov (Off-Broadway)<ref name=IBDB /> * 2022, Picking Up Speed (Off-Broadway)<ref name=IBDB /> * 2024, The Notebook (musical) (Broadway)<ref name=IBDB /> * 2024, The Wiz (Broadway)<ref name=IBDB /> * 2024, Empire Records The Musical (Regional)<ref name=IBDB /> * 2024, Rutka (Regional)<ref name=IBDB /> * 2024, Maybe Happy Ending (Broadway)<ref name=IBDB /> * 2025, Othello (Broadway)<ref name=IBDB />

==Recordings==

* 2024, ''An Exploration of Hypnotic Sound'', Co-Producer<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 21, 2024 |title=Rialto Records Announces the Release of New Album "An Exploration of Hypnotic Sound" by Asad Mecci and Rufus Wainwright |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/rialto-records-announces-release-album-150000655.html |access-date=November 21, 2024 |website=Yahoo}}</ref> * 2024, ''The Match'' (from Rutka: a new musical), Producer <ref>{{Cite web |first1=Logan |last1=Culwell-Block |first2=Andrew |last2=Gans |date=October 29, 2024 |title=Get a 1st Listen to 'The Match' From New Musical Rutka |url=https://playbill.com/article/get-a-1st-listen-to-the-match-from-new-musical-rutka |access-date=October 30, 2024 |website=Playbill.com}}</ref> * 2024, ''Picking Up Speed'' (World Premiere Recording), Producer<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gans |first=Andrew |date=August 8, 2021 |title=Recording of Alex Wyse Solo Musical Picking Up Speed Released August 8 |url=https://playbill.com/article/recording-of-alex-wyse-solo-musical-picking-up-speed-released-august-8 |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=Playbill |language=en}}</ref> * 2022, ''A Commercial Jingle for Regina Comet'' (Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording), Producer<ref>{{Cite web |last=Culwell-Block |first=Logan |date=November 15, 2021 |title=A Commercial Jingle for Regina Comet Plans Off-Broadway Cast Album |url=http://www.playbill.com/article/a-commercial-jingle-for-regina-comet-plans-off-broadway-cast-album |access-date=2021-11-16 |website=Playbill |language=en}}</ref> *2021, ''Some Lovers (musical)'' (Concept Album), Producer<ref>{{Cite web |title=Iconic Broadway Pairs Perform on Burt Bacharach and Steven Sater's Some Lovers|url=https://www.theatermania.com/broadway/news/burt-bacharach-steven-sater-some-lovers-album_92876.html|access-date=2021-11-16|website=theatermania.com|date=October 14, 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref> * 2019, ''Alice by Heart (musical)'' (Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording),<ref name=PB20190202>{{cite web |url=http://www.playbill.com/article/duncan-sheik-and-steven-saters-alice-by-heart-to-record-cast-album |title=Cody Lassen, executive producer |publisher=Playbill |access-date=February 2, 2019}}</ref> Executive Producer * 2017, ''Indecent'' (Original Broadway Cast Recording),<ref name=BW20190202>{{cite web |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Original-Broadway-Cast-of-INDECENT-Will-Release-Cast-Recording-20190108 |title=Cody Lassen, executive producer |publisher=BroadwayWorld |access-date=February 2, 2019}}</ref> Executive Producer

==Film and television== * 2025, ''Actual Nobodies'' (feature film), Producer<ref>{{Citation |last=Wyse |first=Alex |title=Actual Nobodies |type=Comedy, Drama |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37717840/ |access-date=2025-08-31 |others=Didi Conn, Will Chase |publisher=Cody Lassen & Associates}}</ref> * 2023, ''Summoning Sylvia'' (feature film), Producer<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ritman |first=Alex |date=February 16, 2023 |title=Berlin: Entertainment Squad Acquires LGBTQ Horror Comedy 'Summoning Sylvia' (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/lgbtq-horror-comedy-summoning-sylvia-entertainment-squad-acquisition-1235326319/ |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en}}</ref> * 2020, ''Indoor Boys'' (digital series), Executive Producer<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meyer |first=Dan |date=February 16, 2023 |title=Alex Wyse and Wesley Taylor's Indoor Boys Scores Big at 2020 Indie Series Awards |url=https://playbill.com/article/alex-wyse-and-wesley-taylors-indoor-boys-scores-big-at-2020-indie-series-awards |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=Playbill |language=en}}</ref>

==Awards and nominations== * 2015: winner of a Champion of Change Award for ''Spring Awakening''<ref name=Playbill /> {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Award ! Category ! Nominated work ! Result ! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |- |2015 | Ovation Award | Best Musical – Intimate Theatre | ''Spring Awakening'' | {{win}} | |- |2015 | Ovation Award | Best Musical – Large Theatre | ''Spring Awakening'' | {{win}} | |- |2016 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Revival of a Musical or Revue | ''Spring Awakening'' | {{nom}} |{{center|<ref name=IBDB />}} |- |2016 | Tony Award | Best Revival of a Musical | ''Spring Awakening'' | {{nom}} |{{center|<ref name= IBDB />}} |- |2017 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Musical or Revue | ''Indecent'' | {{nom}} |{{center|<ref name= IBDB />}} |- |2017 | Tony Award | Best Play | ''Indecent'' | {{nom}} |{{center|<ref name= IBDB />}} |- |2018 | Tony Award | Best Musical | ''The Band's Visit'' | {{win}} |{{center|<ref name= IBDB />}} |- |2019 | Tony Award | Best Play | ''What The Constitution Means To Me'' | {{nom}} |{{center|<ref name= IBDB />}} |- |2019 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Play | ''What The Constitution Means To Me'' | {{nom}} |{{center|<ref name= IBDB />}} |- |2019 | Tony Award | Best Revival of a Play | ''Torch Song'' | {{nom}} |{{center|<ref name= IBDB />}} |- |2019 | Drama Desk Award || Outstanding Musical | ''Tootsie'' | {{nom}} |{{center|<ref name= IBDB />}} |- |2019 | Tony Award | Best Musical | ''Tootsie'' | {{nom}} |{{center|<ref name= IBDB />}} |- |2021 | Grammy Award | Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album | ''Burt Bacharach & Steven Sater's Some Lovers'' | {{nom}} |{{center|<ref name= IBDB />}} |- |2022 | Drama Desk Award || Outstanding Play | ''How I Learned to Drive'' | {{win}} |{{center|<ref name= IBDB />}} |- |2022 | Tony Award | Best Revival of a Play | ''How I Learned to Drive'' | {{nom}} |{{center|<ref name= IBDB />}} |- |}

== References == {{Reflist|2}}

== External links == * {{IBDB name|494600}} * {{IMDb name}} * {{Official website|https://codylassen.com/}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lassen, Cody}} Category:University of Notre Dame alumni Category:American theatre managers and producers Category:People from Kenosha, Wisconsin Category:DePaul University alumni Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:LGBTQ people from Wisconsin Category:LGBTQ theatre managers and producers Category:Living people Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people Category:Businesspeople from Malibu, California Category:LGBTQ people from California