General Manager, The Lion King

At Disney Theatrical Group we strive to create a culture of innovation, inclusion, collaboration, and creativity.  Stories shape how we see ourselves and everyone around us. As storytellers, we have the power to not only uplift and inspire, but also to champion the spectrum of voices in our world.  If you want to help tell compelling and enduring stories through live theater, we want to hear from you.  

Disney Theatrical Group seeks a General Manager to oversee all worldwide productions of The Lion King and other titles as assigned. The General Manager reports to the VP, Production. During the production phase of a show the General Manager works in close collaboration with key partners in order to bring the show to opening night. This involves partnering across multiple departments including but not limited to the Creative Teams, Technical and Production Supervisors, Sales and Ticketing, Press, Marketing, Legal,  HR, EDI, Finance, Labor Relations, Casting, Domestic Touring, Backstage Crew, Performers, Security, supporting Management Staff as well as third party vendors supplying physical production elements. Once a show is open, the General Manager is responsible for the day to day operations both backstage and on stage. For productions outside of the US, the General Manager is responsible for managing licensed partners in the operation of our productions, including but not limited to ongoing casting, budgeting, physical production replacements and troubleshooting issues as they arise.
 

This job requires extensive international travel throughout the year.

Responsibilities:

• In partnership with Legal and VP, Production, negotiate and structure deals for key title page talents as well as all associates, for both first class and licensed titles.
• Participate in review of new production business model assumptions/scenarios with VP, Production and Finance
• Build documents for production and operating budget tracking along with business model assumptions
• Review and monitor EFC and regularly report to finance, and VP Production, including any areas of budgetary concern
• Recruit and negotiate contracts for all design staff, show crew and musicians for domestic productions
• Partner with the technical team to understand the evolution of creative design and physical production elements
• Review bidding/RFP submissions from vendors and determine purchasing plan including negotiating contract terms in collaboration with Director of Physical Production and Legal
• Attend auditions and, for domestic productions, negotiate contracts for all cast members
• Monitor operating costs and address any concerns
• Manage day-to-day operation of a production both backstage and on stage and act as the point of contact for all internal stakeholders including, but not limited to, legal, labor relations, human resources, sales, marketing and opportunity & inclusion.
• Negotiate, hire, and execute contracts for all personnel including creative team, production team, cast and musicians. 
• Liaise with labor relations and unions regarding management issues, Disney hiring protocols etc.
• Manage casting efforts by partnering with the casting directors and creative teams to focus on timeline (prescreen, work sessions, finals), approval of casting efforts spending (space costs, personnel hired etc.) and ultimately contracting of actors.
• Secure rehearsal space and all related needs on new production.
• Oversee Company Manager and ACM efforts for all business operations – spending, physical production replacements, hiring, personnel management, travel and accommodation etc.
• Internationally, be the primary production contact for Licensed partners in various territories with respect to each title, navigate cost, casting, press, run length, transfers and general health and well-being of licensed titles around the world.
• As the business lead of these titles, work closely with the Director of Production and their teams in both the United Kingdom and Australia to successfully self-produce, mount and maintain our titles in their respective territories.
• A consistent presence during tech and production process to manage any contractual, budget or personnel related issues.

Key Stakeholders:

• Production Supervisors
• Director Physical Production
• Technical Supervisors
• Finance
• Legal
• Labor Relations
• HR
• Opportunity & Inclusion
   

Direct Reports:

• Associate GM
• Company Manager
• Production Coordinators
• Associate Creative Teams

Basic Qualifications:

• 10+ years proven experience in the management of large-scale commercial theatre on Broadway and, preferably, internationally
• Proven professional experience as General Manager/Associate General Manager or Company Manager
• Proven experience successfully leading multi skilled teams, often based in remote locations
• Proven success building and managing multi-million dollar budgets
• Demonstrated experience leading and managing a theatrical company, including actors, crew, musicians and creative teams
• Experience with theatrical unions and various labor agreements
• Proven success partnering with HR to manage various employee related topics including hiring and disciplinary actions
• Strong communication skills with ability to communicate and influence effectively with all levels in the organization
• Demonstrated success handling multiple projects simultaneously
• Outstanding collaboration and mentoring skills
• Must be able to collaborate and work well with creative individuals

Disney Theatrical Group, a division of The Walt Disney Studios, was formed in 1994 and operates under the direction of Andrew Flatt and Anne Quart. Worldwide, its ten Broadway titles, including the current Broadway productions of The Lion King and Aladdin, have been seen by more than 200 million theatregoers and have been nominated for 62 Tony® Awards, winning Broadway’s highest honor 20 times. In addition to producing live stage shows globally through its license to Feld Entertainment, producer of Disney on Ice, Disney Theatrical Group creates immersive location-based experiences such as Mundo Pixar and The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail. DTG also licenses musical titles for local, school, and community theatre productions through Music Theatre International, resulting in over 500,000 performances around the world reaching audiences of more than 150 million. 

DTG is committed to providing the highest quality opportunities for the widest group of talented professionals throughout their career trajectory.  

The hiring range for this position in New York, NY is $166,700 to $215,700 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.