Tony and Emmy Award-winning producer Scott Sanders has just been named creative head of global entertainment, a newly created role, at Westfield Corporation.
As part of the deal, his Scott Sanders Theatrical Productions, responsible for the widely lauded musical revival “The Color Purple,” has been wholly acquired by Westfield, the New York-based company announced on Wednesday.
Along with his existing plans to bring several productions to Broadway — including “Tootsie,” “Coal Miner’s Daughter” and “Up Here” — and to make the movie adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda‘s “In the Heights,” Sanders will also be developing “organically-inspired” theatrical experiences for the company’s many shopping centers in cities including London, Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York.
“The writers are busily at work and we’re excited about what they’re doing,” Sanders told TheWrap of his upcoming Broadway and film productions.
When it comes to the plan to bring innovative entertainment to the company’s shopping centers, he said “the possibilities are infinite.” No specific plans have been laid out yet but, added Sanders, “I am eager to collaborate with artists at the top of their fields in all mediums to bring immersive entertainment to Westfield consumers.”
“This continues our tradition of making our centres about more than just shopping,” said Westfield co-CEO Peter Lowy in a statement.
Sanders’ decades-long career has touched many areas of entertainment, including Michael Jackson’s 1993 Super Bowl halftime show. He helped shape new programming at Radio City Music Hall, making it one of the highest-grossing theaters in the world.
Lisbeth R. Barron, Chairman & CEO, and the team at Barron International Group, LLC, was the financial advisor to Scott Sanders Theatrical Productions for the transaction.