AJ Four Ways:
Text Only (by date) | headlines only
- Good Morning
Today’s AJ highlights: A game-changing media deal that could redefine copyright.
The most significant story today is the massive investment and licensing deal, which sees Disney license its vast character library to OpenAI’s new AI platforms in a deal that will redefine copyright (The Wall Street Journal (MSN)). This arrangement is a watershed moment that places AI at the center of the creative economy’s intellectual property landscape. The traditional media world faces its own upheaval as an analysis unpacks David Ellison’s dangerous play for Warner Bros. (The New Yorker) and his history of mixing business with political connections. Adding to the industry drama, a scandal involving production funding fraud saw a Netflix director found guilty (The Hollywood Reporter) of swindling $11 million.
The political assault on cultural institutions continues to escalate, as Arkansas becomes the first state to sever its public television’s ties with PBS (Arkansas Advocate). A major institutional leadership story sees the Director of Britain’s Tate Galleries to step down (The Guardian) after a nine-year tenure. Finally, in a victory for public culture, the World’s Third-Busiest Public Library withdrew a restructuring plan (The Guardian) after a significant public and writers’ outcry.
All these stories and more, below.
- An Ethnomusicologist Analyzes Eartha Kitt’s “Santa Baby”
Prof. Michael O’Brien discusses why we listen to so many of the same songs year after year, the unusual appeal of “Santa Baby,” and why Eartha Kitt’s version is so much better than Madonna’s (or anyone else’s). – The Post and Courier (Charleston)
- The Woeful State Of Arts PR. Here’s Why It Matters
On the inside of my job, lousy PR is one of the biggest signs that an institution is struggling. Outreach goes ignored, follow-up is late and flustered, and media events suffer. – Broad Street Review
- The Collective Who’s Transforming Ballet In France’s Second City
“(LA)HORDE is a choreographic collective running the National Ballet of Marseille and rewriting the ballet rulebook for a new era. Their work blends classical techniques with surprising influences, from queer nightlife to the political history of social dance.” – BBC (video)
- What Happens To You Creatively After You’ve Won Success?
These big breaks and large prizes are remarkable things that can provide incredible opportunities, but there is so often another side to that success. – LA Review of Books
- Fred Child To Lead Portland Classical Music Station
He is best known for his 25-year run as host of American Public Media’s national classical music program “Performance Today.” Child, who will relocate to Oregon from New York City, stepped down from the show in October. – Inside Radio
- Jake Heggie’s New Opera: A Historic 1976 Wine Competition
His one-act opera “The Judgement of Paris” is set to make its world premiere at Festival Napa Valley at Charles Krug Winery in St. Helena on July 18, part of the Wine Country event’s 20th anniversary season. – Los Angeles Times (MSN)
- World’s Third-Busiest Public Library Withdraws “Restructuring” Plan After Outcry
Many of Australia’s most prominent writers and artists, along with thousands of ordinary citizens, expressed outrage over the proposal to eliminate 39 jobs — including cutting the number of public-facing reference librarians by 60% — and refocus the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne on tourist-oriented “digital experiences.” – The Guardian
- David Ellison’s Dangerous Play For Warner Bros.
David Ellison was able to ascend to Paramount moguldom thanks in part to his closeness with Mr. Trump, and now he is trying to capitalize on the same bond to win the president’s favor for an even bigger prize. And he has leverage. – The New York Times
- Profound Changes In Canada’s Cultural Economy
It found that Manitoba’s cultural sector produces $1,010 worth of cultural goods and services per person, one of the highest per-capita levels in Canada. Manitoba trails only British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec. – Winnipeg Free Press
- The Benefits Of Tolerant Cultures
A tolerant person is one who does not interfere with other people, even if he thinks they are wrong, but is prepared to let them think what they like and say what they think. If he thinks they are wrong, he may try to persuade them, but he will not try to force them. – Psyche
- Director Of Britain’s Tate Galleries To Step Down
“Maria Balshaw is to (depart) in 2026, after a challenging nine-year tenure when she steered the organisation through the COVID-19 pandemic and had to deal with fluctuating attendance figures and financial instability.” – The Guardian
- Disney Sues Google For “Massive” Copyright Infringement
Disney is accusing the tech giant of copyright infringement on a “massive scale,” claiming it has used AI models and services to commercially distribute unauthorized images and videos, according to the letter seen by Variety. – TechCrunch
- Controversial New Designs For Notre Dame’s Stained Glass Windows Go On Display
The designs for six new stained-glass windows for the cathedral of Notre Dame have gone on show at the Grand Palais in Paris, despite a number of protests against the project. – CNN
- Disney/OpenAI Deal Will Redefine Copyright
On the surface, there appears to be some dissonance with Disney embracing OpenAI while poking its rivals. But it’s more than likely that Hollywood is embarking down a similar path as media publishers when it comes to AI. – Wired
- A Wave Of Unionization At Chicago’s Cultural Institutions
In the last four years, AFSCME’s Cultural Workers United organizing campaign has helped 2,500 Illinois cultural workers form unions at such sites as the Art Institute of Chicago, Field Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art, Shedd Aquarium, Newberry Library, and, most recently, the Adler Planetarium and Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. – WBEZ (Chicago)
- Novelist Joanna Trollope Is Dead At 82
“When popular fiction written by, and mainly for, women tended to be classified either as ‘romantic novels’ or ‘historical sagas’, Joanna” — a great-great-great-grandniece of Anthony Trollope — wrote “about real situations and dilemmas that had relevance to modern women of all ages and circumstances.” – The Guardian
- Director Convicted Of Defrauding Netflix For Series Which Was Never Finished
Carl Rinsch was convicted of wire fraud, money laundering and making illegal transactions in a case where he took $11 million in funding from Netflix for the series White Horse — and proceeded to spend the money on luxuries and blow it on a bad investment in a pharma company. – Variety
- D.L. Coburn, Playwright Of “The Gin Game,” Has Died At 87
He was in his late 30s when he wrote the play, his first. It premiered in Los Angeles in 1976; it reached Broadway the following year, directed by Mike Nichols and starring Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn, and ran for over 500 performances, winning Tandy a Tony and Coburn himself a Pulitzer. – TheaterMania
- The Louvre’s Security Cameras Caught The Entire Jewel Heist — But The Security Guards Couldn’t See It
“(The museum’s) security control room was not equipped with enough screens to watch every camera simultaneously, so the break-in was not watched in real-time. By the time guards had manually switched to the relevant live feed, nearly eight minutes after the heist began, the robbers were already getting away.” – Artnet
- Arkansas Becomes First State To Sever Its Public Television’s Ties With PBS
“The eight-member Arkansas Educational Television Commission, made up entirely of appointees of the governor, announced … that it planned to disaffiliate from PBS effective July 1, citing annual membership dues of about $2.5 million it described as ‘not feasible.’ … PBS Arkansas is rebranding itself as Arkansas TV and will provide more local content.” – AP
- Broadway Had Its Second-Highest Attendance In History Last Season
More than 14.7 million seats were filled in 2024-25, according to the latest audience-demographics report from The Broadway League. Among other findings is that, yet again, the average ticket-buyer is a 41-year-old, college-educated woman whose household income is over $275K a year. – Deadline
- Director of Marketing and Communications – Broadway in Hollywood & the Hollywood Pantages Theatre via TOC Arts Partners
About the Opportunity
Coming off another extremely triumphant season of productions and record-breaking attendance, Broadway in Hollywood and the Hollywood Pantages Theatre seek an energetic, driven, and forward-thinking Director of Marketing and Communications to join their team as a key leader in this period of forward momentum. The Hollywood Pantages reflects an exciting paradigm in the national theatre landscape because of its ability to attract, enchant, and retain audiences in a post-pandemic era of rebirth and reinvention. The Director of Marketing and Communications will benefit from this success and serve as a visionary leader in taking their audience development efforts to the next level.
This opportunity requires not just a love of Broadway and musical theatre, but also a knowledge of the national footprint of The Nederlander Organization and the importance of connecting with audiences in Los Angeles, the country’s second largest market for theatre. The Nederlander Organization is proud to have established Broadway in Hollywood as an avenue to bring audiences in Los Angeles to Broadway’s best. The Hollywood Pantages Theatre offers the perfect home for those productions and has been successfully providing the public with a remarkable theatre-going experience for the past 48 years (on top of its preceding 47 years of history). The new Director of Marketing and Communications will be a dynamic and seasoned leader, comfortable moving from management of a local team, to navigating conversations within a national organization.
Reporting directly to the President and working in close collaboration with internal departments, touring Broadway partners, press agencies, and vendors, the Director will drive innovative strategies to grow audiences, elevate the Broadway in Hollywood brand, and generate earned revenue through ticket sales and institutional visibility. This is an opportunity for a passionate, collaborative, data-oriented, and cutting-edge leader to leave a lasting impact on Los Angeles’s cultural landscape. The Director of Marketing and Communications will also be a strong manager and mentor, ready to guide a talented and diverse marketing department. They must be clearly dedicated to building not only the brand of the company, but the experience of the audience. They should be deeply knowledgeable in traditional marketing tools and strategies and adaptive and eager to experiment with new channels and practices to continually improve upon efforts and test new tools.
About Broadway in Hollywood & the Hollywood Pantages Theatre
Broadway in Hollywood, based at the historic Hollywood Pantages Theatre, is the proud home of touring Broadway in Los Angeles. As one of the most iconic venues in the country, the Hollywood Pantages welcomes nearly one million patrons each year to experience world-class theatrical productions in the heart of Hollywood. With a legacy rooted in excellence, glamour, and the transformative power of live performance, Broadway in Hollywood is committed to engaging audiences, expanding access to the arts, and championing the future of Broadway on the West Coast.
Located at the iconic intersection of Hollywood & Vine, the Hollywood Pantages has remained a crown jewel of entertainment, hosting the world’s greatest live performances and standing as a symbol of Hollywood’s Golden Age, and continues today as the premiere Los Angeles venue for live Broadway entertainment, concerts, special events, and more. Originally built in 1930 and then renovated to its current state in 2000, it is also part of a national network of theatres, in New York, London, and around the country, owned by The Nederlander Organization.
For over five decades, The Nederlanders have also been prolific producers of theatrical productions with over 100 Broadway and touring productions to their credit. The company has been instrumental in presenting many of Broadway’s most honored and successful shows most notably Annie, Copenhagen, La Cage aux Folles, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Noises Off, Peter Pan, Next to Normal, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, West Side Story, The Color Purple, My Fair Lady, The Elephant Man starring Bradley Cooper, The Undisputed Truth starring Mike Tyson directed by Spike Lee, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, and many others.
In 2011, the Nederlander Organization launched Broadway Direct, a brand dedicated to helping patrons across the country stay connected to every show on Broadway. Now in its third generation, the Nederlander Organization continues its tradition of presenting the very best in live entertainment, leading the theatrical industry, optimizing the patron experience, and engaging new audiences.
Job Description
Leading strategic marketing, audience development, and brand communications initiatives, the Director of Marketing and Communications is a pivotal senior leadership role that will guide the public voice and identity of one of Los Angeles’ premier performing arts venues. They will oversee a department of seven and will be charged with activating the brand, engaging audiences, and meeting ambitious revenue goals. Fascinated by the customer’s journey, they should be an individual driven to analyze data, embrace new tools, and capable of building and managing an ambitious marketing plan.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Develop and execute marketing and communications strategies to grow ticket sales, strengthen brand recognition, and enhance the public profile of Broadway in Hollywood and the Hollywood Pantages Theatre.
- Serve as the chief architect of all marketing and communication initiatives across platforms (digital, broadcast, print, experiential, and social).
- Partner closely with the President and senior leadership team on long-term audience engagement and revenue strategy.
Marketing & Sales
- Lead subscription, single ticket, and group sales campaigns for all productions, including dynamic pricing strategies, customer segmentation, and cross-promotional partnerships.
- Forecast and analyze ticket sales trends and adjust strategies to maximize revenue and attendance.
- Work closely with Broadway touring partners to plan and execute comprehensive show-specific marketing campaigns.
- Oversee and continually refine the customer journey—from first touchpoint through post-show experience—to enhance loyalty and retention.
Digital & Content Strategy
- Oversee the organization’s digital presence, including website, email marketing, SMS marketing, social media, and paid digital advertising.
- Partner with creative and content teams as well as external agency partners to develop engaging campaigns, media assets, and audience-focused messaging.
- Stay current with industry and digital marketing trends, evaluating new platforms and technologies for audience growth.
Communications & Brand Management
- Maintain and evolve the Broadway in Hollywood and Hollywood Pantages Theatre brands across all external-facing materials.
- Oversee all advertising, public relations, media buying, and community outreach efforts in collaboration with external agencies and internal staff.
- Serve as chief storyteller for the organization—crafting compelling narratives that connect with diverse audiences and stakeholders.
Team & Department Oversight
- Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team of seven marketing and communications professionals.
- Set and manage department budgets, timelines, and project plans.
- Foster a collaborative, creative, and results-oriented departmental culture aligned with the organization’s values.
Qualifications
- A minimum of 7–10 years of progressive experience in marketing, communications, or related fields, preferably in performing arts, entertainment, or live events.
- Proficiency in digital marketing, including SEO/SEM, email marketing, analytics, and social media strategy.
- Demonstrated success developing and leading integrated marketing strategies with measurable results.
- Proficiency in financial planning and budget management.
- Expertise in ticketing sales campaigns, pricing strategy, and audience development.
- Strong leadership skills with experience managing teams and collaborating cross-functionally.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a sharp eye for brand tone, storytelling, and design aesthetics.
- Experience managing external vendors, including agencies, designers, and media buyers.
- Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed during show runs and events.
- Familiarity with Ticketmaster, CRM systems, and ticketing platforms.
- Knowledge of Broadway industry and touring theatrical production cycles.
- Experience in a unionized environment.
- Capacity to thrive in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities and deadlines.
Compensation
The salary for this position is $150,000-180,000. Broadway in Hollywood and the Hollywood Pantages Theatre provides comprehensive benefits, including providing health, dental, vision, and company-paid life insurance. Employees have access to a 401k plan, a flexible spending account, long and short-term disability; paid time off; and parking.
Broadway in Hollywood is committed to a workplace where everyone is free from bias, prejudice, discrimination, and harassment. We strive to foster a welcoming work environment where everyone belongs and is valued for their unique contributions. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome all to apply.
Application Instructions
The Director of Marketing and Communications search is being conducted on behalf of Broadway in Hollywood and the Hollywood Pantages Theatre by TOC Arts Partners, a national consultancy aligning strategies, structures, and leadership toward a thriving cultural sector. The search is being led by Consultant Brenna Thomas, in consultation with and support from the TOC Arts Partners search team.
To apply, visit the online application (https://tocartspartners.com/jobs-listing/hollywood-pantages-director-marketing-communications) and submit your materials. Your cover letter should include any training or experience relevant to the job profile that you would like to highlight, why you consider yourself a good fit for this opportunity, and anything else you’d like us to know about your qualifications that may not be present in your resume.
For general questions or nominations of prospective candidates, please contact searchteam@tocartspartners.com. We kindly request no phone calls.
Specific questions about the position may be directed to:
Brenna Thomas
Consultant, Search & Strategy
brenna@tocartspartners.comApplications will be accepted until this role is filled. We encourage you to apply by January 4, 2026, for priority consideration. Interviews may begin at any time, and we encourage you to apply as early as possible for best consideration. Please note that applying before the priority deadline does not guarantee an interview, and all applicants will receive a response regarding the consideration and status of their candidacy.
Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications? Research shows that cis men apply for jobs when they fulfill an average of 60% of the criteria, while others tend only to apply if they meet every requirement. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply.
We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. So, whether you’re returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or taking the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar.
- Judi Dench On The State Of Her Memory And Her Eyesight
The 91-year-old acting legend, who has age-related macular degeneration, stopped performing because she can’t see her way around a set or read a script anymore. And she says, “I can’t remember what I’m doing tomorrow, I swear to you,” but can still remember quite a lot of Shakespeare. – The Guardian
- Can Literary Fiction Help Save Classical Music?
Since 2020, well over a dozen novels have taken classical music as their setting. Of course, novels about classical music are nothing new. But what is notable about this recent surge in classical music fiction is that many of these texts center on a scathing critique of the industry itself. – Public Books
- Why Does It Seem Like Every Major Cultural Institution In Melbourne Is Named After The Same Person?
Well, because that person, Ian Potter, was extraordinarily generous, as his widow and his foundation continue to be. But when your sister gets angry because she was waiting for you at one Ian Potter Museum while you waited for her at another, you realize there must be a better way. – ABC (Australia)
- “Nutcracker” From Behind The Stage
Pittsburgh’s production has evolved its own traditions and superstitions. During some performances, performers pass a Heinz ketchup packet while onstage, like a hot potato. Whoever has it at the end loses. Another tradition: Dancers owe a dollar for every mistake. – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
- Americans’ Obsession With Renovation And Makeovers — And The White House
The White House has explained the East Wing’s demolition as “renovation,” and the necessary prelude to a multimillion-dollar ballroom. This is the architectural equivalent of a celebrity-style makeover: a redo to admire as a luxury commodity, an old building rejuvenated, history erased. – The New York Times
- Have Stripped Public Media Of Funding, Now Republicans Want To Cancel NPR, PBS Station Licenses
The CPB is set to shut down after Congress approved President Trump’s request to rescind its funding. The Center for American Rights said the CPB shutdown should be used as an opportunity to reassign spectrum used by NPR and PBS stations to other entities. – Ars Technica
- Poetry And Politics In The U.S., Then And Now
Verse was used as a political tool going back all the way to the Revolutionary War. Walt Whitman considered poetry to democracy, which “waits the coming of its bards … in the twilight of dawn.” And the connection of poetry to politics continues today with Joy Harjo and Amanda Gorman. – JSTOR Daily
- Mark Swed: LA’s Best Classical Music Of 2025
Classical music’s survival instincts proved reliable. New leaders of L.A.’s arts institutions are bringing vitality to the region, empowering musicians and giving fans hope and optimism. – Los Angeles Times
- Baritone Jubilant Sykes, Stabbed and Killed
After the Santa Monica Police Department responded to a call about an assault at a house around 9:20 p.m., officers found Sykes, 71, with critical injuries consistent with a stabbing, the authorities said in a news release. He was pronounced dead at the scene. – The New York Times
- How Do You Keep “Nutcracker” Costumes Looking Fresh For 30 Years?
The National Ballet of Canada’s costumes, designed by Broadway mainstay Santo Loquasto, have absorbed a lot of wear, tear, and sweat over three decades. Here wardrobe chief Stacy Dimitropoulos, resident cutter Chris Read, and several company dancers talk about costume care and maintenance. – Toronto Life
- The People Who Are Using AI To Do Their Thinking
For this set of compulsive users, AI has become a primary interface through which they interact with the world. The emails they write, the life decisions they make, and the questions that consume their mind all filter through AI first. “It’s like a real addiction.” – The Atlantic
- How Warner Bros. Sale To Netflix Could Change Movies
In Hollywood, concern about whether Warner Bros. will remain a theatre-centered business is haunted by historical echoes of earlier seismic shifts in the movie business. It seems existential, perhaps portending the end of mainstream moviegoing. – The New Yorker
