Cutforth, Lipsitz move into Alfred Street

Jane Lipsitz and Dan Cutforth have formed Alfred Street Industries

The founders of Top Chef and Project Runway prodco Magical Elves have revealed their new company’s first commission and hires.

Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz founded Magical Elves in 2001 and remained with the company following its acquisition in 2014 by UK-based Tinopolis Group, before eventually leaving earlier this year.

They have now formed LA-based Alfred Street Industries, which is currently producing National Geographic’s newly rebooted Brain Games, hosted by Keegan-Michael Key (Key & Peele).

Other series and projects across numerous networks and platforms are going into production this year, according to the company.

Meanwhile, Dan Volpe, who currently serves as executive producer on Bravo series Below Deck: Sailing Vessel, has been tapped as senior VP of content and production.

Volpe has developed and produced a range of competition shows and docuseries and has previously worked with Cutforth and Lipsitz on titles such as Top Chef and Project Greenlight.

In addition, Erin Rott, who previously worked at Magical Elves for almost a decade, has been recruited as chief of staff.

Magical Elves remains a part of Tinopolis USA, the US subsidiary of Tinopolis Group, which also includes Mentorn Media and Thunderclap Media and distribution arm Passion Distribution.