Andy Propst was an arts journalist, theater critic, and writer living in Peachtree City, Georgia.

Early work as a critic

In 1998, he founded what would become one of the Internet's first major theater portals for theater news, reviews and production listings online
AmericanTheaterWeb.com
It was a site that predated and inspired such sites as TheaterMania and BroadwayWorld.com. The uniqueness of the site and its pioneering nature for the theater community attracted remarkable press coverage, including a feature in ''The New York Times''.

Expanding outlets

Propst continued to run the site through 2009, even as he began to write reviews and features for print publications, including ''

Backstage Backstage most commonly refers to backstage (theatre), also in motion picture and television production. Backstage may also refer to: Film and television * ''Back Stage'' (1969 film), a silent film starring Oliver Hardy * ''Back Stage'' (1942 fil ...

'', ''

The Village Voice ''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture paper, known for being the country's first alternative newspaper, alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf (publisher), Dan Wolf, Ed Fancher, John Wilcock, and Norman Mailer, th ...

'', ''TimeOut NY'', and '' The Sondheim Review''. He and AmericanTheaterWeb also became affiliated with XM Satellite Radio's XM 28 On Broadway Channel, and for four years, he provided daily "Broadway and Beyond" reports and served as a deejay for the channel with programs airing Monday-Friday. In 2009, he joined the staff of TheaterMania, writing news and reviews, and providing ongoing coverage of theater music available digitally and on disc. He also served as Senior Editor when the site launched its iPad magazine app in 2011, a position he retained until 2013. He subsequently contributed to Huffington Post, and served as a writer for Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight Records.

Other affiliations

In addition to his writing, Propst served for three consecutive years as a nominator for the

Drama Desk Award The Drama Desk Award is an annual prize recognizing excellence in New York theatre. First bestowed in 1955 as the Vernon Rice Award, the prize initially honored Off-Broadway productions, as well as Off-off-Broadway, and those in the vicinity. Fo ...

s (2005-2007) and was secretary and judge for three years for The Village Voice's

Obie Awards The Obie Awards or Off-Broadway Theater Awards are annual awards originally given by ''The Village Voice'' newspaper to theatre artists and groups in New York City. In September 2014, the awards were jointly presented and administered with the A ...

(2009-2011 ). Propst is an alum of the

Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, Connecticut, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit theater company founded in 1964 by George C. White. It is commonly referred to as The O'Neill. The center has received two Tony Awards, the 1979 Special Awa ...

's National Critics Institute and has returned to the program to serve as a mentor to young critics since 2008. He has also been a reader for and mentor at the organization's National Music Theater Conference. Propst returned to reviewing for AmericanTheaterWeb.com and for the 2015-2016 season, once again served as a member of the Drama Desk Awards' Nomimnating Committee.

Work as a writer

His first book, ''You Fascinate Me So: The Life and Times of

Cy Coleman Cy Coleman (born Seymour Kaufman; June 14, 1929 – November 18, 2004) was an American composer, songwriter, and jazz pianist. Life and career Coleman was born Seymour Kaufman in New York City, United States, to Eastern European Jewish parents, ...

,'' was published in April 2015 by Applause Books.

Oxford University Press Oxford University Press (OUP) is the university press of the University of Oxford. It is the largest university press in the world, and its printing history dates back to the 1480s. Having been officially granted the legal right to print book ...

will release his second book, ''They Made Us Happy: The Musicals and Movies of

Betty Comden Betty Comden (May 3, 1917 - November 23, 2006) was an American lyricist, playwright, and screenwriter who contributed to numerous Hollywood musicals and Broadway shows of the mid-20th century. Her writing partnership with Adolph Green spanned ...

and

Adolph Green Adolph Green (December 2, 1914 – October 23, 2002) was an American lyricist and playwright who, with long-time collaborator Betty Comden, penned the screenplays and songs for some of the most beloved film musicals, particularly as part of Ar ...

'', in March 2019. He is currently at work on ''The 100 Most Important People in Musical Theater History'' for Rowman & Littlefield. In early 2013, Propst provided the liner notes for two-time Tony Award winner

Patti LuPone Patti Ann LuPone (born April 21, 1949) is an American actress and singer best known for her work in musical theater. She has won three Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards, two Grammy Awards, and was a 2006 inductee to the American Theater Hall of Fa ...

's CD ''Far Away Places''. Since then he has written notes for three CDs from Harbinger Records, including ''Barnum Backer's Audition'' and ''A Jazzman's Broadway''.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Propst, Andy American theater critics Living people 1965 births Journalists from New York City