John Leonard
Arts Administrator
New York,NY
Summary
Arts administration professional with extensive experience creating union agreements (AEA, AGMA, SDC, USA 829), onboarding, managing artist logistics, overseeing travel, housing, payroll, and budget operations in large-scale performing arts organizations. Known for exceptional artist relations, meticulous administrative accuracy, and the ability to manage complex, fast-moving production environments.
Overview
2027
2027
years of professional experience
Work History
Coordinator, Production Administration
The Metropolitan Opera
08.2022 - Current
- Serve as primary point of contact for directors, choreographers, designers, and assistants, providing consistent support from contracting through rehearsal and performance periods.
- Manage union contracts and compliance for AGMA and USA 829 artists, ensuring accurate execution, filing, and payment processing in accordance with collective bargaining agreements.
- Oversee end-to-end artist logistics for 100+ visiting creatives and assistants per season, including onboarding, travel booking, hotel arrangements, ground transportation, per diem, and reimbursements.
- Execute payroll, HD media payments, royalties, and annual revenue-share distributions.
- Coordinate internal workflows among production, artistic, and HR to maintain timelines and operational efficiency.
- Contribute to budget tracking and financial documentation for production-related artist activity.
Program Director
Marcus High School
6 2010 - 6 2022
- Directed a comprehensive performing arts program serving 3,000+ students with an annual operating budget exceeding $100,000, overseeing programming, budgeting, scheduling, and production execution.
- Recruited, hired, and contracted guest artists, choreographers, clinicians, and creative collaborators for multi-disciplinary performances.
- Managed all production logistics including travel coordination, rehearsal scheduling, backstage operations, technical needs, and artist hospitality.
- Built strategic partnerships with district leadership, community arts organizations, and external vendors to support program expansion.
Executive Assistant
Steppenwolf Theatre
07.2005 - 06.2007
- Generate director agreements for all productions and complete all SDC payments (weekly dues, pension and health payments).
- Arrange domestic and international travel, accommodations, house seats, and itineraries for Artistic & Executive Directors.
- Manage house seats for Steppenwolf touring productions to New York and Washington D.C.
- Complete weekly royalty reports and issue royalty payments for directors and playwrights for all Steppenwolf productions.
- Complete box office reports and settlement reports for all visiting companies.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Dance
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, ILMaster of Arts - Dance
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZSkills
Arts Programming & Curation
Artist Relations & Booking
Budgeting & Contract Negotiation
Educational Outreach
Producing & Event Coordination
Processing Payroll
Union Liaison (AEA, AGMA, SDC, USA 829)
Booking Travel & Housing Logistics
Strategic Partnerships with Vendors
Timeline
Coordinator, Production Administration
The Metropolitan Opera
08.2022 - Current
Executive Assistant
Steppenwolf Theatre
07.2005 - 06.2007
Program Director
Marcus High School
6 2010 - 6 2022
Bachelor of Arts - Dance
Columbia College Chicago
Master of Arts - Dance
Arizona State University