Last weekend at the Missouri Thespian Conference a high school teacher was telling me a story of how she was one of the first high schools to get the rights to Les Miz. On obtaining the right she decided to right Cameron Mackintosh and he wrote back. She went on to talk about no matter how big you get don’t forget the little guy. Which brings me to my next person in the “People to Know” series, Rocco Landesman. As I said previously I wrote Mr. Landesman when he arrived in Washington DC and welcomed him and asked if he could meet with me. To my surprise he responded and we met last week.
Rocco was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri and after completing his undergrad he went to Yale to earn a doctorate in Dramatic Literature. He taught at Yale after completing his doctorate before going on to start and run a private investment firm. In 1987 he was appointed President of Jujamcyn which operates several Broadway Theaters. In 2005 he bought the company all while producing Broadway Shows.
He has produced Big River, Angles in America and The Producers just to name a few. In May of 2009 Barack Obama nominated Mr. Landesman to become the next Chairman for the National Endowment for the Arts to which he was appointed in August. His career has been a comprised of many commercial, philanthropic and pure artistic endeavors. He is known to be outspoken and very aggressive in his business. I can say from the few times I have talked to him and heard him speak that he is down to earth and very smart. I think we can look forward to having a new champion of the arts in a very powerful position. 
Today we go back to my favorite new musical with most of the drama behind the scenes. Yes we are talking about Spider-Man. Rumors are spinning out of control and people are dying to guess what is going on. Yesterday the producers announced that the previews would be delayed. They also reported that they had capitalized the show.
Last weekend in my producing class we talked about Capitalization and Weekly Net and we specifically talked about the estimated cost of Spider-Man. These high school students asked why you would ever move forward with a project that has little to no change of recouping. I said, “Exactly. Everyone is asking that question.”
If there is anything we have learned from superstars with problems is that you want to get ahead of the rumors. Maybe the producing team likes the rumors to keep us all talking about their show. But each time the rumors turn in to a dooms-day scenario for the show they have to come out and talk to the press. So why not come up with a solid plan. Announce it. Then if something changes announce the new plan. The press is dying to know what is happening with this show. So let them. But step up and control the conversation as much as you can. Build the brand of a strong show that will wow. Instead of this rumor mill situation for the show that is getting to be known as the “show that never will make it.”
I just got back from a wonderful weekend at the Missouri Thespian Conference in St. Louis. This is where high school students from all over Missouri come together to learn about theatre. There are also several activities and performances. This trip I taught several classes and each year I am impressed by knowledge these kids have of the business.
Outside of the classroom there were two big questions. How do I pick a college and how can my theatre company raise money. So I will try and answer these questions this week.
When picking a college I think the most important thing is to do your homework. Go and see the school. See a production there. Talk to the teachers and students. Most importantly see if recent graduates are working and if they are not, ask why. You go to college to get the experience and knowledge to get jobs but also to get the contacts to assist you in getting jobs. Networking, networking, networking!
On my way to the Missouri Thespian Conference today. Hope to learn something and hopefully share a little too. More to come once I have landed in St. Louis.
Your budget that is. As I think ahead to the summer show I think of something new every day and that thing could help or hurt the budget. I am constantly updating a rough budget and with every new idea it changes and with everything we spend it changes and becomes more exact. A budget will change so much it is not even funny.
Don’t get so set in your budget that it becomes hard to change.
I hope you all had a great holiday and happy New Year’s. Mine was exciting to say the least. Many life lessons learned that night that will be shared in later posts.
I have been slacking with the blog this last month so my first resolution for the new year is to be better about writing and writing in advance.
Other resolutions are to read more, (the classic) go to the gym more, volunteer more and produce something. I will update you on the progress throughout the year.
Tomorrow is an exciting day for me. I will be meeting (briefly) with NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman. As I have said before I write letters to people when I know they are new to the DC area. That is how I got a meeting with Broadway Producer and new Managing Director of Arena Stage, Edgar Dobie. But I also write them to any employee that I know to be new hoping to always expand my network and build relationships. Not long after Chairman Landesman moved to DC I wrote him a letter welcoming him to the area and let him know how excited I was for him to be in DC. After thinking I wouldn’t hear from him, which is what I expected, I got a call from his office. Well, tomorrow I am having that meeting. I have no idea what we will discuss but I look forward to it. Some people look up to basketball stars, I look up to Broadway Producers.
Last weekend at the Missouri Thespian Conference a high school teacher was telling me a story of how she was one of the first high schools to get the rights to Les Miz. On obtaining the right she decided to right Cameron Mackintosh and he wrote back. She went on to talk about no matter how big you get don’t forget the little guy. Which brings me to my next person in the “People to Know” series, Rocco Landesman. As I said previously I wrote Mr. Landesman when he arrived in Washington DC and welcomed him and asked if he could meet with me. To my surprise he responded and we met last week.
