Richard Willis is an Award-winning Theatrical
Producer - focused on developing and producing new works for Broadway and the West End - as well as an Operator and Programmer of multiple venues over his more than thirty year career in Theatre.
Mr. Willis is a Tony Award-winner and five-time Nominee. He won Los Angeles Theatre's highest honor - Ovation Award (Large Theatre) - as well as the NAACP's highest honor - NAACP Theatre Award for Best Producer (Equity) - in cooperation with Pasadena Playhouse.
He is the Founder of the TRIBECAWORKSHOP® - a full service Theatrical production company based in New York and London - with over a dozen productions currently in development for Broadway and the West End.
Richard was the visionary and driving force behind the "Westside Arts Complex," built and operated by he and his team under the banner RICHMARK Entertainment. The Westside Arts Complex consisted of The Wadsworth Theatre (1378 seats), The Brentwood Theatre (507 seats), The Great Lawn (a large outdoor Concerts/Special Events area), The Japanese Garden and two additional outdoor venues, complete with Production Offices, Rehearsal Spaces, Administrative Offices and more at The Department of Veterans' Affairs' (DVA) Campus in Brentwood, CA from 1999-2016.
He has lead the design and renovation of three major Performing Arts venues and has been a consultant on two others.
In addition to renovating, programming and operating his own Theatres, Mr. Willis aided his business partner in the renovation, programming and operation of The Helen Hayes Theatre on Broadway - 1999-2011 - as well as other Theatres and Companies throughout the United States.
Outside of the Theatre world, Mr. Willis has enjoyed successful ventures in the Social Media, Real Estate and Food & Beverage industries.
Growing up outside of Houston, TX, Richard was a four-sport "Letter-man" at the famed Stratford Senior High School. After High School, he earned a scholarship to play Quarterback for The University of Texas at El Paso, and for some of the top Coaches working in the N.F.L. today, before transferring to Brown University, where he Quarterbacked their Football team for three seasons, broke a number of passing records and won The Kilgore McFarland Award.
Mr. Willis graduated from Brown University in 1991 with a B.A. in Economics and just shy of a second degree in Classics.