Stars, Stagehands, and Shareholders: Producing Magic on Broadway with Brian Moreland
July 24, 2025
What does it take to produce a winning Broadway play in an environment where creative risk, emotional intensity, and public scrutiny collide—night after night?
On this episode of Humanity at Scale, host Bruce Temkin sits down with Brian A. Moreland, the Tony-nominated producer behind Othello, The Wiz, and Thoughts of a Colored Man, to uncover what it takes to lead at the intersection of creative excellence, financial risk, and human connection. Drawing from his journey from performer to producer, Brian breaks down how presence, clarity, and shared vision unite dozens of teams behind the curtain and how leadership decisions shape every part of the production, from union crews to ushers to megastars like Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal. Whether you're leading a creative team or building a culture of belonging, this episode reveals how humanity-centered leadership can transform even the most complex productions.
What does it take to produce a winning Broadway play in an environment where creative risk, emotional intensity, and public scrutiny collide—night after night?
On this episode of Humanity at Scale, host Bruce Temkin sits down with Brian A. Moreland, the Tony-nominated Broadway producer behind Othello, The Wiz, and Thoughts of a Colored Man, to uncover what it takes to lead at the intersection of creative excellence, financial risk, and human connection. Drawing from his journey from performer to producer, Brian breaks down how presence, clarity, and shared vision unite dozens of teams behind the curtain and how leadership decisions shape every part of the production, from union crews to ushers to megastars like Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal. Whether you're leading a creative team or building a culture of belonging, this episode reveals how humanity-centered leadership can transform even the most complex productions.
What You’ll Learn:
- Why every Broadway show is a leadership lab with 16 unions and dozens of departments
- How to balance creative integrity with budget constraints (and find solutions like the “one-seat funding model”)
- The role of presence and visibility in shaping company culture
- What it takes to build trust and shared vision across massive, diverse teams
- Why mentorship and access, not just representation, are key to lasting change
- The biggest leadership lesson from handling backstage chaos during a high-stress tour
- How expanding ZIP codes not just marketing budgets diversifies audiences
- What does the legacy mean when you center kindness, equity, and opportunity
Brian A. Moreland is a Broadway producer whose visionary work includes Othello, The Wiz, and Thoughts of a Colored Man. Known for fusing artistic excellence with social impact, Brian champions stories that spark empathy and equity. A former actor and performer, he brings a creative yet pragmatic lens to producing, and he’s committed to opening doors for underrepresented voices on Broadway and beyond. Brian’s leadership blends empathy, directness, and an unshakable belief in the power of presence, partnership, and purpose.
Episode Resources: