Dale’s Career Thoughts & Philosophies
Before becoming a Tony award-winning Broadway musical producer I had launched and presided over sizable creative projects in a most unorthodox, improbable way. For example, I built a $45 million, 500-seat state-of-the-art theater in Santa Monica, California, before I knew anything about finding potential investors and raising capital, before I had any experience in entertainment programming, before I had ever dealt with architects, construction teams, or government zoning agencies. I completed that project in 2008 – well before I had acquired the official expertise that would have made me look qualified on the page.
But I got it done by asking lots of questions, by unabashedly admitting what I didn’t know, by doing my homework, by hiring the right people (mostly), and by leading the charge with faith, purpose, tenacity, and enthusiasm. It also helped tremendously that I was in my early 40s and had over two decades of invaluable training as a musical stage performer and life experience as a wife and mother of three. I have always been an ardent swim-as-you-learn sort of gal. Whatever the project, the most exciting part of the journey always involves figuring it out as I go: what do I need to learn and do, and how can I do it differently?
Once I am joyfully inspired and thoroughly swept up in a creative vision or compelling dream, nothing will stop me. That might be my number one secret to pass on. If you truly love and believe in your vision, never give up on it. In these challenging times, No, that’s impossible! – You can’t do that! is easy to say and easier to believe. Becoming a visionary Why not? –Yes I can! person, a decisive Let’s get it done! person requires not only sustained faith in one’s project but an unshakable belief in oneself.
In the face of wave after wave of Who are you to do this? You don’t know what you're doing! I’ve managed to keep swimming against the tide, despite an initial lack of street cred, with the abiding belief that if ‘they’ can do it – so can I. It’s not rocket science after all.
In my mid-forties, when I made my first big career transition from opera singer to theater builder and artistic director, I was disheartened by what I saw in action: business impresarios and arts community leaders whose values seemed dubious and whose blueprints and methods were unimaginative at best. I thought to myself: Why not be bold and adventurous and add something new and distinct to the world of live entertainment? And as a woman, I was excited to explore and develop alternative ways of working with people and getting things done – for my own satisfaction and benefit as well as that of other ambitious women on the path.
Along the way, I’ve been extremely blessed with the indispensable support and guidance of several people who helped make these formidable expeditions possible – as well as enjoyable and ultimately successful.
A seasoned mentor: an accomplished, inspiring leader who pulled me from the trenches, guided and supported me through thick and thin, and managed, even in my darkest hours, to encourage me and lift me up with her unwavering belief in my capability and vision.
A brilliant and supportive life partner: my loving husband, who, with his tremendous gifts and resources, and his wise and generous counsel, was always there to wrestle the dragons and save the day.
A close-knit family: precious loved ones who cheered me on during tough times and lent balance and purpose to my days with their laughter and cookies and hugs.
An exceptional group of friends and co-workers: a trust circle who shared my vision, believed we could do it together, and gave me uplifting counsel and care whenever I was stuck or feeling too exhausted to go on.
I come from a long line of creative iconoclasts, so my penchant for thinking outside the box is encoded in my DNA. I’ve never underestimated the power of that gift, and I now have the boundless joy of witnessing my amazing children using their inheritance in unique and fascinating ways.
Words of wisdom offered to me at the right moment made a crucial difference:
Hire more help – you can’t do this alone.
Don’t throw in the towel – but do take a spa day.
You’re so close – take one more swing at it.
Ask for guidance from someone who has been there.
Try it this way – or another way.
It’s time for a solo beach walk.
Take this person out for tea and ask to pick their brain.
Give it a rest. Get some sleep. Start fresh tomorrow.
Thoughts that have bolstered and sustained me:
When you’re lifting a big project off the ground in ways that have never been tried before, you are also creating an original road map for you and others to follow.
It’s exciting, exhausting, and exhilarating. Deep breaths are good.
You are the industrious cheerleader, enhancing the lives of many other people and enriching their communities. And if you succeed, entire cities and even countries may benefit from your daring enterprise.
Practicing active self-care, a new word for an old concept, is crucial if you’re going to survive and make it in the long run. And these projects are always long runs!
Many brilliant ideas have come across my desk in the ensuing years, but 99% of them never came to fruition. Not because they weren’t wonderful, worthwhile ideas but because folks got discouraged, beaten down by the doubters and detractors, ran out of steam, and gave up too soon. Once you have a timely idea and a compelling vision, being a resourceful deal closer and a strong finisher becomes the most important determinant of your success. You need Herculean energy and unwavering commitment to cross that finish line, celebratory fists in the air.
Raising capital is not for the faint of heart. As when a performer auditions for the opportunity to practice their art, the effort of fundraising involves a lot of rejection. I never take No! as a definitive answer from a potential backer. To me, No! Just means not now. The largest contributions I ever raised came from investors who gave me a resounding No! at first. That did not deter me. I just thought, okay, not now, but I’ll be back to see you when I’m further along with my project. And I did close on every one of those generous endowments – eventually.
Another hurdle to get over is understanding and utilizing the different ways people tend to commit to a project. To paraphrase Malcolm Gladwell’s eloquent commentary in The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference: There are ‘early adapters’ who are excited by new ideas and hop right on board while the train is still in the station; there are those who prefer to see some progress first and will climb aboard only after the train is advancing toward its promised destination; and then there are those who take a ‘wait and see’ attitude, but will step aboard gingerly once the train has arrived safe and sound, ready to deliver its glorious goods. Each of these financing options is of great benefit to your project. Knowing which type of investor you’re dealing with is critical to your success.
My road to the Walter Kerr Theater on 48th Street took a similar route – although it was never my dream to mount a show on Broadway. I wanted to help create the very best musical possible with Anaïs Mitchell’s brilliant Hadestown. Very early on I recognized something special and unique in Anais’ concept album. I reached out to her and asked, “How would you like to make Hadestown into a full musical theater show?”
Once Anaïs said Yes! we were off and running and never looked back. Along the way, Mara Isaacs was introduced to me, and I felt an immediate Yes! to hiring her to oversee development in New York and then become my producing partner on our journey to Broadway. We recognized each other as bold, resourceful women who were eager and willing to experiment and explore new ways of doing things. We also discovered that we were very different temperamentally, which, while not always advantageous, turned out to be a huge plus for our working relationship.
Both together and separately we were subjected to recriminations of: That’s not Broadway tradition! That’s not how it’s done! Are you crazy? Why open in Edmonton? And on and on. We made our way toward Hadestown by trusting ourselves and holding fast to our conviction that our unusual methods and novel ways of doing things were best for Mitchell, who was new to musical theater, and best for our talented team of collaborators.
We took the time we needed and were not in a rush to get to Broadway. Every decision we made was in service to the personal and artistic well-being of our show. We never lost sight of this, never lost heart, and I truly believe that is what shines through so brightly to this day. We stayed true to our values and our vision that we could create something timeless and beautiful while changing the world one song at a time.
I wanted to write this to share something of my own unique and personal journey that might encourage others. As an optimistic mentor currently endeavoring to lift up other talented, hopeful artists and entrepreneurs, what I hope to convey is this: while there are certain requisite skills to acquire and essential ingredients to add, as well as plenty of traditional recipes for success to follow, remember that you always have the creative option to blaze new trails, devise bold, original game plans, and advance toward your goals to the beautiful beat of your different drum.
Find those key elements that will sustain you and those key people who will support you. Keep going in the face of adversity, which is guaranteed to accompany you on your journey. Don’t look down and don’t give up. Lead with a clear vision and finish with a big smile.