Hello Beautiful People!
I’m pleased to introduce our latest mover & shaker in this Q&A Series, Brisa Trinchero.
Brisa is a two-time Tony Award winning Broadway producer, and the co-founder of Dress Circle Publishing. Her theatrical endeavors that have previously included Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Pippin, The Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess, Peter & The Starcatcher, Matilda and others. In addition to her work in publishing, Brisa founded the nationally recognized new works incubator, Running Deer Musical Theater Lab in order to support new theater at all phases of development. She also maintains a popular industry blog, Make Musicals, addressing the art and business of new musicals and serves as a consultant to new musical festivals/developers around the country. Brisa has a degree in music, an MBA in finance and is a graduate of the Commercial Theatre Institute. She is a proud member of the National Alliance of Musical Theater, Theater Communication Group, League of Professional Theater Women, and The Broadway League.
Write Teacher(s) Readers, meet Brisa!
MM: First things first, did you always have dreams of working on Broadway?
BT: I’ve dreamed of working in theater for as long as I can remember but I didn’t set my sights on Broadway until a few years ago. As a kid I devoured Broadway cast albums and played the child roles in many of the local productions in my home town of Portland, Oregon. But I also knew from an early age that I didn’t have the extraordinary talents necessary to be a Broadway actress. It wasn’t until I went to business school and then got a job running a local theater that I started to have aspirations of going to Broadway not as a performer but, instead, as a producer and financier.
MM: So many of America’s producers have been men. Did you find your gender to be an obstacle when trying to cement yourself as a producer on Broadway?
BT: Being a Broadway producer is an extremely difficult career path for men and women. When I first got to Broadway my new colleagues were certainly surprised to see a young woman at the producer meetings, (in fact, my fellow producers frequently mistook me for being someone’s assistant) but I think anyone trying to make it on Broadway has to overcome obstacles no matter their age or gender.
MM: What words of wisdom would you give to students in high school who wish to pursue a career in theatre?
BT: Success in theater is all about relationships. The world of theater, even in the highest circles, is actually a small community and people want to be in the room with people they like. Be a good collaborator. Support your friends and they will support you. Many of the best theater jobs whether onstage or off are never posted or up for audition – so make sure you have friends “in the room” so that are the first person on everyone’s lips when someone’s looking for what you do.
MM: You have produced some of my favorite shows on Broadway, and while we realizing that picking a favorite show might be the like asking one to pick a favorite child, is there one show (or three) in particular that is nearest and dearest to your heart?
BT: Nearest and dearest to my heart will always be my first show as a Broadway producer, Bonnie & Clyde. While it wasn’t a commercial success, it was an incredible experience because I was completely immersed in every aspect of the show and I soaked up every minute of it. Plus, seeing a show fail was the best possible way for me to quickly learn how to avoid mistakes in the future.
MM: My other favorite would have to be Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. My fellow producers are so smart and talented and the show continues to be a huge hit on Broadway. Plus, it’s opening in London in February and going out for a US National tour this year! It’s such a joy to see happy theater goers leaving the theater singing every night.
MM: In today’s economy, arts programs in schools are being cut. What reasons would you give a politician for preserving the arts?
BT: Arts are vital for teaching kids how be creative, imaginative and to think outside the box. Students with access to the arts perform better academically and have a higher chance of building successful careers. In fact, the evidence of this is so overwhelming that arts are programs and slowly starting to be put back into schools.
MM: What’s the one piece of wisdom you’d like to pass on to aspiring producers?
BT: Your readers may not want to hear this, but Broadway producing is not actually a viable day job. The old adage that on Broadway “you can’t make a living but you can make a killing” is true. My best advice for aspiring producers is to find a day job in the arts that allows you to build valuable skills and contacts so that when you do find a project to produce, you are well positioned to take it all the way both creatively and financially.
MM: Just for fun, if you were to perform, what role would you want to play?
BT: I always thought Mame looked like a ton of fun. Great character, great lines, exceptional music (Jerry Herman is one of my favorite writers!), and not to mention the fabulous over-the-top costumes!
MM: Just for fun, what books are permanently on your bookshelf?
BT: Everything from the publishing company I co-founded, Dress Circle Publishing (www.dresscirclepublishing.com), of course! Untold Stories of Broadway by Jennifer Ashley Tepper, Seth’s Broadway Diary by Seth Rudetsky. Our fictions series by Ruby Preston is particularly close to my heart since it’s the story of a young female producer. If you want a real glimpse behind the Broadway curtain, read Showbiz or Staged!
MM: What’s next for Brisa Trinchero?
BT: It’s a really exciting time for me. I’m involved with several successful Broadway shows, and we have several bestselling books coming out of Dress Circle. I’m currently using my connections in the high-tech and finance worlds to develop some exciting innovations that can be applied to entertainment in new and exciting ways. www.BrisaGlobal.com.
MM: Who is/was your greatest teacher?
BT: My dad has always been my greatest teacher. He taught by example, proving that no dream is too crazy to make a reality with enough time and effort. He had the foresight to encourage me to get a business degree before I knew how much it would change my life and watching him build the life he always envisioned gave me the confidence to do that same.
Thank you, Brisa!
Live, Love, Learn,