A show has one or a few lead producers who originally decide to put on a particular show and secure the rights to do so. The lead producer is ultimately responsible for every major decision regarding the show’s production. These decisions include hiring a director, choreographer, advertising firm, press agent, general manager, casting director, etc. A lead producer must have both business acumen and the ability to help shape a production creatively.
Usually a new show has workshops or readings and a trial run at a smaller venue to work on the content and to assess audience reactions. Once the show is in good shape, a Broadway theater can be secured and a budget drawn up for the production.
Because it is expensive to produce a Broadway show (especially musicals), the lead producer must reach out to other co-producers in order to raise the required capitalization. This decision provides opportunities for investors at some later point, once you understand the process, risks, potentials and read documents on specific shows.
Carl has unique prior experience first as a singer and pianist, then as an investment banker and now as a producer of theater. He has the ability to use both his financial expertise and his creative talents on each show--accessing both the left and right sides of the brain, when most producers have just one side predominant. His ability to research every aspect of a show has contributed to his success rate.