Consultant · Producer · Author · New York City
Rick Criswell builds extraordinary experiences — on stage, behind the curtain, and on the page. Consultant, creative event producer, and author of The Last Lifetime.
About
Rick Criswell has spent his career on both sides of the curtain — as a performer, director, stage manager, company manager, and producer. During his 14-year tenure at Emursive Productions, he was the operational heart of a company that grew into a 1,200-person operation — and learned firsthand what it takes to build something extraordinary.
Today, through Rick Criswell Entertainment Productions LLC, he serves as General Management Consultant for Masquerade and as an HR and compliance consultant for Frenchette Hospitality Group — while developing large-scale immersive event concepts and writing The Last Lifetime — part memoir, part roadmap for anyone walking through the fire and learning, against all odds, to find grace in it.
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General management, HR, compliance, and operations strategy for theater, hospitality, and live entertainment.
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Concept development and production of immersive galas, theatrical benefit events, and signature experiences.
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The Last Lifetime — part memoir, part roadmap for anyone walking through the fire and learning, against all odds, to find grace in it. Coming August 2026.
Consulting
Rick brings a rare combination of artistic sensibility and operational rigor to every engagement — earned during 14 years at the heart of one of New York's most complex and celebrated immersive productions.
General management
Production structure, budgets, vendor relationships, and organizational design — from Off-Broadway to large-scale immersive.
HR & people operations
Compliance, policy development, wage and tip pool policy, workforce planning, and HR infrastructure tailored to hospitality, entertainment, and creative industries.
Organizational scaling
Process design and culture-building for companies ready to grow from bold beginnings into complex, multi-department operations.
Immersive theater ops
Guest experience frameworks, company culture development, and operational planning for immersive and site-specific productions.
AI in the performing arts
Helping arts organizations and producers explore how AI can enhance live experiences, deepen audience engagement, and streamline operations — without losing the human at the center.
Creative events
Rick conceives and produces large-scale immersive experiences — from theatrical benefit galas to singular celebrations that leave a lasting mark. Every concept is built to transport, surprise, and stay with you long after the night is over.
Concept · Benefit gala
A large-scale immersive benefit gala featuring AI oracle technology, original characters, and multi-room theatrical environments.
Straz Center · Tampa, FL
A black tie fundraising gala for the Straz Center for the Performing Arts — featuring living performers, illusion, and opera woven into a single immersive evening for 500 guests.
Custom engagements
Concept development, production design, and operational planning for organizations ready to create something truly unforgettable.
The Book · Coming August 2026
What happens when profound spiritual clarity arrives not after surviving a crisis, but before it? The Last Lifetime is part memoir, part roadmap for anyone walking through the fire and learning, against all odds, to find grace in it.
Contact
Whether you need a consulting partner, a creative event collaborator, or want to follow the journey of The Last Lifetime — Rick would love to hear from you.