--- title: "The Producer Role During Broadway Previews — Notes from the Wings" description: "Discover the producer role during broadway previews. Learn how to manage the creative team, analyze audience data, and navigate the transition from rehearsal to" lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Suzanne Gilad", "alternateName": "Sue Gilad", "jobTitle": "Broadway Producer, Author, Editor, Speaker", "description": "Grammy and five-time Tony Award–winning Broadway producer, published author, professional editor, and arts-education advocate.", "award": [ "Grammy Award", "Tony Award for Best Musical (5x)", "30 Tony Award wins across productions" ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "The Producer Role During Broadway Previews", "description": "Discover the producer role during broadway previews. Learn how to manage the creative team, analyze audience data, and navigate the transition from rehearsal to stage.", "datePublished": "2026-08-01T07:01:49.038+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-08-01T07:01:49.064961+00:00", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sue Gilad", "url": "https://www.suzannegilad.com/about" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Suzanne Gilad", "url": "https://www.suzannegilad.com" }, "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.suzannegilad.com/notes/producer-role-during-broadway-previews" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.suzannegilad.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Notes from the Wings", "item": "https://www.suzannegilad.com/notes" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "The Producer Role During Broadway Previews", "item": "https://www.suzannegilad.com/notes/producer-role-during-broadway-previews" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What does a producer do during Broadway previews?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "A producer observes audience reactions, manages the budget for creative changes, and facilitates communication between the director and the rest of the creative team. They ensure that the production is evolving based on real-world feedback while remaining within the financial constraints set during the initial capitalization phase of the project." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How long is the preview period for a Broadway show?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The preview period typically lasts between three to five weeks for a musical and two to three weeks for a play. This timeframe allows the creative team to implement changes to the script, score, and staging based on audience responses before the show is 'frozen' for the official opening night and press reviews." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can you buy tickets to Broadway previews?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes, tickets are available to the general public for preview performances. These tickets are often slightly less expensive than post-opening tickets, reflecting the fact that the show is still being refined. For producers, these audiences provide the essential data needed to finalize the production's pacing and emotional impact." } } ] } ] --- [Suzanne Gilad ](/) [About ](/about)[Producer ](/producer)[Author & Editor ](/author-editor)[Speaking ](/speaking)[Philanthropy ](/philanthropy)[Notes ](/notes)[Glossary ](/glossary)[Contact ](/contact) [Notes from the Wings](/notes)/ Producer # The Producer Role During Broadway Previews Managing the creative team, processing audience feedback, and the producer's checklist for the first public performance. By Sue Gilad August 1, 2026 8 min read Share [](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsuzannegilad.lovable.app%2Fnotes%2Fproducer-role-during-broadway-previews)[](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The%20Producer%20Role%20During%20Broadway%20Previews&url=https%3A%2F%2Fsuzannegilad.lovable.app%2Fnotes%2Fproducer-role-during-broadway-previews) The producer role during Broadway previews involves acting as a bridge between the creative team's vision and the audience's live response. During this period, the producer monitors the show’s pacing, clarifies storytelling beats through feedback, manages the daily budget for changes, and supports the director in refining the production before the official opening night. I stood at the back of the house at the Hudson Theatre, clutching a legal pad that I hoped looked more authoritative than I felt in that moment. It was the first preview of a production I was incredibly proud of, and the air was thick with the scent of floor wax and nervous energy. For weeks, we had lived in the vacuum of the rehearsal room, where every joke landed because we’d heard it fifty times and every emotional beat felt earned because we knew the backstory. But as the lights dimmed and the first chords of the overture swelled, the dynamic shifted. The show was no longer ours; it belonged to the 900 people sitting in the dark, and my job was to listen to them more closely than I listened to my own instincts. ## The Audience as the Final Collaborator In Broadway production, the first preview is the first time the show is performed in its entirety without the safety net of stopping for technical adjustments. As a producer, you are not just watching the stage; you are watching the backs of heads. You are listening for the collective shift in seats that signals a loss of focus, the coughs that happen when a scene drags, and the specific kind of silence that indicates profound engagement versus confusion. When I worked on the 2017 revival of 'Hello, Dolly!', the energy of the room was a tangible force, but even in a hit, the [creative team](/glossary/creative-team) looks to the producer to filter the noise. Your role is to remain objective. It is easy for a director or writer to become defensive when a moment they love fails to land. The producer must gently facilitate the conversation about why that happened. Does the audience lack the information necessary to understand the stakes? Is the [capitalization](/glossary/broadway-show-capitalization) of the scene’s emotional energy happening too late? This is the work of previews—polishing the diamond until it catches the light from every angle. “ > The producer's job during previews is to be the most objective person in the room, protecting the show's potential while honoring the creative team's exhaustion. Sue Gilad ## Managing Creative Ego and Conflict Previews are a pressure cooker. The actors are performing at night and rehearsing new changes during the day. The designers are tweaking lighting cues and sound levels. In this environment, [managing artistic conflict](/notes/managing-artistic-conflict-in-theater-ego) becomes a primary function of the producer. I have sat in many 'post-mortem' meetings in the theater basement where the tension was higher than on the stage. My approach, which I detail in my work as a mentor to emerging producers, is to always return to the 'north star' of the production. What story are we telling, and does this change help us tell it better? One must also be mindful of the [recoupment](/glossary/recoupment) goals. Every new costume piece, every re-orchestrated song, and every additional hour of tech time costs money. The producer must balance the artistic desire for perfection with the fiscal reality of the budget. It requires a delicate touch—validating the creative need while keeping a firm hand on the ledger. ### The Producer's First Preview Checklist 1. 01 Monitor the 'Vibe' of the House Arrive early and watch the audience enter. Are they the target demographic? During the show, take note of where the energy dips or where the applause feels obligatory rather than organic. 2. 02 Consult with the General Manager Review the front-of-house report immediately after the show. Note any technical glitches, medical emergencies in the crowd, or complaints about sightlines that might affect the experience. 3. 03 Facilitate the Creative Debrief Gather the director, writer, and lead producers. Let the director speak first. Keep the focus on 'problem areas' identified by the audience's reaction rather than personal preferences. 4. 04 Analyze Initial Ticket Velocity Look at the 'wrap' (the total sales for the day) and see if there was a spike after the first performance. Word of mouth begins the second the curtain falls. ## The Logistics of Change The Broadway League reports that the preview period can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on the complexity of the show. During this time, the producer is in constant communication with [ATPAM](/glossary/atpam) members, including the press agents and managers, to control the narrative. We want the buzz to be about the growth and the excitement, not the 'troubles' that are a natural part of any creative process. When I am [speaking](/speaking) to students about leadership, I emphasize that a producer's calm is contagious. If you panic, the room panics. 24-32 Average number of preview performances for a new Broadway musical. 8-10 Hours of daily rehearsal often required during the preview period. 100% Commitment required from the producer to be present at every performance. In my experience producing shows like 'Moulin Rouge! The Musical', I’ve seen how vital it is to maintain a high-level view. You are looking at the [weekly grosses](/glossary/weekly-grosses) while simultaneously worrying about whether a transition in Act II is confusing the balcony. It is a dual-brain exercise. You must be the show’s biggest fan and its most rigorous critic all at once. For more on how to navigate these early stages of a production, you might find my notes on [pitching Broadway investors](/notes/pitching-broadway-investors-for-the-first-time) helpful, as those early promises are what you are now working to fulfill. ## The Transition to Opening Night As the preview period winds down, the producer’s focus shifts toward the press and the 'freeze.' Once the show is frozen, no more changes can be made. This is a bittersweet moment. The chaotic, creative energy of the preview weeks gives way to the permanence of the production. My role then transitions into being the chief advocate and marketer, ensuring that the momentum we’ve built carries us through the reviews and into a long, successful run. The first preview is just the beginning of the show's public life, but it is where the real work of producing is tested and proven. Frequently asked ## Questions about this piece ### What does a producer do during Broadway previews? ### How long is the preview period for a Broadway show? ### Can you buy tickets to Broadway previews? SG Written by Sue Gilad Grammy & five-time Tony Award–winning Broadway producer, author, editor, and arts-education advocate. [More about Sue](/about) · [Contact the office](/contact). Related reading ## More notes from the wings [ Producer ### Creative Leadership Crisis Management: The Producer Role Creative leadership crisis management requires a blend of emotional intelligence and tactical resourcefulness. Learn how Broadway producers handle sudden cast departures and technical failures. September 11, 2026· 9 min read ](/notes/creative-leadership-crisis-management)[ Producer ### Broadway Production Contingency Planning: The Reserve Fund A deep dive into why Broadway shows need a financial cushion beyond the initial capitalization to manage soft periods and prevent immediate overcalls. September 9, 2026· 7 min read ](/notes/broadway-production-contingency-planning-reserve-funds)[ Producer ### The Producer’s Seat: What is a Theatrical Producer Responsible For? Discover the essential fiduciary and creative governance duties of a Broadway lead producer, from managing capitalization to navigating the high-stakes preview period. September 7, 2026· 8 min read ](/notes/what-is-a-theatrical-producer-responsible-for) [← Back to all notes](/notes) Suzanne Gilad Grammy & five-time Tony Award–winning Broadway producer, author, editor, speaker, and arts-education advocate. 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