Freddie Gershon

Gershon studied classical music at the Juilliard School.{{cite web|url=https://gawker.com/551542/freddie-gershon|title=Freddie Gershon|date=February 3, 2008|publisher=Gawker}} He graduated from Columbia Law School in 1964.{{cite web|url=https://www.law.columbia.edu/media_inquiries/news_events/2016/april2016/Manges-lecture-2016|title=A Writer Shaped by Columbia Law School|date=April 8, 2016|publisher=Columbia Law School}}

Gershon's clients included film director Michael Ritchie, choreographer Ron Field, playwright Tom Eyen, rock band Chicago,{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29278433/the_baltimore_sun/|title=Freddie Gershon Blows the Lid Off Rock 'N' Roll With Novel|date=May 27, 1986|work=The Baltimore Sun}} drummer Pete Best,{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1986-10-21-8603190176-story.html|title=Making Book on the Pop Music Minefield|date=October 21, 1986|publisher=The Chicago Tribune}} and writer Shel Silverstein.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29278433/the_baltimore_sun/|title=Freddie Gershon Blows the Lid Off Rock 'N' Roll With Novel|date=May 27, 1986|work=The Baltimore Sun}}

In 1976, Gershon became Robert Stigwood's partner in RSO Records,{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29279523/philadelphia_daily_news/|title=The Hotshot|date=October 8, 1986|publisher=Philadelphia Daily News}} which he represented on landmark concert tours, including the Broadway production and film Jesus Christ Superstar,{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1986-10-21-8603190176-story.html|title=Making Book on the Pop Music Minefield|date=October 1, 1986|publisher=The Chicago Tribune}} as well as Eric Clapton,{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29278433/the_baltimore_sun/|title=Freddie Gershon Blows the Lid Off Rock 'N' Roll With Novel|date=May 27, 1986|work=The Baltimore Sun}} the Bee Gees,{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1986-10-21-8603190176-story.html|title=Making Book on the Pop Music Minefield|date=October 1, 1986|publisher=The Chicago Tribune}} and the financing of Tommy the film.{{cite web|url=https://www.tonyawards.com/news/freddie-gershon-building-the-broadway-audience-by-empowering-young-performers/|title=Freddie Gershon: Building the Broadway Audience by Empowering Young Performers|date=June 3, 2012|publisher=The Tony Awards}}

Later, Gershon partnered with CBS and Allan Carr to produce a breakthrough album for Plácido Domingo, Goya: A Life in Song,{{cite web|url=https://www.tonyawards.com/news/freddie-gershon-building-the-broadway-audience-by-empowering-young-performers/|title=Freddie Gershon: Building the Broadway Audience by Empowering Young Performers|date=June 3, 2012|publisher=The Tony Awards}} as well as the Broadway show, La Cage aux Folles.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/02/theater/on-stage.html|title=On Stage|date=September 2, 1988|work=The New York Times}} He also produced Evita,{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1986-10-21-8603190176-story.html|title=Making Book on the Pop Music Minefield|date=October 21, 1986|publisher=The Chicago Tribune}} Saturday Night Fever, Grease,{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-aug-14-me-33894-story.html|title=Staging a Play, and Exploring Possibilities|date=August 14, 2001|work=The Los Angeles Times}} and Gallipoli.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29279523/philadelphia_daily_news/|title=The Hotshot|date=October 8, 1986|publisher=Philadelphia Daily News}}

Since 2018, Gerson has been co-chairperson of Music Theatre International (MTI), which licenses amateur rights to Broadway shows.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/02/mti-drew-cohen-global-ceo-music-theatre-international-1202298077/|title=Theater Licenser MTI Elevates Drew Cohen To Global CEO|date=February 21, 2018|publisher=Deadline}} At MTI, Gershon developed the Broadway Junior Program, which brings art, theater, dance, and music to children.{{cite web|url=https://www.mtishows.com/broadway-junior|title=Broadway Junior® has all the ingredients you need.... Just add kids!|date=February 21, 2018|publisher=Music Theatre International}}

Gershon's book Sweetie, Baby, Cookie, Honey, is a roman a clef novel about the music industry of 1960s through 1980s.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-09-28-ca-9459-story.html|title=2 NOVEL APPROACHES TO ROCK TRUTH|work=Los Angeles Times|author=Patrick Goldstein|date=28 September 1986|accessdate=16 June 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/freddie-gershon/sweetie-baby-cookie-honey/|title=SWEETIE BABY COOKIE HONEY Review|publisher=Kirkus Reviews|date=3 October 1986|accessdate=16 June 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/entertainment/books/1986/11/30/making-beautiful-money-together/2be1c67d-96d6-4f7b-a0e7-1ff58870519c/|title=Making Beautiful Money Together|author=Christopher Schemering|date=30 November 1986|newspaper=Washington Post|accessdate=16 June 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Rea |first1=Steven |title=A PRODUCER'S 'INSIDE' NOVEL ON THE MUSIC BIZ (book review) |publisher=Philadelphia Inquirer |date=7 October 1986}}{{cite news |last1=Van Matre |first1=Lynn |title=MAKING BOOK ON THE POP MUSIC MINEFIELD (book review) |publisher=Chicago Tribune |date=21 October 1986}}

After Freddie and Myrna Gershon in 2013 tracked the effects of a musical theater program for autistic children, the couple executive produced a 2014 documentary profiling the program, titled Spectrum of Hope, directed by Danny Mendoza.{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/04/making-theater-autism-friendly/388348/|title=Making Theater Autism-Friendly|first=Vidya|last=Viswanathan|date=6 April 2015|website=The Atlantic}}

Gershon's latest project is Broadway Senior, which adapts shows, such as Into the Woods, for senior citizens.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/05/theater/into-the-woods-senior.html|title=Into Their 60s and 'Into the Woods'|first=Adam|last=Hetrick|date=July 5, 2019|website=The New York Times}}{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/mtis-broadway-senior-creates-musical-theatre-for-a-new-generation-of-performersthe-senior-citizen-generation|title=MTI's Broadway Senior Creates Musical Theatre for a New Generation of Performers—the Senior Citizen Generation|first=Nancy|last=Coleman|date=July 12, 2019|website=Playbill}}

Gershon has been active in charities such as the ArtsConnection, and has served as vice chairperson of the Development Committee for New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.{{cite web|url=https://artsconnection.org/freddie-myrna-gershon/|title=Freddie and Myrna Gershon Transforming Lives and Building Community|date=28 June 2018 |publisher=ArtsConnection}}

Gershon also created the Freddie G Fellowship, which each year selects eight theater instructors to attend an all-expenses-paid, four-day trip to New York City to work one-on-one with industry professionals in seminars, master classes, and Broadway shows. Each teacher's school also receives $5,000 from Gershon and his wife, Myrna, to enhance their respective arts programs.{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-freddie-g-fellow|title=What Does It Mean for Teachers to Be Named a Freddie G Fellow?|first=Sarah Jane|last=Arnegger|date=25 August 2017|website=Playbill}}

In 2010, Gershon created and funded, with his wife, Myrna, the Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Awards. The awards provide grants to outstanding teachers in the United States.{{cite web|url=https://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/28/kennedy-center-to-award-grants-in-honor-of-sondheim/|title=Kennedy Center to Award Grants in Honor of Sondheim|first=Patrick|last=Healy|date=September 28, 2010|website=The New York Times}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-grant-program-will-honor-sondheim-reward-teachers-2010sep28-story.html|title=Grant program will honor Sondheim, reward teachers|first=Brett|last=Zongker|date=September 28, 2010|website=The San Diego Union-Tribune}}

In 2012 Gershon was awarded a Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre for creating Broadway Junior.{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/recipients-of-tony-honors-for-excellence-in-the-theatre-announced-com-188312|title=Recipients of Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre Announced|first=Andrew|last=Gans|date=12 March 2012|website=Playbill}}{{cite web|url=https://tonyawards.com/|title=Freddie Gershon: Building the Broadway Audience by Empowering Young Performers|author=|date=|website=tonyawards.com}}

The New York Historical Society honored Gershon and his wife, Myrna at the 2013 American Musicals Project Benefit for the couple's philanthropic work benefitting children through performing arts.{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/ny-historical-society-to-honor-mtis-freddie-and-myrna-gershon-com-205157|title=NY Historical Society to Honor MTI's Freddie and Myrna Gershon|first=Adam|last=Hetrick|date=7 May 2013|website=Playbill}}

Gershon lives in New York City with his wife, Myrna.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/11/realestate/a-getaway-apartment-in-your-own-building.html|title=A Getaway Apartment, in Your Own Building|first=Joanne|last=Kaufman|date=August 9, 2013|website=The New York Times}}

Gershon grew up in Bayside, NY with his close friend Eddie Birnbaum (who passed away on April 23, 2022) for whom he wrote a long, loving and remarkable New York Times death notice.{{Cite web |title=EDDIE BIRNBAUM Obituary (2022) New York Times |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nytimes/name/eddie-birnbaum-obituary?id=34470627 |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=Legacy.com}}

Gershon is married to former Screen Gems motion picture marketing executive, Myrna Gershon. She is widely credited as the mastermind behind the creation of Flintstones Chewable Vitamins. {{cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/myrnaprehistoricjourneyto_b_754675|title=Myrna's Prehistoric Journey to Yabba Dabba Do|first=Freddie|last=Gershon|date=7 October 2010|website=HuffPost}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.freddiegershon.com Fredie Gershon official website]
• [http://www.mtishows.com/ Music Theatre International official website]
• [http://www.tisch.nyu.edu/page/home NYU's Tisch School of the Arts]
• [http://www.broadwayjr.com/ Broadway Junior Program official website]

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