General Manager, The Lion King

The Walt Disney Company•New York, NY

23h

About The Position

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.

Requirements

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

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.