Utilizing songs from John Denver, one of America's most cherished songwriters and performers, A MOMENT IN TIME, is about a marine in Afganistan who, moments before a battle, recalls a safer, happier place. The new musical received its world premiere at the Dix Hills Performing Arts Center in New York, June 2010.
"Lane’s passion for entertainment and depth of knowledge are evident in this invaluable step-by-step approach to theater production." - Booklist Read the Reviews!
Storny Weather
With glamour, grace and an inner fire that blazed a trail for generations, the legendary Lena Horne has never failed to amaze!
Nov. 16th, 2009: Stewart F. Lane and wife Bonnie Comley were honored at the Arts Horizons 2009 Gala. They received the Paul Newman Award for Services to the Arts and Children.
Fellow honoree John Devol, host Lauren Glassberg, Bonnie Comley & Stewart F. Lane
Eliana, Stewart, Franklyn, Leonard, and Leah Lane, and Bonnie Comley
Nov. 14th, 2009: David Steiner's 80th Birthday Party
Stewart F. Lane, David Steiner & Bonnie Comley
The USO Liberty Bells
Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley participated in the Mark Druck reading of
Wife of A Dead Congressman, produced by Ward Morehouse III at the National Women's Republican Club Theater. Stewart played a US Senator and Bonnie a news anchor/Congresswoman.
Nov. 10th, 2009: Stewart F Lane and Bonnie Comley host a Benefit @ the Lane Penthouse for The Actors Fund with David Hyde Pierce. The Benefit is for the Special Campaign For Essential and Evolving Needs of The Actors Fund.
Bonnie Comley, Jon Michael Hill, Stewart F. Lane Bonnie Comley, Tracey Letts, Stewart F. Lane
Stewart F. Lane, Bonnie Comley, Tina Landau
Above photos by Barry Gordin
Oct. 15th, 2009: Stewart F. Lane & Bonnie Comley were in Boston in October to teach a master class in acting and screen their movie "Show Business, the Road to Broadway," followed by a Q&A, all inside the Comley-Lane Theatre.
Stewart F. Lane & Bonnie Comley in the Hampton Sheet.
Bonnie A. Comley and Stewart F. Lane with Denise Rich at the Angel Ball November 2008
Karen Ziemba, Stewart F. Lane, Marvin Hamlish & Bonnie Comley at Arts Horizons Benefit 10/08
Producing team Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley – in conjunction with Andrew Collier – are taking the 2008 Tony Award-winner for Best Theatrical Event, Jay Johnson: The Two and Only to England. The show will be performed for a limited run, from June 25th to September 28th at the Arts Theatre London.
Producers Bonnie Comley, Stewart F. Lane, Andrew Collier and Dan Whitten
outside the London production of Jay Johnson: The Two and Only
Stewart Lane with James Nederlander and Bonnie Comley at the Southampton Hospital Foundation's 50th annual summer party, The Golden Gala.
Stewart F. Lane and Daniel Evans at Studio 54
Stewart F. Lane with Jenna Russell at Studio 54
At the Actors Fund Gala - Alec Baldwin, Bonnie Comley, Stewart F. Lane
Sierra Boggess, Stewart F. Lane, Bonnie Comley
Howard Lutnick, Allison Lutnick, Bonnie Comley, Stewart F. Lane
Franklin Lane, Bonnie Comley, Stewart F. Lane, Leonard Lane
Renée Fleming,
Patrick Stewart
Stewart F. Lane,
Bonnie Comley
Stewart F. Lane with Kevin Kline, Jennifer Garner and Daniel Sunjata, the cast of Cyrano de Bergerac
Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley, along with Theatre Museum President Helen Guditis and performers at the annual Theatre Museum Awards on October 16th.
The Tag Team of Broadway Theatre:
Stewart Lane and Bonnie Comley
R. B. Stuart
Broadway director, producer, actor and writer Stewart Lane is riding high with his latest 7 Tony nominated production, “Legally Blonde” starring Laura Belle Bundy. The staged version of the film of the same name starring Reece Witherspoon has been enchanting audiences since it opened in April on Broadway at the Palace Theatre for an open-ended run. This isn’t anything unusual for Mr. Broadway, as he calls himself. “In my high school days I used to collect old radio shows and there was one called, Mr. First Night…and I thought instead of calling myself Mr. Coffee, I’d use Mr. Broadway,” Lane jested of the name that became his web site persona.
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Lane, whose lucky charm is anything to do with theatre, won his fourth Tony in June for the 2006 hit, “Jay Johnson: The Two and Only.” With a producer credit in one form or another, over his 30-year career in theatre when it comes to staging a new production he considers producing the ‘real work.’ “Directing I like best of all because I can look at it like a picture. Acting is fun because you get to develop the entire character and create a brand new persona. But, the toughest part is writing - it’s really lonely,” he explains of the many Broadway hats he’s worn in a production.
In 1981 when, “Women of the Year” with Lauren Bacall was nominated with 6 Tony awards, with that recognition Lane felt a hint of “making it.” In three years he finally had when he won his first Tony in 1984 for the legendary, “La Cage Aux Follies.” It became a box office smash on the stage and screen. “It was an amazing experience, not only because it solidified my position in the industry that I could produce an award winning show, but also deliver the profits. I was able to achieve both the financial and artistic success you’re looking for,” he said of his first major accomplishment. In 1991 he won his 2nd Tony with “Will Rogers Follies,” the spectacular musical directed and choreographed by the long legged Tommy Tune. All were home to The Palace Theatre, an obvious lucky rabbit foot for Lane, which in 1980 he became part owners with the Nederlander’s.
When it comes to his plays, Lane has no favorites as he considers all of them his babies. “The typical gestation period for a show is seven years.” A majority of that time is spent obtaining the rights, finding the right director, set designer, writing the first and second draft and talent try-outs.
In 1961 at 10 years-old, Lane fell in love with theatre when he met a friend’s father who was an actor. “It’s one of those life altering experiences,” he remembered when he went to their house one day and found the father home and not at work. His friend explained that his father was an actor and worked nights in a theatre. Young Lane was curious and wanted to know more about his work. The boy’s father invited them both to see him performing in the Broadway show, “Little Me” starring Sid Ceasar. “His father was Sid Ceasar,” Lane exclaimed. “I didn’t know he was a TV star…I didn’t stay up late to watch his show.” They sat in the front row and went back stage after the production where Lane observed the camaraderie and friendship that the cast and crew generated. “It was incredible. Immediately I thought that’s what I wanted to do. I knew exactly what I wanted to be.”
Lane decided to compile all of his theatre experiences for a book, “Let’s Put on A SHOW!,” a how-to guide for those just starting out in the business. It was released in April and this Saturday, August 25th, he’ll be having a book signing in East Hampton at the East End Book Shop at 6:30 PM, and there may just be some “Legally Blonde” giveaways.
This fall Lane will produce, “The Receptionist” directed by Joe Montello at the Manhattan Theatre Club and says, “You’ll leave the theatre with a chill.” In 2008, he will executive produce for PBS a TV version of the Broadway show, “Company” which won best revival this year.
Lane’s beautiful wife Bonnie Comley, also an actor and producer for stage and screen, brings not only her own credits and accomplishments to the dynamic duo, but glamour and verve. Never mind loading up their mantle with yet another Tony award.
Her first Tony nomination as producer was for “Gypsy” with Bernadette Peters, “Fiddler on The Roof” was her second and third nomination was her first Tony win for producer on “Jay Johnson: The Two and Only.” Comley recalls the night, “It was a great. Stewart was laughing that my family is a bunch of hand-holders all sitting together. Everyone was there, my parents and children.” The twins, only 10 months old at the time, stayed home.
Comley first met Lane in 1995 when she was a reporter and host on the Travel Channel. “I interviewed him on a show I was producing. And over the next few years I called him for other articles I was writing.” They were both already married at the time, but by 1997 they were both single again.
“I always thought he was a great guy. And I liked about him what everyone else did: he was an expert, very intelligent and enthusiastic. He is passionate about life in general.” Seven years ago the couple came out to the Hamptons for a summer, and a year later bought a house in East Hampton to raise their children and live year round.
With over a dozen characters in her performance repertoire, Comley’s favorite role was the one her husband wrote for her in 2000, “Randi Lester” in “If It Was Easy.” Lane directed it at the Douglas Fairbanks Theatre. “It was a fun role. To be able to watch the transformation of it, and play opposite Kevin Dobson and later John Jellison, was a joy especially because everybody was in sync.”
With a background in writing and reporting for TV and radio, making the transition into producing theatre productions wasn’t fraught with difficulties for Comley. “Being at someone’s side [Stewart’s], who’s been in theatre for over 20 years helps. In turn I introduced him to film and television. So we end up working on everything as a team. The two of us have a lot of the same perspective. It’s all entertainment, so it’s very similar.” In film you’re always able to market and sell to other places, but in theatre Comley says, “Once you turn off the lights that’s the end of it.”
Comley was the executive producer for a documentary about the Broadway season and the race for the Best New Musical at the 2004 Tony Awards in “Show Business,” along with “Brooklyn Rules,” starring Alec Baldwin and Freddie Prinze Jr.
Currently, she’s working on three documentaries all being filmed in the Hamptons. The subjects have a varied interest for her. The first being fertility. “Because it was eight years between our 9 year-old and one year-old twin babies. Over a five-year period I had been at three different fertility clinics and it wasn’t successful. So we ended up using a gestational carrier.” Comley wanted to share and explore fertility for other women who may be facing the same challenges.
Her second documentary is about equestrians. “As soon as we came out here our daughter, who was two at the time, saw all the horses and wanted to ride. I took her for a couple of lessons and she fell in love with pony camp. I discovered horse people are like dog and cat people. The horses are so pampered. They have this bond with the horses and it’s so fascinating. It’s been a tradition for centuries.”
An unusual family outing brought about her third documentary, campers in the Hamptons. “We live two minutes from Cedar Point Park and someone recommended this great little snack bar there. It’s on a cliff with a billion dollar view of the ocean where people with RV’s and pup tents camp throughout the summer. Meanwhile down the road are Donna Karan and Sean Combs estates. Everyone swims in the same water, whether they’re in a mansion or a tent. It’s simply beautiful and people have a great summer no matter which one they’re laying their head in.”
To stay informed of what’s hot on Broadway, you can visit their web sites at: www.MrBroadway.com and www.BonnieComley.com
Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley
Stewart F. Lane wins his fourth
Tony Award for Jay Johnson:
The Two & Only
Stewart F. Lane
Producer Sets the Stage for Success
By Wendy Straker
MR. SHOW: Lane fell in love with Broadway as a boy on Long Island; today he co-owns the Palace Theatre.
July 9, 2007-- In the industry, Stewart Lane is called Mr. Broadway - a writer, producer and director whose credits include “Legally Blonde,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie” and “La Cage Aux Folles,” which won him the first of three Tony Awards at the age of 33. Those trophies are on display at Lane’s Times Square office, where we caught up with the 56-year-old to find out when he fell in love with Broadway, how he broke into producing and why he’ll never move to Los Angeles.
Everyone in show business has that “a-ha” moment when they realize they’ve found their calling; when was yours?
Mine happened when I was 11, and hanging out in my hometown of Great Neck with my best friend, Ricky. I used to go to his house after school, and his father would always be there. One day I asked him, ‘What’s the deal with your dad? Doesn’t he work?’ And he said, “Oh yeah, he’s an actor. He works at night.” Something about that seemed so cool to me. Of course I had no idea who his dad was, let alone that he was Sid Caesar. But a few weeks later he invited us to see him on Broadway, and I was just mesmerized. I loved everything about it, from the Playbills to the plush seats and the chandeliers hanging from the ceilings. Afterwards we went backstage, and there was this incredible camaraderie. From that day on, I was all about the theater. I took acting classes, joined the drama club.
But you never became an actor?
I did in the beginning. I got my acting degree at Boston University and ended up taking an apprenticeship at the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival. My first job was building their sets and hanging lights, but I also got to act. I did “Oklahoma” there, and went on to do summer stock in North Carolina. Then I moved out to L.A., and absolutely hated it. That camaraderie I spoke about loving? There wasn’t any. But going there was the best thing I could have done. It solidified my love for the theater.
What made you decide to switch into production?
As you get older, your priorities change. In my late 20s, all of a sudden touring the country for 12 months didn’t sound as fun as trying to meet someone and start a family. Plus, I wanted at least the illusion of some kind of control over my life. So I came back to New York and asked my friend Jimmy Nederlander for a job. When I told him I wanted to produce, he said, “Invest in one of my shows, and I’ll include you in all of my meetings.” So I took what was left of my bar mitzvah money and invested in a script called “Who’s Life Is It Anyway?” That was my introduction to producing.
Did anything surprise you when you transitioned from actor to producer?
Coming from the creative end, I was always participating in creating set designs and hanging lights, but now all of a sudden I was management, and management didn’t do those things. So that was a shocker. On the flip side, though, one of the things I bring to this business is knowledge of both sides. I know what it takes to be creative, but I also know what it takes to be practical.
What exactly does a producer do?
Ha! Even my mother doesn’t totally understand this. Basically you’re the CEO of your show. You pick the shows and then you’re responsible for getting them off the ground. You have to find a theater, raise money, find the right star, hire the talent - it can be years. That’s why I always tell young people that it’s important to work on more than one project at a time. In the last month, I had a press screening for my film “Show Business: On the Road to Broadway,” we opened “Legally Blonde,” and I released my book “Let’s Put on a Show,” which gives insider advice on being a producer. The more you have going on at once, the less affected you are by individual setbacks. And in production there are always setbacks.
Do you have a favorite part of the process?
When I get the entire orchestra together and hear the music for the first time. I also love standing in an empty theater before a show opens. Sometimes I go to the Palace and I just stand there in the dark and smell the theater. It feeds me.
Photo by Anita & Steve Shevett Stewart F. Lane celebrates the opening night of Fiddler on the Roof with Alfred Molina and Bonnie Comley.
Photo by Anita & Steve Shevett Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley celebrate opening night of Fiddler on the Roof with the creators. (l-r: Bonnie Comley, Jerry Boch, Joseph Stein, Sheldon Harnick, Stewart F. Lane.)
Stewart F. Lane celebrates the opening night of Gypsy with Bernadette Peters. Gypsy is nominated for 4 Tony Awards, including Best Revival and Best Actress for Bernadette.
Stewart F. Lane receives the Ellis Island Award, a Congressional Medal bestowed for high achievement and support of American Ideals.
The late Isabelle Stevenson hugs Leah Lane at the opening of Gypsy while Dad, Stewart Lane, leans in.
Stewart F. Lane & Bonnie Comley are honored by the Jewish National Fund for the 100th Anniversary.
The Tree of Life Award is a humanitarian award given in recognition of outstanding community involvement.
Stewart F. Lane with Mayor Bloomberg.
Thoroughly Modern Millie's Tony for Best Musical
is Stewart F. Lane's Third Tony as a Producer
Thoroughly Modern Millie Wins
Six Tony Awards Including Best Musical!
Karen 
