Jim is the Principal / Owner of MT Production Group (Music Theatre Production Group). He consults with arts organizations focusing on production, facility operations, venue construction/renovation, labor issues, security protocols and general operations. He recently consulted with The Kennedy Center on the opening of their new education/rehearsal/performance facility called The REACH as well as producing the Opening Ceremonies and is currently the owner representative for Walmart for their new corporate auditorium and conference facilities. He has also recently consulted with Artis Naples providing production support for a series of concerts and Broadway touring productions as well as for the San Diego Symphony and the opening of their new Summer home - The Rady Shell @ Jacobs Park.
Like the Kennedy Center, Jim was brought on to consult on the commissioning of the facility and produce the Opening Ceremonies for the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando. He then served as Vice President of Production & Operations being responsible for $6.1 million-dollar of operating budgets (25% of overall budget) and was a member of the initial logistics and operations team for Phase Two completion of the $221 million Steinmetz Hall construction (500,000 + sq ft. facility). Before starting MTPG he was associated with Carnegie Hall for 16 years starting as a stage manager and ending as the first Director of Production in the history of the facility. While at Carnegie, Jim helped facilitate the $20.8 million-dollar events budget, supervised the $6.3 million-dollar labor contract and was on the advisory team that oversaw the $300 million-dollar building of the Resnick Education Wing part of the Weill Education Institute.
Prior to his appointment at Carnegie Hall, Jim served as the Line Producer for Festival Productions – producers of the JVC Jazz Festival, Newport Jazz & Folk Festivals as well as others. Throughout his career, he has participated in many events ranging from Bette Midler’s Hulaween Ball, Frank Zappa’s 50th Birthday Party in NYC, The 54th Presidential Inaugural Concert in Washington DC as well as events involving President Jimmy Carter and President Bill Clinton. Jim has also been involved in facility openings including The Kimmel Center, NJ Performing Arts Center, the Constitution Center, the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and The Kennedy Center.
During his years in NYC, Jim spent 6 years as a Production Supervisor for The Tony Awards. He has also been involved with Broadway and National touring productions that include Oklahoma, Les Misérables, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Black & Blue, Those Were The Days, Chess, West Side Story as well as many Off Broadway Productions. Jim has also toured as sound mixer for French jazz pianist Claude Bolling and his Big Band; writing, producing music and executive producing the 25th Anniversary Album for The Ridiculous Theatre Company as well as owning and operating his own sound reinforcement company designing and supplying sound systems.
In addition to lecturing at Yale School of Drama, Jim also lectures at campuses around the country and currently sits on the Entertainment and Design Advisory Council for Valencia College. Jim has been a panel participant for SETC Outdoor Theatre webinar on Pandemic Proofing your Theatre. He was also asked to present a technical paper at the Acoustical Society of America annual conference on Assisted Listening Devices in Assembly Spaces as well as contributing at the IAVM / PAMC 2017 Conference in Chicago on Assisted Listening Devices; presenting at APAP / NYC 2017 Conference on Security for the Performing Arts and the Performing Arts Exchange Conference 2016 on Venue Safety & Security. Jim has completed FEMA professional development in Active Shooter, Workplace Violence and Cyber Security as well as completing training for Project SERVATOR – a behavioral-based surveillance program given by the FBI to detect, deter and disrupt hostile reconnaissance given by the FBI Orlando Joint Terrorism Task Force in coordination with the FBI London Legal Attaché. Jim is a member of the IAVM sub-committee on Performing Arts Safety & Security, Performing Arts Center Consortium (just published Guide to Reopening Theatrical Venues document) and is OSHA 10 Certified. Most recently he has completed courses by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Irwin Seating and Health Education Services receiving certification as a COVID Compliance Officer as well as participating in many webinars with IAVM regarding COVID 19 response and protection and venue re-opening protocols.
Jim is an active member of Actors Equity Association (AEA), the International Association of Stagehands and Employees (IATSE), American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA), individual member – MEIEA (Music & Entertainment Industry Educators Association), individual member of The League of American Orchestras, writer / publishing member of ASCAP. He has worked all over the world including Australia (Sydney Opera House, Melbourne’s Hamer Hall), China (Shanghai Grand Theatre), Singapore (Kallang Theatre), Czech Republic (Prague O2 Arena), Denmark (Musikhuset Aarhus), France (Chatelet - Théâtre Musical de Paris) and numerous other venues in Europe and Canada.
Jim has stage / production managed and or produced numerous events during his facility tenures and in the freelance world that have included artists such as James Taylor, JayZ (1st Hip/Hop - Rap concert at Carnegie Hall), U-2, David Bryne, Sheryl Crow, Rain Forest Benefit (James Taylor, Billy Joel, Elton John, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Jenifer Hudson, Meryl Streep, Vince Gill, etc.), Youssou N'Dour, Evanescence, Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys, John Mellancamp, Diana Ross, 4 Tops / Temptations, Gladys Knight, Joe Cocker, Norah Jones, Nina Simone, Dave Brubeck, Tony Bennett, Wynton Marsalis, Ray Charles, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, Bobby McFerrin, Stephen Sondheim, Julie Andrews, Michael Feinstein, Bette Midler, Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, Odetta, Paul Winter, Chita Rivera, Tito Puente, Cesaria Evora, João Gilberto, Celia Cruz, Yo-Yo Ma, Isaac Stern, Jessye Norman, Andre Watts, Denyce Graves, Frederica Von Stade, Emanual Ax, Jean Pierre Rampal, Pierre Boulez, Gustavo Dudamel, Kathleen Battle, Philip Glass, Alvin Ailey Dance, Savion Glover, Madeline Kahn, Nathan Lane, Sam Waterson, Carol Channing, Leslie Uggams, Elaine Stritch, Nell Carter, Marilyn Horne, Brian Stokes-Mitchell, Reba McIntire, The New York Philharmonic, The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, New York Pops, Philly Pops, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Berlin Philharmonic, The San Francisco Symphony, The Juilliard String Quartet, Tokyo String Quartet, The Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band as well as other artists and organizations.
A graduate of the University of Miami with a B.M. in Musical Theatre/Voice Principal as well as studying orchestral conducting at The Juilliard School/Evening Division, Jim started out as a trumpet player and continues to play in his spare time. He has a trumpet collection consisting of instruments that date back to 1909.
Like the Kennedy Center, Jim was brought on to consult on the commissioning of the facility and produce the Opening Ceremonies for the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando. He then served as Vice President of Production & Operations being responsible for $6.1 million-dollar of operating budgets (25% of overall budget) and was a member of the initial logistics and operations team for Phase Two completion of the $221 million Steinmetz Hall construction (500,000 + sq ft. facility). Before starting MTPG he was associated with Carnegie Hall for 16 years starting as a stage manager and ending as the first Director of Production in the history of the facility. While at Carnegie, Jim helped facilitate the $20.8 million-dollar events budget, supervised the $6.3 million-dollar labor contract and was on the advisory team that oversaw the $300 million-dollar building of the Resnick Education Wing part of the Weill Education Institute.
Prior to his appointment at Carnegie Hall, Jim served as the Line Producer for Festival Productions – producers of the JVC Jazz Festival, Newport Jazz & Folk Festivals as well as others. Throughout his career, he has participated in many events ranging from Bette Midler’s Hulaween Ball, Frank Zappa’s 50th Birthday Party in NYC, The 54th Presidential Inaugural Concert in Washington DC as well as events involving President Jimmy Carter and President Bill Clinton. Jim has also been involved in facility openings including The Kimmel Center, NJ Performing Arts Center, the Constitution Center, the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and The Kennedy Center.
During his years in NYC, Jim spent 6 years as a Production Supervisor for The Tony Awards. He has also been involved with Broadway and National touring productions that include Oklahoma, Les Misérables, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Black & Blue, Those Were The Days, Chess, West Side Story as well as many Off Broadway Productions. Jim has also toured as sound mixer for French jazz pianist Claude Bolling and his Big Band; writing, producing music and executive producing the 25th Anniversary Album for The Ridiculous Theatre Company as well as owning and operating his own sound reinforcement company designing and supplying sound systems.
In addition to lecturing at Yale School of Drama, Jim also lectures at campuses around the country and currently sits on the Entertainment and Design Advisory Council for Valencia College. Jim has been a panel participant for SETC Outdoor Theatre webinar on Pandemic Proofing your Theatre. He was also asked to present a technical paper at the Acoustical Society of America annual conference on Assisted Listening Devices in Assembly Spaces as well as contributing at the IAVM / PAMC 2017 Conference in Chicago on Assisted Listening Devices; presenting at APAP / NYC 2017 Conference on Security for the Performing Arts and the Performing Arts Exchange Conference 2016 on Venue Safety & Security. Jim has completed FEMA professional development in Active Shooter, Workplace Violence and Cyber Security as well as completing training for Project SERVATOR – a behavioral-based surveillance program given by the FBI to detect, deter and disrupt hostile reconnaissance given by the FBI Orlando Joint Terrorism Task Force in coordination with the FBI London Legal Attaché. Jim is a member of the IAVM sub-committee on Performing Arts Safety & Security, Performing Arts Center Consortium (just published Guide to Reopening Theatrical Venues document) and is OSHA 10 Certified. Most recently he has completed courses by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Irwin Seating and Health Education Services receiving certification as a COVID Compliance Officer as well as participating in many webinars with IAVM regarding COVID 19 response and protection and venue re-opening protocols.
Jim is an active member of Actors Equity Association (AEA), the International Association of Stagehands and Employees (IATSE), American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA), individual member – MEIEA (Music & Entertainment Industry Educators Association), individual member of The League of American Orchestras, writer / publishing member of ASCAP. He has worked all over the world including Australia (Sydney Opera House, Melbourne’s Hamer Hall), China (Shanghai Grand Theatre), Singapore (Kallang Theatre), Czech Republic (Prague O2 Arena), Denmark (Musikhuset Aarhus), France (Chatelet - Théâtre Musical de Paris) and numerous other venues in Europe and Canada.
Jim has stage / production managed and or produced numerous events during his facility tenures and in the freelance world that have included artists such as James Taylor, JayZ (1st Hip/Hop - Rap concert at Carnegie Hall), U-2, David Bryne, Sheryl Crow, Rain Forest Benefit (James Taylor, Billy Joel, Elton John, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Jenifer Hudson, Meryl Streep, Vince Gill, etc.), Youssou N'Dour, Evanescence, Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys, John Mellancamp, Diana Ross, 4 Tops / Temptations, Gladys Knight, Joe Cocker, Norah Jones, Nina Simone, Dave Brubeck, Tony Bennett, Wynton Marsalis, Ray Charles, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, Bobby McFerrin, Stephen Sondheim, Julie Andrews, Michael Feinstein, Bette Midler, Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, Odetta, Paul Winter, Chita Rivera, Tito Puente, Cesaria Evora, João Gilberto, Celia Cruz, Yo-Yo Ma, Isaac Stern, Jessye Norman, Andre Watts, Denyce Graves, Frederica Von Stade, Emanual Ax, Jean Pierre Rampal, Pierre Boulez, Gustavo Dudamel, Kathleen Battle, Philip Glass, Alvin Ailey Dance, Savion Glover, Madeline Kahn, Nathan Lane, Sam Waterson, Carol Channing, Leslie Uggams, Elaine Stritch, Nell Carter, Marilyn Horne, Brian Stokes-Mitchell, Reba McIntire, The New York Philharmonic, The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, New York Pops, Philly Pops, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Berlin Philharmonic, The San Francisco Symphony, The Juilliard String Quartet, Tokyo String Quartet, The Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band as well as other artists and organizations.
A graduate of the University of Miami with a B.M. in Musical Theatre/Voice Principal as well as studying orchestral conducting at The Juilliard School/Evening Division, Jim started out as a trumpet player and continues to play in his spare time. He has a trumpet collection consisting of instruments that date back to 1909.
