Robert R Blume - Current Biography

ROBERT R BLUME  (Entertainment Producer & Talent Manager)

Robert R Blume is a veteran producer of Television, Film, Theatre and Concerts, who was an Executive Producer of the Annual DRAMA DESK AWARDS (the “Golden Globes” of theatre) from 1999 until 2018, with many of the shows on PBS and/or Livestream.  He is also a noted talent manager with a prestigious client list.  He has produced and talent managed under the aegis of his company, Step Forward Entertainment, whose main office is in New York with satellite offices in Los Angeles and Florida.

Currently, as a Producer of over 31 stages shows internationally, Mr. Blume has a one-man comedy show written by and starring Chris Fuller, which deals with mental health, CHEESE FRIES & CHILI DIPS,  that has had several developmental productions in New York and Connecticut prior to its initial commercial run at the Seven Angels Theatre in Waterbury, CT; he has in development, a stage play, THE INTERRUPTED JOURNEY  based on the best-selling book by John G. Fuller about the true story of an alien abduction in the 1960’s which is anticipated to star Richard Pryor Jr. as Barney Hill; a TV series based on the Indie short film he was Executive Producer on,  CHILDISH DREAM TALES: The Mess Up Room (Amazon Prime), which has since been  edited into be a 22-minute TV pilot; and he has in development with Pat Labez, a TV dramady pilot, THAT MANILA GIRL! which takes place in both America and the Philippines, written by award winning writer, J.D. Brookshire; and in partnership with Xiaoqing Zhang, a producer with BROADWAY CHINA production company, created to bring performing arts from America to China.

In recent years, Mr. Blume produced several concerts both live and virtual, which include two concerts on the Metropolitan Zoomvirtual nightclub platform out of New York titled LOVE SPRINGS ETERNAL starring the duo of Kea Chan and Kayla Merrow with Bobby DeLeon on keyboards and a concert titled LOOKING TOWARDS TOMORROW featuring a female singing trio comprised of Kea Chan, Kayla Merrow Denise Kara with Justin Senense and Bobby DeLeon on keyboards. He also has 2 concerts streaming as a benefit for The Entertainment Community Fund (formerly known as the Actors Fund), STEPPIN’ FORWARD TO VIRTUALLY CELEBRATE THE MUSIC OF THE LEGENDARY NEIL SEDAKA which features his clients and special friends performing the music of rock legend, Neil Sedaka from their homes with Mr. Sedaka appearing at the beginning of the concert with some personal introductory remarks; and ASIAN ARTISTS STEP FORWARD at THE GREEN ROOM 42  in NYC which featured the top Asian talent under his management as a Live concert then reformatted for streaming and hosted by Valerie Smaldone.  Before that, following award show productions on PBS and the Ovation Network and Executive Producing the Indie short films, LOOPINGand CHILDISH DREAM TALES, Mr. Blume returned to the Theatre, where he produced various NY and Atlantic City productions of ON KENTUCKY AVENUE, The Atlantic City Club Harlem Musical; SKITSO! Starring Australian actor/writer/comedian Jim Dailakis at the Hollywood Fringe Festival and The Triad, NYC; and was a co-Producer on a revival of the play, ME AND JEZEBELat the Snapple Theater in NYC. Some of his other notable theatrical producing ventures include two New York Concert Productions at Carnegie Hall in New York - SUE MATHYS SINGS BROADWAY & PIAF in collaboration with Les Schecter and The Swiss Society of New York and TEHORAH starring Adrienne Haan in partnership with Joseph Barry; and the Off- Broadway thriller MINDGAME starring Academy and Tony Award winner, Keith Carradine and directed by the late film legend, Ken Russell, produced by Monica Tidwell at The SoHo Playhouse, NYC. His long-time producing resume also includes two Broadway productions, two Los Angeles productions, two international tours and productions in Canada, Italy and Monte Carlo. www.stepforwardentertainment.com

Mr. Blume, as a talent manager, oversees his clients in association with longtime Agent and Manager, Jacque Pederson-Schrimscher. Previously, in live theatre, they had clients starring in the Broadway National tour of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (Golde); a lead in the new concert shows SHANGHAI SONATAS in LA, Washington DC and NY; off-Broadway in the musical SONGS ABOUT TRAINS and an LA based client doing ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL.  Other clients starred on Broadway in GRINCH and FREAKY FRIDAY in Los Angeles.  Clients also had recurring roles on TV these past seasons on DOPE THIEF (the Apple+ series from Ridley-Scott Prod); PRETTY LITTLE LIARS (HBO); BEEF (Netflix); AMERICAN RUST (Amazon Freevee); INTERIOR CHINATOWN (Hulu); NEW AMSTERDAM (NBC); WE CRASHED (Apple+)/ and additional guest stars, or film supporting roles, these past seasons, on numerous TV shows and films such as FBI(CBS), FBI: MOST WANTED (CBS); LAW & ORDER: SVU (NBC); BEL AIR; GREY’S ANATOMY (ABC); HUNTERS (Amazon); SHAMELESS (Showtime); THE JIMMY KIMMEL SHOW (ABC); THE STEPHEN COLBERT SHOW (CBS); THE BLACKLIST (NBC); LAW AND ORDER: ORGANIZED CRIME (NBC); MANIFEST (NBC); BLUE BLOODS (CBS); BILLIONS(Showtime); THE MORNING SHOW (Apple+); CHUPA, among many others.

Mr. Blume has always been active in social causes, previously working on The Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon for many years, and more recently, helping to raise funds for the Entertainment Community Fund (Actors Fund) via virtual concerts; however, he is most proud of his commitment to bring awareness to today’s mental health problem affecting our country, by launching and serving as its President, a New York State not for profit Artists for Mental Wellness Inc. (formerly IMHF) which, under its former name, had benefit variety shows titled “Lifting The Curtain on Mental Health” at Chelsea Table & Stage and The Triad in NYC in addition to producing Cheese Fries & Chili Dips in both NYC and Connecticut venues.  All shows had live audiences and were streamed. 

Mr. Blume is proud to have been a 20-year Tony voter as a member of THE BROADWAY LEAGUE and is currently in his 24th year as a DRAMA DESK AWARDS voter. He also served as an Advisory Board Member of the DUKE ELLINGTON CENTER FOR THE ARTS. 

Google me as Robert R Blume 

website - www.stepforwardentertainment.com

Some video links to shows Mr. Blume has been featured in:

With Liza Minnelli at my Awards Show

https://youtu.be/sQm4NWPWVNc?si=QEJODqZp24PMtJO8

Virtual Benefit Show I produced during lockdown in 2020

https://youtu.be/3hwzuHksTpw?si=JyViCFPS60JzmC4S

Asian Artists Step Forward benefit I produced in lockdown in 2020

https://youtu.be/XDY2AdsacvY?si=fDqIELtQfP02YHkq

Australian Documentary on Angels the Musical

https://youtu.be/8Rq1iiExu0k?si=kznO73YJna0EcmWy

A promo for Mr. Blume's 56th Annual Drama Desk Awards Show (“Golden Globes of the Theatre”)

https://youtu.be/Yy3XOfgcQiU?si=D5oE2bveus_hYiZg

and Mr. Blume's speech at that 56th Annual Awards Show

https://youtu.be/q1-HKZ-WFy4?si=wroUSC2noKBakPFx

Mr. Blume coaching a class

https://youtu.be/4vusCpRtr_s?si=q24oGRAwJhqcGhni