Music Theatre International is pleased to announce that Deborah Hartnett has been elevated to Senior Vice President and General Counsel for the company. She previously has served as the company's Director of Business and Legal Affairs since 2010.

Hartnett's outstanding work in the theatre industry for over 20 years has put her at the forefront of the legal and business issues that affect the creators and rightsholders of the 400+ shows that MTI represents. As Senior Vice President, Hartnett will continue in this capacity but will also be recognized for the additional roles she has played and will continue to play as a vital member of MTI's senior management team. These include helping shape MTI's strategic direction, supporting the company's growth, and strengthening its position as the industry leader.

Hartnett's reputation as a top legal practitioner, pragmatic problem-solver and collegial team player has earned her universal praise and recognition from her colleagues and industry peers.

Deborah Hartnett

"We are thrilled to promote Deb to the position of Senior Vice President," said MTI CEO Drew Cohen. "She has been indispensable to MTI's success in so many ways that go beyond managing MTI's legal and business affairs department and providing excellent legal advice. The MTI team relies on her for her excellent judgment and counsel on such a wide variety of matters."

"Deb is a dynamic thinker who adds tremendous value to every situation and discussion in which she participates," said MTI co-Chairman Freddie Gershon. "Her strategic outlook and expertise in the licensing and intellectual property world will continue to help fuel innovations in how we conduct our business."​

"MTI is a special place where highly committed, thoughtful people can do their best work to make a difference not just in authors' and producers' lives, but in the lives of the hundreds of thousands of people who are involved in MTI-licensed productions each year," said MTI Chairman Cameron Mackintosh. "Deb exemplifies that spirit, and our company has been made immeasurably better by her contributions. Bravo!"

Hartnett has more than 20 years of experience the theatre industry. Prior to joining MTI, she represented authors and rightsholders such as Stephen Sondheim, Alfred Uhry, Jerry Herman, the Cole Porter Trusts and DreamWorks Theatricals as counsel and co-head of the Entertainment Department at Paul Weiss, the New York law firm. She has also taught theatre law at Columbia University School of the Arts, served as a trustee for the Theatre Development Fund (TDF), and was the General Management Consultant at Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC).

Ms. Hartnett's promotion to Senior Vice President is effective as of January 1, 2020.