RWS Entertainment expands leadership team

The staff additions and promotions allow founder and CEO, Ryan Stana to sharpen his focus on the future.

Stana who started RWS over 20 years ago commented, ‘Many of the leaders in our company have been part of RWS from the early days. They are the reason RWS has been successful and I am thrilled to watch them grow and lead our company into the future.’

Recent changes include the promotion of Danielle Kramer to EVP Operations, the appointment of Ryan Murphy to the position of VP, Production Services & Operations and the hiring of Augustus Bennett as Director, Human Resources.

Kramer joined RWS at its inception nearly 20 years ago and led projects from concept to reality for clients including Mattel, Hersheypark, Six Flags, CBS, Westfield Properties and the 2009 Emmy Award-winning production – Macy’s Stars on Broadway.

Murphy has almost two decades of theatrical and event management credits including 98 Broadway, national tour and international productions. He previously worked for Troika Entertainment and most recently for Aurora Productions as VP/Production Manager, where his projects included the Broadway production of To Kill a Mockingbird and The Lehman Trilogy.

Bennett joins RWS with an extensive portfolio of employee management, talent relations, television and theatrical experience. He has been principal decision-maker for onset human resources concerns alongside Disney, Warner Bros., Netflix, NBC Universal and other network/production companies.

Recent RWS promotions also include Craig Laurie, EVP, Creative; Kevin Kreczko, SVP, Marketing & Business Development; Joe Christopher, SVP, Production and Tarrah Vedder, SVP, Administration.

Laurie oversees the creative for RWS Entertainment Group’s projects including the award-winning Lincoln Center Stage for Holland America Line in partnership with Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts; 54 Below at Sea, an award-winning branded Guest Entertainer experience in partnership with New York’s Feinstein’s/54 Below for Azamara; as well as stage productions and experiences for MSC Cruises and Azamara.

Whilst Vedder who started her career at RWS more than 15 years ago has produced multiple landside productions and worked on production for Holland America and Celebrity Cruises.