Broadway’s Theatrical Innovations: A Look at Production Resource Group’s Equipment and Technology

PRG, or Production Resource Group, is a company that plays a crucial role in bringing the visions of artists to life on Broadway. Although not well-known to the average theatergoer, PRG provides equipment and services for 23 of the 26 productions currently on the Main Stem. This includes light and audio rentals, video and projection mechanisms, scenic automation capabilities, and operational software.

PRG was originally formed by two separate companies: Harris Production Services, founded by Jere Harris in 1984, and Scenic Technologies, established by Fred Gallo in 1985. The company was born out of the need for another scenic shop to take on big Broadway productions, particularly after the dominant scenic shop of the time was unable to handle “The Phantom of the Opera” transferring from London to Broadway in 1988.

Since its formation, PRG has expanded to incorporate more and more technologies into its offerings. What started as a focus on scenery and automation has grown to include lighting, audio, video, and live broadcast services. According to PRG’s vice president of Broadway, Alex Donnelly, the company provides “anything to do with technical theater.”