Music Theatre International
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Theatrical licensing |
| Founded | 1952 |
| Founder | Frank Loesser, Don Walker |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Key people | Cameron Mackintosh (Chairman), Freddie Gershon (Co-Chairman), Drew H. Cohen (President and CEO), John Prignano (COO and Director of Education & Development) |
| Products | Licensing rights for over 500 musicals including Broadway Junior, School Editions, Musicals From The Disney Collection, Theatre For Young Audiences, Concert Library |
| Owner | Cameron Mackintosh (majority owner since 2015) |
| Website | www |
Music Theatre International (MTI) is a theatrical licensing agency based in New York City, established in 1952 by composer and lyricist Frank Loesser alongside orchestrator Don Walker. MTI manages production rights for a repertoire exceeding 500 musicals from Broadway, Off-Broadway, and the West End. In 1990, Cameron Mackintosh joined as a partner and later became the majority owner in 2015, facilitating MTI’s worldwide growth.
History
Initially controlling rights to approximately 40 productions globally, MTI was bought by CBS in 1976. Following SBK Records’ acquisition of CBS' music publishing division in 1986, MTI was separated and subsequently purchased in 1989 by a consortium led by Freddie Gershon. Under Gershon’s direction, MTI broadened its offerings within the educational theatre market.
The Broadway Junior collection was introduced by MTI in 1996, featuring condensed versions of musicals designed for elementary and middle school performers. These adaptations, approved by original authors, come with comprehensive ShowKits containing rehearsal audio tracks and director resources. In 2003, School Editions were launched to cater to high school productions, providing materials aimed at increasing accessibility to the arts for young artists.
MTI’s strategic approach centers on growing its audience base through educational licensing initiatives that nurture future theatre enthusiasts. Reflecting this leadership, Chairman Freddie Gershon was honored with a Tony Honor for Excellence in Theatre in 2012.
On May 29, 2012, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg declared "Music Theatre International Day," recognizing MTI’s significant contributions to arts education and its expansive global influence under Gershon’s stewardship.
Celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2022, MTI reaffirmed its status as a leading entity in theatrical licensing with a robust international presence and a varied catalog of offerings.
Education and Advocacy
Since 1938, the Educational Theatre Association has conducted surveys among theatre educators to determine the most frequently performed plays and musicals in American high schools. For the 2021-2022 season, seven MTI titles ranked among the top ten full-length musicals, with Mamma Mia! securing the number one spot.
MTI has supported the annual Junior Theater Festival since 2003, an event highlighting young talent performing selections from its Broadway Junior series.
In collaboration with the Educational Theatre Association and iTheatrics, MTI launched JumpStart Theatre in 2015 to create sustainable musical theatre programs within underserved middle schools; nine schools in Cincinnati have participated to date.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020, MTI provided a royalty-free revue titled All Together Now!, which was performed by over 2,000 theatres spanning all 50 U.S. states and 31 countries in November 2021. This effort generated $6.2 million for participating theatre organizations.
In 2023, DreamWorks Theatricals selected four emerging writers to craft new musical adaptations of DreamWorks Animation films for inclusion in MTI’s catalogue. This initiative is supported by DreamWorks Theatricals and MTI in partnership with NBCUniversal’s Global Talent Development & Inclusion division. The chosen writers are Krista Knight, Joriah Kwamé, Veronica Mansour, and Kate Thomas.
Musical categories
MTI offers a variety of musical classifications designed to suit diverse audiences and skill levels:
- MTI Show': Full-length Broadway and theatrical productions including titles such as Ragtime, Ain't Misbehavin, Pippin, Alice by Heart, and Seussical.
- Broadway Junior: One-hour adaptations of musicals tailored for middle school performers, featuring content adjustments for age-appropriateness. Examples are Annie, Fiddler on the Roof, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, and The Music Man.
- Broadway Kids: Exclusive 30-minute musicals created specifically for elementary-aged performers, with shows like Winnie the Pooh, The Lion King, and 101 Dalmatians.
- Musicals From The Disney Collection: Licensed original Disney musicals available for performance.
- School Editions: Broadway shows modified to suit high school students by reducing mature themes and orchestration complexity. Included are productions such as Rent, Sweeney Todd, Les Misérables, and Avenue Q.
- Theatre For Young Audiences: Seventy-minute performances intended for adult casts presenting to children, typically involving small ensembles ranging from 6 to 12 cast members.
- Concert Library: Arrangements of Broadway songs adapted specifically for concert presentations.
Leadership
- Cameron Mackintosh, Chairman
- Freddie Gershon, Co-Chairman
- Drew H. Cohen, President and Chief Executive Officer
- John Prignano, Chief Operating Officer and Director of Education & Development
- Carol Edelson, Senior Vice President of Licensing
- Rita Thibault, Chief Financial Officer
- Deborah Hartnett, Senior Vice President and General Counsel
- Jason Cocovinis, Marketing Director
- Brian O'Sullivan, Director of Amateur Licensing
- Jody Edwards, Manager of Music & Materials
- John Vantuno, Chief Information Officer
Content rating system
MTI employs a classification framework to indicate content suitability for various audiences:
| Rating | Explanation |
|---|---|
| G | Suitable for general audiences; includes Junior editions such as Fiddler on the Roof, Guys and Dolls, and Seussical. |
| PG & PG-13 | Contains themes or language appropriate for mature viewers; examples include Les Misérables and Into the Woods. |
| R | Intended for adult audiences due to mature subject matter; titles include Avenue Q and Miss Saigon. |