Who We Are
The Licensing House exists for theaters that want shows with built-in potential, not just recognizable titles. We’re a deliberately small, fiercely selective imprint, curating a lineup of plays and musicals that are audience-ready, marketable, and supported with smart, long-range strategies. Our job is to make it easier for you to fill seats—by offering a focused catalog of high-upside shows that can thrive in your community and on your stage.
What We Believe
We believe your season should work as hard as you do.
Programming isn’t just about filling slots—it’s about choosing shows that excite your audience, energize your artists, and actually move the needle at the box office.
We believe shows should be easier to market.
You shouldn’t have to fight your titles. We focus on curating plays and musicals with clear hooks, built-in appeal, and support that helps you sell the story to your community.
We believe in partnership, not paperwork.
Licensing shouldn’t feel like a maze. We’re here to be responsive, transparent, and human—so you spend less time chasing answers and more time creating great theatre.
We believe in the right show for the right stage.
Every theater and every audience is different. We’ll help you think about fit, timing, and potential so each title has the best chance to succeed in your space, with your community.
Our Team
Sean Cercone
CEO & Founder
Sean Cercone is an accomplished playwright and theater industry leader whose works have captivated millions of audiences around the world. With a career spanning producing, licensing, and creative development, Cercone has not only shaped the future of theater accessibility but has also left his mark as a storyteller.
As a musical theater writer, Cercone has collaborated with writing partner David Abbinanti on critically acclaimed productions, including:
Heartbreak Hotel – A high-energy tribute to the rise of Elvis Presley, exploring the early years of the rock icon’s career and the cultural revolution he ignited.
Saturday Night Fever – An electrifying stage adaptation of the iconic film, bringing disco fever to life with a powerful story of ambition, identity, and the love of dance.
Beat Bugs – Inspired by the Emmy Award-winning Netflix animated series, this musical introduces young audiences to the timeless music of The Beatles, set against an imaginative world of friendship and adventure.
In addition to his full-length musicals, Cercone has crafted thought-provoking one-act plays that highlight his range as a writer:
Neverdark, Alaska – A poetic and hauntingly beautiful collection of interconnected stories set in a remote Alaskan fishing town where the sun never sets, yet everything is disappearing. Against a backdrop of quiet magic and climate uncertainty, its characters must decide whether to hold on or let go.
Miss-Matched – A fast-paced, witty comedy set in the quirky town of Everwood, where an eccentric matchmaking service turns love—and logic—on its head, proving that sometimes the worst matches create the best stories.
Beyond his work as a writer, Cercone has played a pivotal role in shaping the theater industry. As the former CEO of Broadway Licensing Global, he oversaw the licensing of over 24,000 productions annually, collaborating with thousands of playwrights and artists to bring their stories to life. His innovative leadership during the rise of Broadway On Demand helped democratize theater accessibility, ensuring that performances could reach audiences worldwide, even during the challenges of the pandemic.
A thought leader in theatrical innovation, Cercone has also served on the boards of Lincoln Center’s Performing Arts Library, the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, and West Virginia Public Theatre.
With a passion for storytelling, accessibility, and the evolving landscape of theater, Sean Cercone continues to create new works that inspire, challenge, and connect audiences across generations.
David Abbinanti
V.P. of Content Development
David Abbinanti is a national award-winning composer, songwriter, playwright and orchestrator. Credits include Heartbreak Hotel (Book co-written with Sean Cercone, Orchestrations, Arrangements and Additional Music & Lyrics), Saturday Night Fever The Musical (Book co-written with Sean Cercone, Orchestrations and Arrangements), County Fair (Orchestrations and Arrangements w/David Austin), Ghost Brothers of Darkland County (Orchestrations and Arrangements), Feels Like the First Time (Orchestrations and Arrangements), Five Golden Rings (Music & Lyrics), Meri/Chris: A Modern Magi Musical (Music & Lyrics), Our Christmas Carol (Music & Lyrics), Disenchanted (Orchestrations and Arrangements), The Perfect Dog (Music and Lyrics), Beat Bugs: A Musical Adventure (Book co-written with Sean Cercone, Orchestrations and Arrangements) Ghost The Musical, (Orchestrations), Ghost The Musical Chamber Version (Orchestrations and Arrangements), Beehive (Orchestrations and Arrangements), Ring of Fire 5–The Music of Johnny Cash; (Additional Arrangements) and Molly Shannon’s Tilly The Trickster (Orchestrations); Tour, Stock & Amateur editions.
Playwriting credits include The Bench, Anti-Social, Alicia In Wonderland, Inc., Letters From the Titanic, and The Nurse of Normandy.
