What we do

CONTENT DEVELOPMENT

Who? What? Where? When? Why? Triptyk boasts a rich history of developing original, award-winning content that addresses these fundamental, timeless, but deceptively complex questions.

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THEATRICAL PRODUCTION

One of Triptyk’s focuses is the soup to nuts production of live theater for Broadway, Off-Broadway, North America’s regional theaters, and foreign territories around the world.

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The Team

B. SWIBEL

B. Swibel is a Tony and Tribeca Award-winning writer, director, producer, activist, and Artistic Director of Triptyk. Straddling the independent, avant-garde and commercial worlds of theater, film, and television, he has garnered seven Tony Award nominations, an Outer Critics Circle Award, and a Kodak Emerging Filmmaker honor at the Cannes Film Festival.
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Writer, Director, Producer, Founding Artistic Director

TARA SMITH

Tara Smith is a Tony Award-winning producer and Founding Executive Director of Triptyk. Born in Fort Collins, Colorado before finding her way to New York, Smith studied, worked, and lived in the theater for most of her life.
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Founding Executive Director

BITA KHORRAMI

An important Triptyk collaborator based in the company’s Los Angeles office, Khorrami plays an important role, developing and packaging music-crossover projects with high-profile talent and production partnerships. A 360 degree thinker and connector.
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Producer, Creative Council

CRAIG COX

An instrumental company member, Cox’s creative history with Swibel goes back 25-plus years, a history of collaboration and friendship which later led collaborations with Smith, Westbrook, and the company as a whole.
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Writer, Story Editor, Creative Development

STEPH COWAN

A Triptyk Creative Director and producer of over a decade, Steph doubles as the Director of Musical Licensing at Broadway Licensing Global, where she represents over 100 musicals worldwide.
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Creative Development, Creative Council

BRENT EMERY

Sundance award-winning producer Brent Emery brings over twenty years of international film strategy and business consulting experience to his advisory role at Triptyk.
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Producer, Creative Council

BARRETT HAGEN STUART

Mr. Stuart is the Principal of BS Productions, Inc. and has worked in the motion picture industry as an executive in both the studio system and independent arena for the last 20 years. Since 2004, Mr. Stuart has focused exclusively on his dual roles as a film finance consultant and independent Producer for BS Productions, Inc.
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Film Finance, Advisory Council

JUSTIN KLOSKY

Justin Klosky is a multifaceted creative force whose journey through acting, entrepreneurship, and the entertainment industry has spanned decades.
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Producer, Creative Council

CRISTIAN E. BETTLER

A Mexican-American entrepreneur, film producer, and dynamic company member, Bettler is renowned for merging technology, education, and the arts, as well as producing and distributing over 300 independent films and documentaries.
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Producer, Film Distribution, Advisory Council

COMPANY HISTORY

1999

First company iteration

Swibel forms first iteration of company while attending Chicago's Goodman School of Drama to focus on experimental theater and independent film.

2000

First Production

Company’s first official theatrical production, COWBOY MOUTH, by Sam Shepard, starring Chicago company members Steve Haggard and Maggie Fine, directed by Swibel.

2001

Production of House

Chicago production of HOUSE by Daniel MacIvor, starring Bradley Grant Smith, Directed and Produced by Swibel.

2002

First Film

Swibel’s first film, SUNSET TOWN, co-written and produced by Swibel. Premieres at Lake Placid Film Festival and goes on to screen internationally, including in the Cannes Film Festival.

2003

First LA Production

Company’s first Los Angeles theatrical production, BLOOD KNOT, by Athol Fugard, starring Malik Whitfield, directed by Harold Becker.

2004

Smith joins Swibel

After graduating USC Theater, Smith relocates to New York and forms the company she will later combine with Swibel’s, for development of the original musical PIECE, starring Stephanie J. Block and Shoshana Bean, written by Smith and Scott Allan, Directed by Schele Williams.

2004

Second film

FAULT, co-written and produced by Swibel, screens in over 60 festivals, including Kodak's Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at the Cannes Film Festival, receiving worldwide distribution from Shorts International.

2006

Off-Broadway Production

Revival of FAMILY SECRETS, the longest-running one-woman show in Off-Broadway history, starring Sherry Glaser, directed by Bob Balaban.

2007

First Musical

Swibel and Smith partner, forming new iteration of company for Broadway’s XANADU, by Douglas Carter Beane and Jeff Lynne, Directed by Christopher Ashley, starring Cheyenne Jackson, Kerry Butler, Tony Roberts, Jackie Hoffman, and Whoopi Goldberg, earning company’s first Tony-nomination, from the show’s four overall, including Best Musical, as well as company’s first Outer Circle Critics Award win.

2008

The Seagull

Broadway’s THE SEAGULL, starring Kristen Scott Thomas, Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, Mackenzie Crook, Zoe Kazan, and Ann Dowd. By Anton Chekhov, Adapted by Christopher Hampton, Directed by Ian Rickson.

2008

Swibel and Westbrook partnership

Writing collaboration for the development of feature film WHEN THERE WERE WHALES.

2009

First HBO Special

Broadway’s YOU’RE WELCOME, AMERICA, starring Will Ferrell, written by Ferrell and Adam McKay, Directed by McKay. Second company Tony-nomination for Best Special Theatrical Event, premieres on HBO.

2009

Hit Web Series

CUBBY BERNSTEIN, starring Cynthia Nixon, Nathan Lane, Patti Lupone, and more, written by Douglas Carter Beane, produced by Swibel and Smith, co-directed by Swibel.

2010

New Musical

Worldwide productions of XANADU launch.

2010

New Company Members

Stephanie Cowan, Laura Luchenbaugh, and Rob Ribar become company members, focusing on Creative Direction, Story Editing, and producing. 

2011

Development of new HBO Show

Writers Swibel & Westbrook begin development on HBO series BIG DEAD PLACE with star James Gandolfini and director Tim Van Patten.

2011

New Production

World premiere of DANGEROUS BEAUTY, a new musical based on the film starring Jenny Powers, at Pasadena Playhouse.

2011

Adam joins the company

Westbrook becomes company member.

2012

New Broadway Production

THE PERFORMERS, starring Alicia Silverstone, Henry Winkler, Ari Graynor, and Cheyenne Jackson.

2012

Claire joins

Claire Taylor becomes company member, working in Story Development.

2013

Independent comedy-doc RE-SEARCHED

RE-SEARCHED, Written, Produced, and Directed by Swibel & Westbrook.

2014

An American in Paris, the Musical

A new musical based on the film, AN AMERICAN IN PARIS premieres at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, starring Robert Fairchild, Leanne Cope, Brandon Uranowitz, and Max Von Essen, music and lyrics by George & Ira Gershwin, adapted by Craig Lucas, Directed by Christopher Wheeldon.

2015

Four Tony Awards

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS opens on Broadway, earning the company its third Tony-nomination, among the show’s 12 noms, including Best Musical, and four wins.

2015

Development of NBC miniseries

Writers Swibel & Westbrook begin development on SOULDIERS with composer Stevie Wonder, co-writer Charles Randolph-Wright, and producing partners Quincy Jones, Emilio Estefan, James Fauntleroy, and Smith.

2015

Pre-Broadway run of Amelie

AMELIE, a new musical, starring Samantha Barks, at Berkeley Rep, adapted by Craig Lucas, Daniel Messe, and Nathan Tysen, Directed by Pam McKinnon.

2016

US Tour

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS US Tour launches.

2016

Amelie in LA

Los Angeles run of AMELIE, a new musical, starring Phillipa Soo, at Ahmanson.

2017

An American in Paris, in London

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS opens on West End.

2017

First PBS Premiere

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, the musical, on “Great Performances.”

2017

Amelie in NYC

AMELIE, a new musical, starring Phillipa Soo, opens on Broadway.

2017

First Netflix Special

OH, HELLO, ON BROADWAY! Written by and starring Nick Kroll and John Mulaney, Directed by Alex Timbers.

2018

King Kong Alive on Broadway

Broadway’s KING KONG, by Marius de Vries, Eddie Perfect, and Jack Thorne.  Winner of Special Tony Award.

2018

Bita Khorrami joins

New company member, focusing on producing.

2018

Netflix comedy special

THE NEW ONE, on Broadway, written by and starring Mike Birbiglia.

2018

Live simulcast stage show

UNRIGGED LIVE! starring Jennifer Lawrence, Tig Notaro, Nikki Glaser, and more. Produced by Swibel & Westbrook, Directed by Swibel.

2019

Amelie goes on tour

AMELIE UK Tour launches.

2019

Beetlejuice: The Musical

Broadway’s BEETLEJUICE, based on the film, by Eddie Perfect, Scott Brown and Anthony King, Directed by Alex Timbers. Company’s Fourth Tony-nomination, among show’s eight, including Best Musical.

2019

Broadway’s Moulin Rouge!

MOULIN ROUGE! The Musical, based on the film, by John Logan, Directed by Alex Timbers. Company’s fifth Tony-nom and first win, among the show’s 10, including Best Musical.

2019

Live simulcast stage show

UNRIGGED LIVE ‘19, starring Jennifer Lawrence, Ed Helms, and more. Produced by Swibel & Westbrook, Directed by Schele Williams.

2020

First Netflix Documentary

Company’s first Netflix feature documentary, KISS THE GROUND, featuring Woody Harrelson, Rosario Dawson, Giselle Bundchen, David Arquett, and more.  Produced by Smith & Swibel, directed by Rebecca and Josh Tickell.

2020

Hit web series

THE TRUMPTY DUMPTY CYCLE, starring Meryl Streep, Samuel L. Jackson, John Lithgow, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Annette Bening, Glenn Close, Steve Buscemi, Edie Falco, and more. Created by Swibel & Westbrook, Directed by Swibel, Written by Lithgow, Produced by Tim Van Patten. Presented by Vanity Fair and featured on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

2020

Hit web series event

UNITED TO SAVE THE VOTE, featuring Jennifer Lopez, Dave Matthews, Alicia Keys, Sia, Ed Helms, Jennifer Lawrence, Zooey Deschanel, and more. Written by Matt O’Brien. Produced by Smith & Westbrook, Directed by Swibel.

2021

Moulin Rouge! Tour

MOULIN ROUGE! launches US National Tour.

2021

Independent mockumentary

EXTREMES OF HUMANITY, starring Steve Buscemi, John Lithgow, Shea Whigham, Grace Van Patten, Nat Wolff, Written by Swibel & Westbrook, Directed by Tim Van Patten.

2021

World tour

MOULIN ROUGE! launches worldwide productions, including West End, Tokyo, Germany, and more.

2022

Netflix comedy special

THE OLD MAN AND THE POOL, and Broadway, written by and starring Mike Birbiglia, at Lincoln Center.

2023

Here Lies Love

Broadway’s HERE LIES LOVE, Created by David Byrne, Directed by Alex Timbers.

2023

Tribeca-winning documentary

COMMON GROUND, featuring Woody Harrelson, Donald Glover, Laura Dern, Rosario Dawson, Jason Momoa, and more.  Produced by Smith & Swibel, directed by Rebecca and Josh Tickell.

2023

Gutenberg!

Broadway’s GUTENBERG!, by Scott Brown & Anthony King, Directed by Alex Timbers.

2024

Enemy of the People

Broadway’s ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE, starring Jeremy Strong and Michael Imperioli, By Henrik Ibsen, Adapted by Amy Herzog, Directed by Sam Gold.

2024

Common Ground

Triptyk Studios' second feature-length documentary, COMMON GROUND, produced by Smith & Swibel and featuring Jason Momoa, Donald Glover, Rosario Dawson, and Laura Dern, secures worldwide distribution with Amazon Studios. Directed by Rebecca and Josh Tickell, this documentary marks a significant milestone in Triptyk Studios' growth and commitment to impactful storytelling.