Martin McCallum

Martin McCallum, FRSA (born April 6, 1950), is a British theatrical producer. Former President of the Society of London Theatre and Advisor to the Arts Council, McCallum served as Executive Producer of the musical juggernauts Cats, Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera, Oliver! and Miss Saigon.[1] He has worked on over 500 shows, many as an independent producer, on Broadway and in the West End.[2][3]

Early career

McCallum began his theatrical career in 1967 as an assistant stage manager at the Library Theatre, Manchester. After a number of years in repertory, he became Production Manager under Laurence Olivier at the Old Vic, then home to the National Theatre of Great Britain.[4] He managed numerous shows at the National, including Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey into Night, starring Olivier and Constance Cummings, and Harold Pinter's No Man's Land, with John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson. In 1976, McCallum was threatened at gun point for breaking strike in order to remove the set of No Man's Land to Canada and proceed touring.[1] He remained at the National Theatre after Olivier's departure, through its relocation to the South Bank and the appointment of Peter Hall as director.[5]

Musical Theatre

Leaving the National Theatre in 1978, McCallum established the Production Office, the first production management firm of its kind. The company was soon engaged by Hal Prince for Evita, and later by Cameron Mackintosh for a new musical, composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Cats. Following the success of Cats, McCallum would partner with Mackintosh in 1981. His subsequent twenty-two year tenure as Partner and Managing Director of the Mackintosh group of companies coincided with a run of extraordinary commercial success, overseeing the international production of Cats, Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera, Oliver! and Miss Saigon.[6][7][1] Described by The Independent in 2003 as 'the managerial genius behind the hugely successful Cameron Mackintosh organisation', his management of Delfont Mackintosh Theatres played an integral role in the development of the West End towards the end of the twentieth century.[8][9]

Later career

From 1992 to 2003, McCallum served as Chairman of the Donmar Warehouse, the longest serving chairman in the theatre's history, a period in which both Sam Mendes and Michael Grandage were appointed as artistic directors to critical acclaim.[10] Since 2003, McCallum has worked as an independent producer on numerous shows, including Edward Scissorhands, winner of the 2007 Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience, and Martin McDonagh's The Cripple of Inishmaan, nominated for six Tony Awards in 2014.[11][12]

Awards

Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (1995); The Queen's Awards for Enterprise (1995); New York Drama Desk Award (2007).

Credits

References
  1. "Out of the comfort zone". The Independent. October 4, 2013.
  2. "What happened this week in theatrical history? Richard Pulford was appointed head of SOLT and UK Theatre – 20 years ago in The Stage". The Stage.
  3. "Martin McCallum". Playbill.
  4. "Theatre Impresario - Martin McCallum" – via player.whooshkaa.com.
  5. "1976: Queen opens National Theatre in London". October 25, 1976 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
  6. Bennetts, Leslie (August 20, 1987). "Marketing 'Les Miserables,' Or, Maneuvering Behind a Hit". The New York Times.
  7. Richards, David (1996-02-11). "THE MEGA-MUSIC MAN". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
  8. Guardian Staff (April 14, 1999). "Is this the end of the West End?". the Guardian.
  9. "Mister Musical". TheGuardian.com. 23 October 1999.
  10. "A nice guy Finishes First - Chicago Tribune". Chicago Tribune.
  11. "Broadway Review: 'The Cripple of Inishmaan' Starring Daniel Radcliffe". 20 April 2014.
  12. "Martin McCallum Tony Awards Info".
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