Wikipedia

Eric Kuhn

Eric Kuhn is an American theatrical producer and entrepreneur. A three-time Tony Award winner, he is the co-founder and co-CEO of Folk Media Group, a creative studio and private investment fund focused on production companies for live entertainment.[1]

Eric Kuhn
Born
Eric Kuhn

1987
New York, New York
NationalityAmerican
Alma materHamilton College
Occupations
  • Theatrical producer
  • Media executive
  • Entrepreneur
  • Executive producer, New York Stage and Film
Board member ofLincoln Center Theater
SeriesFest
Awards

Kuhn began his career as a media executive, launching the social media platforms for CNN, CBS News and the NBA. He also served as the first head of social media for United Talent Agency and the co-founder and chief marketing officer for Layer3 TV, a Denver-based cable television company that was acquired by T-Mobile in 2018.[2]

Early life and education edit

Kuhn was born in New York City and grew up in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. At 17, he hosted a television show on WHHS, a public access television station in Westchester County. He booked and interviewed politicians.[3][4]

He attended Hamilton College and graduated with a BA in government in 2009.[5][6] While at Hamilton, Kuhn hosted a radio show that aired on WHCL focusing on media and politics.[3][7]

Career edit

CBS News, CNN, UTA edit

As a college student, Kuhn was hired by CBS News as a new media consultant.[8][9] He launched the Twitter account, @CBSNews, and oversaw the viral marketing team to promote the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric online. Kuhn also created the social media strategy for the NBA and launched the NBA's Twitter account.[10] Following his college graduation, Kuhn was hired as the first audience interaction producer for CNN, where he managed CNN's Twitter account, @CNN, and oversaw Twitter accounts for anchors and correspondents.[11][12] He also reported on technology, government and politics for CNN.com.[13]

In 2010, Kuhn was hired by United Talent Agency as the agency's first head of social media. He represented technology companies as well as UTA clients, advising on digital practices including branding, marketing, and online endorsements.[14][15]

Layer 3 TV, Bloomberg campaign, CBS edit

In 2014, Kuhn joined Denver-based Layer3 TV, a cable company that integrated social media and OTT programming, as co-founder and chief marketing officer.[16] The company was sold to T-Mobile in January 2018.[2]

In 2020, he was recruited by the Bloomberg campaign as a senior adviser on social media and influencers.[17] He was named senior vice president of social media marketing at CBS in June 2020.[18]

Theatrical career edit

In 2018 he decided to shift his focus to theater, and partnering with a friend, lawyer Justin Mikita, he earned his first theater credit as a co-producer of Harvey Fierstein's Torch Song on Broadway.[19] Mikita and Kuhn later partnered with Randi Zuckerberg to establish the production company ZKM Media and went on to co-produce the revival of Oklahoma!, The Inheritance, Dana H, Is This A Room, Shucked and the American and Australian tours of Magic Mike Live. [20]

Kuhn won his first Tony as a producer of Oklahoma! in 2019.[21] He won his second for The Inheritance in 2021, and his third for the musical A Strange Loop in 2022.[2][22] In 2023 he partnered with actor Nik Dodani to co-produce Life of Pi on Broadway.[23] Kuhn also produced This Beautiful Future off-Broadway at the Cherry Lane Theatre and co-produced The Unfriend and The Accidental Death of an Anarchist on the West End.[24][25] In September of the same year, Kuhn co-founded Folk Media Group with Tre' Scott, a former Microsoft executive and Tony Award-winning producer.[1]

Boards and affiliations edit

Kuhn is the executive producer of New York Stage and Film. He is a member of the Lincoln Center Theater board of directors[26] and the board of directors for SeriesFest.[27] He was a founding board member of NPR's Generation Listen,[28] and an Earthjustice council member.[29]

Kuhn hosts "Bytes and Bylines," an annual technology and media event produced in conjunction with the White House Correspondents Dinner.[30] [31] He manages chess Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana.[32][33]

Recognition edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Fischer, Sarah; Flynn, Kerry (September 26, 2023). "Exclusive: New fund to invest in live entertainment production". Axios. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Eric Kuhn: 'There's art, and there's commerce. We believe in both'". Financial Times. 2020-03-16. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  3. ^ a b Steenburg, Sydney (April 24, 2006). "Student Makes Name on Radio". Utica Observer-Dispatch. p. IB.
  4. ^ Kollali, Sapna (February 15, 2006). "STUDENT LAUNCHES TALK RADIO AT HAMILTON COLLEGE". Syracuse Post-Standard. p. A1.
  5. ^ "UWire100" (PDF). London School of Economics. June 9, 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  6. ^ "Hamilton Cum Laude Graduates 2009" (PDF). hamilton.edu. 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  7. ^ Kollali, Sapna (February 15, 2006). "Student Launches Talk radio at Hamilton College". Syracuse Post-Standard. p. A1.
  8. ^ Dylan (July 26, 2007). "Torch-Passing, TVNewser Style". Adweek. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  9. ^ Staff (July 20, 2009). "Eric Kuhn Becomes Audience Interaction Producer". MediaLife. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  10. ^ Ferenstein, Gregory (May 31, 2011). "Hey Hollywood Moguls, Are You Following the First Social Media Agent @Kuhn on Twitter?". Fast Company. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  11. ^ Finke, Nikki (November 30, 2010). "UTA Hires Social Media Agent For Hollywood". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  12. ^ "Hollywood's New Leaders 2011". Variety. October 10, 2011.
  13. ^ Kuhn, Eric (September 15, 2010). "Candidates with more Facebook fans win big on Tuesday". Political Ticker. CNN. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  14. ^ Rosaman, Katherine (May 29, 2012). "Behind That Celebrity Tweet". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  15. ^ "Hollywood Agents Talk About Technology In Entertainment [TCTV]". Techcrunch. March 19, 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  16. ^ Jarvey, Natalie (March 3, 2013). "Next-Gen Cable Startup Layer3 TV Raises $21 Million". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  17. ^ "Bloomberg campaign builds out digital arm Hawkfish ahead of 2020 election". Reuters. 2020-02-22. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  18. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (2020-05-29). "CBS Marketing Department Seriously Impacted By Layoffs Amid Restructuring; 3 Senior-Level Veterans Exit – Update". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  19. ^ Vine, Hannah (November 2, 2018). "Torch Song Revival, With Michael Urie and Mercedes Ruehl, Celebrates Opening Night on Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved 2019-01-22.
  20. ^ "Eric Kuhn – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  21. ^ "Tony Awards: 'Hadestown' Wins Best Musical, Tops With 8 Wins". The Hollywood Reporter. 9 June 2019. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  22. ^ a b c d "Eric Kuhn – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  23. ^ "Kuhn Dodani". Playbill. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  24. ^ "Theatre listing: The Unfriend". British Theatre Guide. 2023-01-15. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  25. ^ "Eric Kuhn News News - Page 1". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  26. ^ "Lincoln Center Theater Board of Directors". lct,org. Lincoln Center. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  27. ^ "Team | SeriesFest". SeriesFest | Season 5: June 21–June 26, 2019. Retrieved 2019-01-22.
  28. ^ Stelter, Brian (March 12, 2013). "NPR Wants to Click With Those Who Tweet". New York Times. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  29. ^ "About Earthjustice Council". Earthjustice. Earthjustice. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  30. ^ Marx, Damon (April 22, 2015). "WHCD Party Invites: Tumblr's Bytes & Bylines Party". Adweek. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  31. ^ Johnson, Ted (April 27, 2016). "D.C. Readies for Obama Finale at White House Correspondents' Dinner". Variety. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  32. ^ Greenman, Ben (December 12, 2014). "Young Grandmasters Try to Make Chess Cool". New York Times. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  33. ^ hjelmgaardkim. "America's long wait for Bobby Fischer-like chess champion just got longer". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2019-01-22.
  34. ^ Wired Staff (August 26, 2016). "Wired 100". Wired.
  35. ^ "Next Gen Execs 2016: Hollywood's Up-and-Comers 35 and Under". Hollywood Reporter. October 3, 2016.
  36. ^ "Overachievers Under 30". cablefax.com. Cablefax. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  37. ^ "World Economic Forum Global Shapers". World Economic Forum. World Economic Forum. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  38. ^ Miller, Julie (May 11, 2012). "Photos: Tech Entrepreneurs Hit the Runway for a Charity Fashion Show". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  39. ^ Staff (September 16, 2011). "Next Establishment 2012". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  40. ^ Pomerantz, Dorothy (March 2011). "30 Under 30". Forbes. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
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