SARATOGA SPRINGS —Kevin Bright has joined the Caffè Lena Board of Directors.
Bright is one of the original executive producers behind the Emmy Award–winning television series Friends (1994–2004) and is Vice President and Founding Director of Emerson College Los Angeles.
Bright is a knowledgeable, passionate fan of American roots and folk music. He first visited Caffè Lena in 1973, while visiting his college girlfriend’s family in Greenfield Center and caught a performance by local musicians Happy and Artie Traum. “Caffè Lena,” he said, “is holy ground. We don’t have many places like it anymore, and what Lena can do for the local community and the community of folk music is wonderful. We need to keep it alive and moving forward.”
Bright has produced numerous specials for Johnny Cash and David Copperfield. In 1986, he produced the Cable ACE Award-winning series The History of White People in America, as well as HBO specials starring Robin Williams, Harry Shearer and Paul Shaffer. In 1989, he received his first Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series as supervising producer on Fox’s In Living Color. In 1992, Bright won a Cable ACE Award for Best Comedy Series as executive producer of Dream On. He directed more than 50 episodes of Friends, including the season finale each year. The NBC series received the 2002 Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series as well as winning the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Comedy Series for 10 consecutive years.
“We are so pleased to welcome Kevin to our Board of Directors,” said Chair Stanley McGaughey. “He shares our vision and our commitment to the Caffè’s mission. We look forward to our collaborations and are excited about his ideas to expand programming.”
Bright, who joined the boards of both Caffè Lena and the property-managing 47 Phila Street at the April 2016 meetings, has made a generous naming gift to the Caffè, part of which will be used to fund an ongoing new artist program and spur other donors to the Campaign for Caffè Lena.
Bright lives in Los Angeles with his wife and twin sons, and they spend their summers here in Saratoga County.
In addition to Bright, Caffè Lena has recently bolstered the ranks of its Board of Directors with a number of notable Saratoga County residents, including American Copper Council Executive Director Betsy Boland; Congress Park Capital Chief Investment Officer Eric Brodwin; Fingerpaint Chief Financial Officer Kira Karbocus; and Joseph E. Mastrianni, Inc. President James Mastrianni.
