Christina Selby is the Vice President of Production and Touring at Nederlander Producing Company of America, one of the oldest theatrical dynasties. Ms. Selby grew up on Long Island, attending many Broadway shows, and although she trained as a dancer, her original career path was to become a doctor.
After graduating from Brown University, she was hired by The Broadway League and worked there for four years before receiving her MFA from Columbia University in Theatre Management and Producing. Ms. Selby has held numerous positions throughout the Broadway industry, including Associate General Manager at Charlotte Wilcox Company, Jujamcyn, Roundabout Theatre Company, and various special events such as The Mayor’s Inner Circle, In The Heights reunion concert, and others.
In 2017, Ms. Selby was hired by Nederlander in their touring operations. She supervises staff in over 35 cities and manages investor relations and development on shows. The Nederlander Organization started in 1912 when David T. Nederlander leased the Detroit Opera House, and his son James M. Nederlaner expanded the business by acquiring theaters in New York City. The privately owned company is now run by James L. Nederlander, who continues the “tradition of producing and presenting the best in theatrical and concert events and innovating new ways to engage future generations of theatergoers.
We recently met with Christina Selby to learn more about her life and theater.
How did you get interested in the management side of theater?
When I decided not to pursue a career in the medical field, I had to take a tough, long look at my interests. I loved the arts and Broadway. Despite attending Broadway shows and being a dancer my entire life, this was the first time I had heard of arts administration or theater management.
How would you describe the Nederlander Organization?
Nederlander is, first and foremost, a family business; every person joining the team becomes a part of that family. In addition to owning nine Broadway theaters in New York and being a prolific producer of Broadway shows, we have a family of brands in a wide range of areas of the industry, including Broadway Direct and Nederlander Concerts, plus our many affiliated markets around the country.
Describe a typical Christina Selby day?
My days are all so varied there is no such thing as typical. Today, I just had two short meetings, so I was able to get caught up on a lot of busy work—I submitted my internal notes on a pre-Broadway production I recently saw, worked on intern scheduling, and vetted new candidates for the Fall cohort, processed two investments in upcoming exhibitions, and communicated with a few investors outstanding questions for closed shows.
What are you presently working on?
Right now, the big project is Once Upon A One More Time, which we finally opened on Broadway.
You also share your decades of experience as a member of The Board of Governors at The Board League. Do you have a favorite committee or mentor story to share?
As I began my career at the Broadway League, I am well versed in all the amazing programming they do for the industry and the community. As a result, I make it a point to serve the League in any way I can. I am on the Board of Governors and sit on the EDI Committee, the Rising Stars Committee, and various Task Forces such as the Spring Road Conference Planning Committee. I am a frequent panelist for the Broadway Speakers Bureau and the High School Shadowing Program. I am also the Internship Advisor for Columbia’s MFA program. I am very committed to professional development and mentorship, so that is where I focus a lot of my time.
I have several mentors that I credit with shaping my career path. Joy Axelrad, my first supervisor at the League, taught me how to work in an office setting and be a good employee. Mary McColl, one of my bosses during my tenure at the League, taught me what qualities make a good supervisor. Charlotte Wilcox, General Manager, who hired me to work with her on On Your Feet, taught me the power of saying no and how to say no without burning bridges. These lessons were crucial leading up to my current position, where my mentor is Nick Scandalios, who has been teaching me what it means to lead. I am so fortunate to have had these individuals in my life to learn from and grow my career with.