Music Theatre International
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Music Theatre International (MTI) is a theatrical licensing agency based in New York City.
Description
MTI was founded in 1952 by American composer and lyricist Frank Loesser and orchestrator Don Walker.[1] Along with the licensing rights to Loesser's works, the firm licenses production rights of numerous Broadway, Off-Broadway, and West End musicals, including many hit shows.[2] CBS acquired MTI in 1976.[3] After SBK acquired CBS' music publishing in 1986, MTI was spun off as a separate company to a group led by Nicholas Firth. A group led by Freddie Gershon acquired MTI in 1989.[4] Cameron Mackintosh became a partner in 1990 and majority owner in 2015.[5]
Musical types
MTI holds various types of musicals one can license.
- MTI Show: These are shows from various types of theater such as Broadway. These include musicals such as Ragtime, Ain't Misbehavin', Pippin and Seussical.
- Broadway Junior: These sixty-minute musicals have been adapted for middle school kids to perform. Any subject matter deemed inappropriate have been cut. It also is reduced to one act. These include junior versions of Annie, Fiddler On The Roof, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, and The Music Man.
- Broadway Kids: These thirty-minute musicals have been specially adapted for elementary kids to perform. These musicals have been made exclusively for the Kids Collection. Such musicals include Winnie The Pooh, The Lion King and 101 Dalmatians.
- Musicals From The Disney Collection: Consists of musicals originally produced by Disney.
- School Editions: These are Broadway musicals that have been adapted for high school students to perform. These musicals have reduced certain subject matter, orchestration, and more. Such School Editions include Rent, Sweeney Todd, Les Misérables and Avenue Q.
- Theatre For Young Audiences: These seventy-minute musicals have been adapted for adults to perform for children. The difference is that the cast requirement is small (usually 6-12).
- Concert Library: This collection has Broadway songs adapted for concerts.
Key executives
Cameron Mackintosh, Chairman and Owner
Freddie Gershon, Co-Chairman
Drew H. Cohen, President & CEO
John Prignano, Chief Operating Officer and Director of Education & Development
Carol Edelson, Sr. VP., Licensing
Rita Thibault, CFO
Deborah Hartnett, Sr. VP, General Counsel
Jason Cocovinis, Director of Marketing
Brian O'Sullivan, Director of Amateur Licensing
Jody Edwards, Music & Materials Manager
Larry Lees, Director of Music, Materials and Product Development
Deb Hartnett, Director of Business and Legal Affairs
Rating system
MTI uses a rating system that determines the content in the musical and it is shown on their website. The ratings are as follows:
| Rating | Description |
|---|---|
| G | Subject matter is appropriate for most audiences. This includes the Junior versions of musicals, Fiddler on the Roof, Guys and Dolls, and Seussical. |
| PG & PG-13 | Contains some subject matter or language that either is considered mature or that might be deemed inappropriate for some audience members. This includes Les Misérables and Into the Woods. |
| R | Contains subject matter or language that is not suitable for children or may not be appropriate for all audiences. This includes Avenue Q and Miss Saigon |
Footnotes
- ^ Loesser, Susan (1993). A Most Remarkable Fella: Frank Loesser and the Guys and Dolls in His Life. New York: Hal Leonard Corp. pp. 228–29.
- ^ Cash, Justin. "Publishers & Licensing". Theatre Links. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
- ^ "CBS Buys Show Tuner Frank Music" (PDF). Billboard. 1976-09-11. p. 4 – via AmericanRadioHistory.Com.
- ^ Irv Lichtman (1989-02-11). "Inside Track" (PDF). Billboard. p. 70 – via AmericanRadioHistory.Com.
- ^ Desk, BWW News. "Cameron Mackintosh Acquires Majority Share & Expands MTI; Offices to Open in Europe, Australia and Far East". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2018-11-25.
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