"Think of Musical Comedy-the most glorious words in the English language!" - Music Theatre International Managing Director: Australasia, Stuart Hendricks

Putting on a show is one of life's great joys. The process creates community, cultivates creativity and brings live performance to audiences who crave a didactic and entertaining experience from the theatre. Commercial, amateur and educational bodies who wish to procure the rights to present a musical must first apply to the representative of the authors of such properties. Whether you're an established professional or a community theatre, a licence to present a work must be obtained, to ensure the intellectual property is protected and the necessary parties receive their rightful compensation. Music Theatre International is one such agent managing an extensive library of classic and contemporary Musical fare. MTI was founded in 1952 by American composer and lyricist Frank Loesser and orchestrator Don Walker. MTI's catalogue includes legendary shows ranging from Guys and Dolls, West Side Story and Fiddler on the Roof, to popular titles like Hairspray, Little Shop of Horrors and Mamma Mia! The company also represents the majority of works of Stephen Sondheim, as well as all the stage productions of Disney Theatrical and Cameron Mackintosh (including The Lion King, Mary Poppins, Miss Saigon and Les Miserables). In an attempt to make many of these titles user-friendly for a variety of keen theatre-makers, MTI has adapted many of the shows for the BROADWAY JUNIOR arm of the company. The modified editions have been a great salvation of many teachers and youth theatre groups as the show becomes more manageable and performer and audience friendly. Stuart Hendricks is the Managing Director of Music Theatre International, Australasia and knows only too well the benefits of story-telling with showtunes. His creative and collaborative approach to providing access to the shows for professional, community and school producers, his passion for every work and the form of musical theatre and his equal respect for the elements of 'show' and 'business' make him the perfect guardian for this vast collection of shows. Stuart joins STAGES to elaborate on the history of the company, the many ways it serves its clients and the triumph and challenge of mounting a show! The STAGES podcast is available from Apple podcasts, Spotify and Whooshkaa. Also where you find your favourite podcasts. www.stagespodcast.com.au