Audible and Broadway Video Join Forces to Create Robust Slate of Original Audio Comedy Projects
Audible is committed to creating extraordinary, top-quality original audio content through thoughtful collaboration with leading innovators, creators and actors, said David Blum, Editor in Chief of Audible Originals.
Audible Inc., the world’s largest producer and distributor of
downloadable audiobooks and other spoken-word entertainment, today
announced a production deal with Broadway Video Enterprises to produce
multiple audio-only comedy originals specifically created for Audible
listeners. The multi-tiered collaboration kicks off with HEADS WILL
ROLL, created by Saturday Night Live breakout Kate McKinnon (The
Spy Who Dumped Me, Ghostbusters, Rough Night) and her creative
partner and sister, Emily Lynne (Our Cartoon President), and
featuring Meryl Streep, Tim Gunn, Peter Dinklage, Andrea Martin, Carol
Kane, Audra McDonald, Aidy Bryant, Alex Moffat, Heidi Gardner, Chris
Redd, Steve Higgins, Bob the Drag Queen, Esther Perel and Queer Eye’s
Fab Five. The next release from the Audible-Broadway Video collaboration
will be 63rd Man, an original comedy
from Bryan Tucker, Senior Writer of Saturday Night Live and Zack
Phillips (Above Average, The Kicker) and will star WWE
Superstar John Cena (Trainwreck, Sisters, Blockers, Bumblebee).
“Audible is committed to creating extraordinary, top-quality original
audio content through thoughtful collaboration with leading innovators,
creators and actors,” said David Blum, Editor in Chief of Audible
Originals. “We are delighted to work with Broadway Video, masters of
creative storytelling and comedy, to create this completely unexpected
and genre-defying entertainment.”
“Broadway Video is thrilled to partner with Audible in expanding our
comedy slate to include this format,” said Lorne Michaels.
“When we remember our favorite moments in sports, often the first things
that come to mind are sounds: the announcers, the crowd, the buzzer. 63rd
Man hopes to use audio to give the listener that same feeling, while
also being a funny character comedy,” said Bryan Tucker. “We're thrilled
to have John Cena as the lead. He proved his sports comedy chops on SNL
and hosting the ESPY's, and I know he will bring all his skills to this."
More Information:
Heads Will Roll, written by and starring Kate
McKinnon and Emily Lynne, is a workplace comedy about an evil queen who
just wants some peace and quiet. When a peasant uprising threatens her
reign, it’s off with her free time (and a few heads). Queen
Mortuana and her ditsy raven sidekick JoJo must find the prophesied
Shard of Acquiescence to put down the rebellion and save her throne. Heads
Will Roll features performances from Meryl Streep, Tim Gunn, Peter
Dinklage, Andrea Martin, Carol Kane, Audra McDonald, Aidy Bryant, Alex
Moffat, Heidi Gardner, Chris Redd, Steve Higgins, Bob the Drag Queen,
Esther Perel, and Queer Eye’s Fab Five. HEADS WILL ROLL is
executive produced by Broadway Video’s Britta von Schoeler and produced
by Austin Breslow. Will Rogers and Ian Stearns are executive producers
for Audible.
63rd Man is
written by Bryan Tucker (Saturday Night Live senior writer and
Peabody Award winner) and Zack Phillips (Above Average, Upright
Citizens Brigade Theater) and stars WWE Superstar and actor John
Cena as Billy Foster, a college football star who's just barely not good
enough to play in the pros. Like an aspiring actor looking for his “big
break”, Billy will take any tryout, exhibition or gig – no matter how
suspect – in hopes of being noticed and getting onto an NFL roster.
These productions join a robust slate of Audible Originals, exclusive
audio entertainment created by celebrated storytellers from the worlds
of theater, journalism, comedy, literature and more. Audible Originals
offer powerful performances created for listeners by award-winning
actors, writers and comedians, spanning every genre and length.
ABOUT AUDIBLE, INC.
Audible,
Inc., an Amazon.com, Inc. subsidiary (NASDAQ:AMZN), is the leading
provider of premium digital spoken audio content, offering customers a
new way to enhance and enrich their lives every day. Audible content
includes more than 475,000 audio programs from leading audiobook
publishers, broadcasters, entertainers, magazine and newspaper
publishers, and business information providers.
ABOUT BROADWAY VIDEO
Broadway Video is a global media and entertainment company focused on
the creation and distribution of premier content. Founded by Lorne
Michaels in 1979, Broadway Video’s legacy originated with the cultural
icon Saturday Night Live. Broadway Video has since built a
stable of television programs including The Tonight Show
Starring Jimmy Fallon, Documentary Now!, Late
Night with Seth Meyers, A.P. Bio, Miracle Workers, The
Other Two, Detroiters, Portlandia, and 30 Rock and
feature films such as Wayne’s World and Mean Girls. Broadway Video has
also created and launched the digital studios Above Average, Más Mejor,
and The Kicker.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190219005346/en/