179: Hamilton: The Business Behind the Magic with Maggie Brohn

What It Feels Like to Lead the World's Most Successful Musical with Maggie Brohn

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She started answering phones. Now she runs Broadway's biggest global hit. Meet Maggie Brohn, the powerhouse behind Hamilton.

In this episode of Heartbeat for Hire, host Lyndsay Dowd sits down with Maggie Brohn, Chief Operating Officer of Adventureland and the powerhouse Executive Producer of Hamilton across Broadway, the West End, Disney+, multiple global tours, and international productions.

Maggie shares the remarkable story of how she went from answering phones in a theatrical office to becoming an owner, producer, and one of the most influential leaders in modern theater. She breaks down how Hamilton transitioned from a groundbreaking production into a global business — operating more like a major corporation than a traditional Broadway show.

We explore the art of leading creatives, building trust, setting authority, navigating strong emotions, and making mission-critical decisions. Maggie reveals what it takes to guide artists while staying grounded in business realities and cultivating a team capable of worldwide excellence.

She also opens up about listening, cultural sensitivity, DEI conversations, building long-term contracts, and why the industry needs a full reset. Plus, Maggie shares what Broadway needs most right now — and how audiences can help.


 


 Timestamps


00:00:00 Intro: The Audience's Desire for Delight in Theater


00:01:00 Introducing Maggie Brohn: Broadway's Executive Producer and COO
00:01:58 Maggie's Journey: From Answering Phones to Producing Hamilton
00:03:23 Leading Creatives: Setting Authority and Navigating Feelings


00:04:30 The Power of Trust and Delegating to Expertise


00:06:00 The Biggest Lesson: Moving Theater from "Show" to Global Business
00:08:15 Adapting Hamilton for International Audiences


00:11:59 The Current State of the Broadway Business


00:18:24 Setting Boundaries as a Manager


00:20:32 An Early Leadership Test: The Jack Daniels & Massage Request
00:23:46 Leading as an Outsider and a Woman in a Male-Dominated Group
00:24:49 Listening & Hard DEI Conversations


00:26:50 Maggie's Legacy: Leading an Industry "Reset"


00:30:22 Union Negotiations & Long-Term Contracts


00:33:26 How to Support Theater & Broadway Today


00:34:18 Conclusion & Final Thoughts


 


 About the Guest


Maggie Brohn is the Chief Operating Officer of Adventureland and the Executive Producer of Hamilton on Broadway, the West End, the international tour, UK/Ireland Tour, and Disney+. Her recent credits include The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail at New York Botanical Garden, the 2023 Sweeney Todd Broadway revival, Hamilton in Hamburg and Australia, Derren Brown: Secret, and The Cher Show.

Previously a partner at Bespoke Theatricals, Maggie general-managed major plays and musicals for over a decade. She serves on the Board of Governors and Executive Committee for The Broadway League and is a former Co-Chair of the Labor Committee. She resides in New York City with her husband and two children.


 About the Host – Lyndsay Dowd is a Speaker, Founder, Author, Coach, Podcast Host—and unapologetic Disruptor. With 30 years of leadership experience, including 23 at IBM, she's built and led high-performing teams that consistently delivered results. She also served as a Guest Lecturer at Harvard University, sharing her insights on modern leadership and culture transformation. 



As the founder of Heartbeat for Hire, Lyndsay helps companies ditch toxic leadership and build irresistible cultures that drive performance, retention, and impact. She's been featured in Fortune Magazine, HR.com, ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, and over 100 podcasts. 



 

Lyndsay is a two-time best selling author of Top Down Culture and Voices of Women, and the host of the globally ranked and 2X awarded Heartbeat for Hire podcast—sitting in the top 2.5% worldwide. She is also the host of a weekly live show called THE LEADERSHIP LOUNGE. Lyndsay is a frequent speaker, moderator, and guest, known for her candor, humor, and ability to spark action.


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