David Ian

David Ian Lane (born Chadwell Heath, England in 1961), is a former actor and now a theatre producer who The Stage has called "the most powerful man in UK theatre".^[1]

Biography

Formerly the chairman of Live Nation’s global theatrical division, he was one of the judges in the BBC TV series How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?. In the 1980s, David took part in the A Song For Europe contest twice, finishing in 2nd place on both occasions. In 1984, as part of the group First Division with the song Where The Action Is, and in 1986 as part of the group Jump, performing Don't Hang Up On Love.

The son of a Railway Fitter and a Personal Assistant, Ian started as an actor and starred in a number of UK theatre productions, including the musicals Time (musical), The Pirates of Penzance, Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Rocky in The Rocky Horror Show. He is known professionally as David Ian as the name David Lane was already taken when he applied to actors union Equity.^[2]

In 1990 Ian met Paul Nicholas while they were both starring in a production of The Pirates of Penzance at the London Palladium. The pair created a partnership, Paul Nicholas & David Ian Associates Ltd. The company has since produced shows, including:

• Jesus Christ Superstar
• Grease
• Rocky Horror Show
• Ain't Misbehavin'
• Singin' in the Rain
• Evita
• Chess
• Happy Days
• Saturday Night Fever

In 2006 he founded David Ian Productions, based in London’s Covent Garden. It currently produces or co-produces and/or general manages The Sound of Music (UK Tour and Toronto), Grease (London and North American Tour), La Cage Aux Folles (London), Chicago (UK Tour), Flashdance (UK Tour), and 'Britain’s Got Talent – Arena Tour'. In 2008 DIP, together with Arlene Phillips, Universal and ITV Productions, produced a new musical drama series for ITV 1 called Britannia High, with music by Gary Barlow.^[3]

How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?

In 2006, Ian and Andrew Lloyd-Webber agreed to be co-producers on a production of the The Sound of Music. After approaching and being turned down by actress Scarlett Johansson to play the role of Maria von Trapp,^[4] they approached the BBC, and created the reality TV show How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?, hosted by Graham Norton.

On 20 August 2006, it was reported that Lloyd-Webber had taken legal action against Ian. Lloyd-Webber reportedly wanted to take the show's format to the United States to cast a Broadway theatre production of Grease. Lloyd-Webber discovered that Ian had already brought the idea to NBC, who announced they will look for unknowns to play Sandy Olsson and Danny Zuko, via reality TV show You're The One That We Want with Ian and the BBC, leaving Lord Lloyd-Webber furious. Ian said "I don't understand the problem. Andrew has no connection with the stage show Grease, which I have successfully produced in the UK. There is a new production of Grease on Broadway in the spring of 2007, that's why I've been asked to judge on You're The One That We Want."^[5]

Personal life

David Ian met his actress wife Tracy in pantomime during Christmas 1990. The couple live in Buckinghamshire with their two children.

References

1. ^ Smith, Alistair (4 January 2006). "David Ian tops new Stage 100 list". The Stage. http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/11142/david-ian-tops-new-stage-100-list. Retrieved 4 April 2007. 
2. ^ The Wright Stuff, Channel 5 TV, 4 June 2008
3. ^ David Ian Productions | Official site
4. ^ "Johansson denies West End demands". BBC News. 27 July 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5220584.stm. Retrieved 4 January 2007. 
5. ^ "David Ian: 'I don't understand Andrew's problem'". WENN via Yahoo! News. 20 August 2006. http://uk.news.yahoo.com/20082006/364/david-ian-don-t-understand-andrew-s-problem.html. Retrieved 4 January 2007. ^{[dead link]}

External links

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Name	Ian, David
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Date of birth	1961
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