Marc Hershberg
Marc Hershberg is an entertainment attorney, producer, and journalist based in New York. He works as the Director of Business and Legal Affairs at Music Theatre International, produces musicals and plays all over the world, and writes a column for Forbes about the business of Broadway.Hershberg is a graduate of Cornell University and the University of Chicago Law School.
Legal Practice
Marc Hershberg is the Director of Business and Legal Affairs at the theatrical licensing agency Music Theatre International. He negotiates agreements with the creators of major musicals, oversees international enforcement efforts, manages cross-functional initiatives, advises on business strategy, structures relationships with vendors, and handles corporate legal matters.Prior to joining the company, Hershberg practiced entertainment law at multiple law firms, where he negotiated high-profile theatre, television, film, podcast, publishing, fashion, video game, and music transactions. He represented and advised a wide variety of clients, including Paramount, Spotify, Fremantle, Blumhouse, Sister, 101 Studios, Black Bear Pictures, Topic Studios, Studio, VENN, Domain Entertainment, Ashland Hill Media Finance, Macmillan, Tetris, Chanel, Rolex, The Gersh Talent Agency, Robin Roberts, and the estates of Tennessee Williams, August Wilson, Paddy Chayefsky, Jules Feiffer, and Al Hirschfeld.During his time in private practice, Thomson Reuters’ Super Lawyers recognized Hershberg as a “Rising Star” in the field of entertainment and sports law, Best Lawyers included him on its “Ones to Watch” list, The Legal 500 featured him as a “Key Lawyer” in media and entertainment transactional law, and Pro Bono Partnership named him to its Honor Roll.Hershberg regularly participates on panels and podcasts related to entertainment law. He has spoken at the University of Chicago, the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Albany Law School, the Cornell Club, the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, and Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts.Hershberg started his legal career at the international law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, and he also worked at the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.Hershberg graduated from the University of Chicago Law School, where he was named a Ruth Wyatt Rosenson Scholar, served as the managing editor of a law journal, and completed the Keystone Professionalism & Leadership Program.
Theatre Productions
Marc Hershberg is a producer of shows on Broadway, in the West End, and on tour throughout North America. Recent shows that he has produced and financed include the Tony Award-nominated musical & Juliet with a book by David West Read (Schitt$ Creek) and music and lyrics by Max Martin (29 Billboard Hot 100 #1 singles), the Olivier Award-winning musical Paddington with a book by Jessica Swale (Nell Gwynn) and music and lyrics by Tom Fletcher (McFly), the Tony Award-nominated revival of The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window written by Lorraine Hansberry (A Raisin in the Sun), starring Oscar Isaac (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) and Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), and the play Brokeback Mountain written by Ashley Robinson with music and lyrics by Dan Gillespie Sells (Everybody's Talking about Jamie), starring Mike Faist (West Side Story) and Lucas Hedges (Manchester by Sea).In addition to producing a play that completed one of the fastest transfers to Broadway in history and financing the most expensive play to ever tour North America, Hershberg has been involved with four shows performing around the world at the same time. His shows have collectively generated over a quarter of a billion dollars at the worldwide box office.Hershberg has received two Tony Award nominations, a Drama Desk Award nomination, an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination, and two Drama League Award nominations. He serves as a principal at the eight-time Tony Award-winning theatrical production company 42nd.club, and he is a member of the Broadway Producers Alliance.In addition to producing shows, Hershberg regularly advises producers, investors, and creators of musicals and plays at various stages of development. He also participates on panels and is often quoted in articles about producing on Broadway.Before becoming a producer, Hershberg created an algorithm to predict the lifespan of Broadway shows. His work was featured in Variety, The Stage, and Significance, the magazine of the Royal Statistical Society.
Business Journalism
Marc Hershberg is a Contributor at the magazine Forbes, where he has written a column about the business of Broadway since 2016. His articles explore complex issues in the commercial theatre industry relating to producing, law, economics, policy, finance, taxes, ticketing, technology, licensing, real estate, marketing, tourism, and politics.His exclusive reporting and analysis have been cited in books, academic papers, and other publications, including The New York Times, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Billboard, Playbill, BroadwayWorld, Broadway Journal, Broadway News, Broadway Briefing, BroadwayStars, WhatsOnStage, TicketNews, People, Sherwood News, Time Out, Curbed, Just Jared, and Jacques. Hershberg has also spoken on numerous panels and podcasts related to arts journalism.Hershberg is currently writing a book about the business of Broadway, and he is a voter for the Outer Critics Circle Awards.
Civic Service
Marc Hershberg served two terms on the government-chartered advisory group Community Board Five from 2021 through 2025. He chaired the Landmarks Committee, and he also served on the Executive Committee, the Nominating Committee, and the then-Budget, Education & City Services Committee. Former Manhattan Borough Presidents Gale Brewer and Mark Levine appointed him in consultation with former City Council Member Keith Powers.As the Chair of the Landmarks Committee, Hershberg oversaw applications to designate and make modifications to New York City Individual Landmarks, Interior Landmarks, Scenic Landmarks, and Historic Districts. He presided over complex matters involving Rockefeller Center, the Flatiron Building, Central Park, Lever House, Tammany Hall, St. Bartholomew's Church, the Look Building, the Knickerbocker Hotel, the Ladies’ Mile Historic District, and multiple Broadway theaters. As a member of the Budget, Education & City Services Committee, Hershberg advised the Mayor’s Office on allocating funds within New York City’s $115 billion-plus municipal budget. He also addressed issues relating to public education, public safety, and city services in Manhattan, and he interacted with public officials, constituents, and other stakeholders.In addition to his service on Community Board Five, Hershberg served on the Board of Directors of both the Fifth Avenue Association and the Times Square Alliance business improvement districts.
Contact
You can contact Marc using the following form.