Playbill: “Producer” is a term that can mean many things. Typically, a lead producer is not only a primary investor or moneyraiser but the creative lead on the show. They put together the creative team for a production, often pairing writers with composer-lyricists or composer-lyricist teams and directors. Most importantly, a lead producer controls the message—how to market and advertise, final approvals on anything to do with the show. Producers at a lower level have varying degrees of creative input and varying degrees of financial commitment, depending on the show. The current demand for more Black (and Indigenous and POC) producers is a rallying cry for inclusion at every level.
1 comment:
What a wonderful article, I am very happy to see her interview included in the line-up this week. It is so important that we have more producers of color… something that I’ve mentioned in my Anti-racist theatre classes is that for as long as the purse holders and producers are white, things will not improve. It was brought up in class that Broadway is basically owned by four families and that is where the change needs to happen. The more diverse the producers are, the more diverse show selection and creative team hiring will be. Irene also mentions that she was unaware what BIPOC members of the theatre community were facing because it wasn’t happening to her, so I think it is great that she is using her position of power to speak about the abuses that are happening to people at other levels in the industry. When you work at the top, it is a requirement that you reach down to help people up and I really admire that Irene is making the effort to do so. She has extensive credits and a tony under her belt and we need more women like her to create better representation in the entertainment industry.
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