NEW YORK — Playbill has acquired the rights to publish Stagebill and Performing Arts magazine from current publisher Stagebill Media effective Sept. 1. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Acquisition gives Playbill a virtual lock as program publisher for all of Broadway, Off Broadway, most Lincoln Center venues as well as major theaters in Boston, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and several other cities.
Phil Birsh is president and publisher of Playbill. Gerry Byrne is CEO of Stagebill Media. The two execs issued the following joint statement: “We are committed to a smooth and orderly transition between our organizations.”
Stagebill Media will continue to publish New York-based lifestyle magazine Avenue.
