Philanthropy
“A manifesto for shift in donor mindset—prioritizing the individual creatives who make art possible over the glass and steel that houses them.”
Sue Gilad
Notes from the Wings
Stories from the stage, the editing desk, and everywhere in between.
Essays from Sue Gilad on producing Broadway, editing books, speaking to leaders, and the work of giving back.
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Author & Editor
“How the collaborative rigor of a Broadway workshop can transform your manuscript from a lonely draft into a stage-ready story.”
Sue Gilad
Producer
“Building a lead producing team requires more than shared taste; it demands a strategic alignment of capital, temperament, and creative stamina.”
Sue Gilad
Author & Editor
Developmental Editing for Authors: A Producer’s Guide
Writing is solitary, but great stories are forged in the 'room.' Learn how to apply theatrical development techniques to your manuscript through developmental editing.
July 11, 2026·8 min read
Producer
Effective Theatrical Production Partnerships for Success
Selecting co-producers for a Broadway show is as critical as casting the lead actors. Learn how to balance financial skin in the game with creative vision and long-term stamina.
July 11, 2026·8 min read
Philanthropy
Strategy for Creating a Theater Scholarship Program
Learn how to structure a theater scholarship that prioritizes human potential over infrastructure, focusing on high-impact disciplines like stage management and technical design.
July 10, 2026·7 min read
Speaking
Applying Creative Leadership in Business: A Producer’s Guide
Applying creative leadership in business means moving beyond rigid spreadsheets to manage the human and financial variables of a high-risk venture. Learn how Broadway production principles translate to the boardroom.
July 10, 2026·8 min read
Producer
Evaluating Broadway Investment Opportunities with Clarity
Evaluating Broadway investment opportunities requires looking past the glossy artwork to analyze the capitalization, recoupment schedule, and specific risk factors detailed in the legal offering.
July 9, 2026·8 min read
Producer
Theater Production Legal Structure & Operating Agreements
Understanding the theater production legal structure is vital for any producer. The operating agreement dictates how decisions are made, how money is handled, and who holds ultimate authority.
July 7, 2026·7 min read
Speaking
Applying the Producer Mindset Beyond the Proscenium
Producing is not just about writing checks or booking talent. It is a specific mental framework for managing risk and fostering collaboration that applies whether you are launching a startup or writing a novel.
July 1, 2026·5 min read
Producer
When the Curtain Rises: An Auditor’s View of Opening Night
Opening night isn't about the party; it's about the transition from ownership to the public. Here is what happens when a Broadway producer finally lets go.
July 1, 2026·5 min read
Philanthropy
People Over Plaques: Why My Philanthropy Targets Human Potential
In theater philanthropy, the temptation is to put a name on a wall. I've chosen a different path: investing in the people who will eventually inhabit those rooms.
June 30, 2026·5 min read
Author & Editor
A Survival Guide for the Long-Haul Author
Success in writing isn't found on a single list. It is built in the quiet hours between books and the community you foster along the way.
June 29, 2026·8 min read
Speaking
Notes from the Wings: The Physics of Creative Leadership
Managing a multi-million dollar Broadway production offers a masterclass in risk management and radical collaboration. Learn how to stay grounded when the stakes are highest.
June 27, 2026·5 min read
Author & Editor
The Invisible Scaffold: Finding an Author Mentor Who Actually Moves the Needle
Mid-career authors often find themselves in a peculiar wilderness. You’ve had some success, perhaps even a published book, but the current draft feels immovable. This is where the distinction between an agent, an editor, and a mentor becomes vital.
June 27, 2026·5 min read
Author & Editor
Beyond the Script: Why Every Author Needs a Book Mentor
A book mentor doesn’t just look at your syntax; they look at your stamina. Discover why the leap from professional writer to career author requires a specific kind of partnership.
June 26, 2026·8 min read
Producer
The Producer’s Role in Marketing: Beyond the Poster
I remember standing outside the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre in 2017, watching the load-in for a production. It’s easy to think a producer's job ends once the checks are signed and the marquee is up. In reality, that’s when the real work of audience development begins.
June 26, 2026·8 min read
Producer
The Transparency of a Broadway Producer Salary
Producing for Broadway isn't a salaried desk job. From management fees to the 'carry,' here is how the money actually flows—and why the risk is part of the job description.
June 25, 2026·8 min read
Producer
What Does a Broadway Producer Actually Do?
People ask me what a Broadway producer actually does. The honest answer is: a little bit of everything, and a great deal of one thing.
June 25, 2026·8 min read
Author & Editor
What 1,200 Books Taught Me About Producing Broadway
Twenty-five years editing manuscripts and twenty-five years producing Broadway shows aren't two separate careers. They're the same instinct, applied twice.
June 15, 2026·6 min read
Producer
Inside The Outsiders: From Tulsa to Tony Award
How a 1967 coming-of-age novel about teenage greasers in Tulsa became the 2024 Tony Award winner for Best Musical.
June 12, 2026·7 min read
Speaking
Why Every Business Leader Should Spend a Day Backstage
What I learned creating YPO Broadway: Behind the Curtain — an executive program that uses theatre as a leadership classroom.
June 8, 2026·5 min read
Author & Editor
How I Built a Second Career Editing for Random House While Producing Tony Winners
Two full-time careers, running at once, for twenty-five years. Here's how that actually worked.
June 5, 2026·6 min read
Philanthropy
What Makes a Scholarship Worth Applying For
Why I started two scholarships with very different rules, and what I wish more students knew before they apply.
June 1, 2026·5 min read
Producer
From Moulin Rouge! to Buena Vista Social Club: Choosing Stories Worth Telling
A look at what connects two productions that, on the surface, have almost nothing in common.
May 28, 2026·6 min read
Long-form guides
In-depth roadmaps for producers, writers, and curious readers.
Researched, evergreen explainers that go deeper than an essay.
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Guide
Broadway Producer Mentorship Programs (Legit Paths)
Find broadway producer mentorship programs that are legitimate: vetted labs, fellowships, apprenticeships, and how to evaluate fit, access, and outcomes.
Read the guide → -
Guide
Theatrical Budget Breakdown: Pre-Prod vs Running
Get a theatrical budget breakdown from early labs to closing night—what you pay before opening, what you pay weekly, and how producers manage risk.
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Guide
Suzanne Gilad: Founder, Producer, Author, and Mentor
Meet Suzanne “Sue” Gilad—Broadway producer, author, and scholarship founder. Learn her path from publishing to producing, how she mentors emerging producers and authors, and how to explore partnership or speaking.
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Guide
Broadway Scholarships: Creating Equity in Arts Education | Suzanne Gilad
A practical guide to Broadway scholarships and theater training funding: types of awards, where to look, how to apply, and why giving early changes careers—plus how Suzanne Gilad’s scholarship programs work.
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Guide
Investing in Broadway: A Practical Guide to Backing a Show (Risks, Deals, Questions)
A candid guide to investing in Broadway: who qualifies, how deals are structured, what returns look like, the real risks, and the questions to ask before you write a check.
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Guide
Broadway Producing 101: The Essential Roadmap From Fan to Leader | Suzanne Gilad
Broadway Producing 101: learn the producer hierarchy (lead vs. co-producer), capitalization and recoupment basics, and the real stages from workshop to opening night to the Tony Awards.
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Guide
How to Fund a Broadway Show: Capitalization, Investors, and Ethical Fundraising | Suzanne Gilad
A practical guide to funding a Broadway show: how capitalization works, where theatrical capital comes from, what investors expect, and the ethics and rules producers must follow.
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Guide
How to Become a Broadway Producer: How a Broadway Show Actually Gets Made
A candid, producer-level walkthrough of how a Broadway show gets made: capitalization, creative team, marketing, previews, opening night, and recoupment—plus one real example from Suzanne Gilad’s career.
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