Washington Square Films (WSF) is an American production and management company based in New York City and Los Angeles. It was founded in 1995 by Joshua Blum.[1]
The USOP also produced a live touring component, which was booked and managed by Kathleen Russo and Mary Shimkin. In 1996, Russo and Shimkin joined Washington Square Films to book and manage performers and spoken word acts, naming the division Washington Square Arts.[6] The roster included Spalding Gray, Eric Bogosian, Danny Hoch, David Sedaris, Sandra Bernhard, and many others. The company discontinued booking from its host of services in 2010. In 1998, manager Katherine Atkinson[7] joined the division and built a roster of then unknown talent including Kerry Washington,[8]Dulé Hill,[9]Sarita Choudhury,[10]Victor Rasuk,[11]Adepero Oduye,[12]Alex Désert,[13] and others, all who are still represented by Atkinson and Washington Square Films.
In 2023, Washington Square Films produced a live musical based on the 1972 Jamaican film The Harder They Come,[27] with music by Jimmy Cliff and a book and additional songs by Suzan-Lori Parks. The show was developed by Blum and Bruce Miller, and its executive producers included Carmelo Anthony and Asani Swann.[28] It premiered in New York at The Public Theater and was nominated for nine Off-Broadway Awards and won the Outer Critics award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical.[29] On September 3, 2024, Stratford East announced that a stage adaptation of The Harder They Come will be a part of their 140th anniversary season lineup with a book and additional new songs by Suzan-Lori Parks. Blum and Miller return as producers and Matthew Xia is set to direct. The musical will run from September 13, 2025 to October 25, 2025.[30]