Debra Martin Chase, Two Time Emmy Nominated Motion Picture & Television Producer to Present the Riant Theatre's Pioneer of the Arts Award to Broadway Producers Stephen Byrd & Alia Jones-Harvey

Debra Martin Chase will be presenting the Riant Theatre's Pioneer of the Arts Award to Broadway Producers Stephen C. Byrd and Alia Jones-Harvey on Sunday, February 9th at the Riant Theatre's Launch Party for the Strawberry One-Act Festival at the Bronx Museum of the Arts, 1040 Grand Concourse.  For tickets go to http://www.therianttheatre.com/item.php?id=200

Debra Martin Chase is the first African-American woman to have a solo producing deal with a major studio. Her company, Martin Chase Productions, is affiliated with the Walt Disney Company and ABC Studios.  She ran both Denzel Washington’s and Whitney Houston’s production companies before forming her own, Martin Chase Productions in 2000. Debra’s producing credits include:  Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Just Wright, and Sparkle (2012).

In 2001, partnering with Disney, Chase produced a movie hit with The Princess Diaries. Starring Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway, the movie grossed over $109 million in domestic box office receipts and sold over 17 million video and DVD units. She also produced The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. Her work with Princess Diaries was designed to make, “Every girl, and the girl in every woman, [wish] that she would wake up one day and find out that she’s a princess.” (Alexander,497) Chase inspires young girls to be reminded that they have the power to do what they want to do. @RiantTheatre #StrawberryOneActFestival. #GreatWomanOfColorInFilm. #YouthEmpowermentAwards. #HistoricBlackWomenInFilm