Franc D’Ambrosio and Tony Award-winning producer Michael Patrick have announced the formation of a new production company, New Ventures Entertainment. D’Ambrosio and Patrick will serve as co-CEOs of the firm, which will operate across platforms and media, including theater, film, television and digital.
“We created NVE to work across all aspects of the entertainment multiverse, developing and championing original stories and new talent, bold voices and imaginative productions for audiences worldwide across any medium,” said D’Ambrosio and Patrick in a joint statement.
As one of its first major projects, New Ventures has signed on to the upcoming West End transfer of “Into the Woods” in association with Jamie Wilson Productions and Kevin McCollum. This revival of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s fairy tale-inspired musical, directed by Jordan Fein, opened at London’s Bridge Theatre on Dec. 3, 2025, where it is set to run through May 30. Its West End transfer will open on Oct. 7 at the Noël Coward Theatre. The production won two Olivier Awards, including Best Musical Revival, earlier this week.
New Ventures also produced Off-Broadway’s “The Unknown,” starring Sean Hayes, which concluded its run at Studio Seaview on April 12 after fully recouping its capitalization.
D’Ambrosio is best known for having appeared in the title role in over 2,100 performances of “The Phantom of the Opera” in San Francisco and on tour. He has also produced numerous primetime sports entertainment specials for NBC.
Patrick’s previous producing credits include the Tony-winning “Maybe Happy Ending,” as well as “Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York),” “All In,” “All Out,” “Smash,” “The Roommate” and “Harmony.”
