Leo Burnett New York launches ‘8 Million Protagonists’ off-Broadway production inspired by Cannes Gold Lion winning campaign

Today, Leo Burnett New York announced plans to produce an off-Broadway show, 8 Million Protagonists. The production is inspired by the Cannes Gold Lion winning campaign, New York Writes Itself (NYWI), and is comprised entirely from real stories and experiences of people living in New York City.

Says Jay Benjamin, chief creative officer, Leo Burnett New York: “Thanks to the technological age we are living in, those great stories that might have otherwise vanished on the streets can now make their way onto the real stage. The show is wild, beautiful, funny, honest, crazy, intimate and at times emotional. Don’t miss it.”

Click here to view New York Writes Itself.

8 Million Protagonists takes viewers on a journey and captures the true essence of New York City. The audience will meet a variety of weird and quirky characters that make New York so special. From the nervous newcomers to the hardened natives, New York City will be presented in a way never before experienced.

Says Michael Canning and Kieran Antill, executive creative directors for Leo Burnett New York: “8 Million Protagonists is a new model of theater that New Yorkers have played a genuine part in helping to create – you can’t make up the stuff that happens every day in New York so this will definitely be a different type of show.”

NYWI is an ongoing series of creative productions fueled by the people of New York. Created by Leo Burnett New York, the movement connects the people of New York with the city’s creative community through a website where people can document their real New York moments. Locals registered as “scribes” can submit unique quotes, characters and scenes witnessed in New York.

The Village Voice, America’s first and largest alternative newsweekly, and Leo Burnett New York recently announced a new partnership to expand the NYWI platform to more than three million Village Voice monthly readers.  

Says Josh Fromson, publisher for the Village Voice: “The Village Voice has dozens of writers, but the NYWI platform has allowed us to engage a writing staff of 8 million New Yorkers. To see these real stories and experiences of New Yorkers come to life in 8 Million Protagonists is something we’re extremely excited about, and a first of its kind in New York theater.”

8 Million Protagonists premieres on Thursday, Nov. 1 at 9th Space Theatre at PS 122 in New York City’s East Village neighborhood and runs through Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012.

For additional information and to purchase tickets, click here.

Advertising Agency: Leo Burnett New York

Village Voice Online Operations Manager: Tara McGuiness