TRU PRODUCER BOOT CAMP:
WEEKEND INTENSIVE FOR SHOWCASE PRODUCERS
Produced by Theater Resources Unlimited
Basic training for producers, geared to those of you producing at the reading and Equity Showcase level, with particular application for those planning to produce in the upcoming summer festivals. Moderated by TRU’s Director of Self-Producing Artists (S.P.A.) Mike Roderick of Small Pond Entertainment, with TRU president Bob Ost.
Keynote speakers:
- Kristin Caskey, vice-president of Fox Theatricals (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Legally Blonde, Caroline or Change, revivals of 'night mother and Death of a Salesman).
- Cheryl Wiesenfeld, producer (The Exonerated, Elaine Stritch: At Liberty, In the Continuum, Legally Blonde, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Caroline or Change)
- Randall Wreghitt, producer (Impressionism, Grey Gardens, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Beauty Queen of Leenane, Hedda Gabler, The Waverly Gallery)
Cost: $250 ($195 for TRU members)
early bird discount: $25 off if you register before May 8th
(additional $25 discount for those producing in MITF, Fringe, NYMF or attending CTI Weekend)
CLICK HERE for Curriculum
CLICK HERE for Application as Word document.
CLICK HERE for application as PDF.
CLICK HERE for confiirmed Faculty Bios
The Players Theatre Mainstage,
115 MacDougal Street (below West 3rd Street)
WHAT PEOPLE SAID ABOUT LAST YEAR'S BOOT CAMP
For Producer Boot Camp, I hope many "Bravos" and "Congratulations" have poured in. You and everyone involved deserve it, plus a huge "Thank You." The info was valuable. The speakers were great. And I personally appreciated everything being kept on schedule. I'm spreading the word! ~ Mary Kay Wolf
Just wanted to send out a quick thank you for yesterday’s Producer’s Boot Camp. We learned so much and left feeling uplifted, not only about what we were doing for our company at present, but about what we could do in the future. We felt honored to be part of such a wonderful community of artists and business people, and that will stay with us long into the new year; it was a perfect springboard for the work that awaits us all. ~ Bob Combe, Annie Wolf; E Phoenix Idealis Theater
You and your team put together a terrific inaugural Boot Camp! Great info, great people. ~Robin Rothstein
You really did a very, very nice job organizing and bringing in the people to speak - it had a nice, informal feel to it and a lot of information was put out over the two days - excellent work! - Doug Claybourne
I enjoyed the Boot Camp experience. I'm happy to have been able to participate. The panelist were exciting, informative, and innovative in presenting the material.
Both attorneys were outstanding. They kept me awake by giving lively presentations of the material. I usually think lawyers are going to be boring. They were not.
Thanks for presenting the boot camp and presenting it at a price I could afford. ~ Marshaline Letcher
I was frankly amazed at how such a large weekend seminar series was put together so quickly, and seemed to run so smoothly. To put all that together... speakers, facility, support staff, food (which was a lovely touch) was quite a feat. ~Steve Cirillo
I attended your Producer's Boot Camp recently. I just wanted to express my thanks for having such an event. It really was an informative seminar. I really enjoyed it and gained a good bit of information in that short amount of time. It's nice to see that there are events such as yours where people can get together to network in that manner. If anything I've made some interesting new friends here in the city, and for that I thank you! ~Matt Wayne |
Our curriculum and instructors are as follows:
Saturday May 30th
9:30-10am - coffee and cake/bagels
10:00-10:15 - Keynote speaker: Randall Wreghitt
10:15-11:30 - "Which Way to Go: Not-for-Profit or Commercial?" with LisaRoxanne Walters, attorney, law professor and actress
11:30-1pm - "Contracts, Options & Underlying Rights" with Cheryl Davis, attorney and playwright
LUNCH - 1pm to 2:00
2:00-3:00 - "Equity Codes & Contracts" with Robert Sherrill of Pit Bull Productions, general manager for showcase productions
3:00-3:45 - "Producing Published Works: Licensing Made Painless" with Stephen Spiegel, president of Theatrical Rights Worldwide.
3:45-5:00 - "Producing Smart: Fringes and Festivals, or Doing It On Your Own?", Erin Craig (NYMF), Susan Rankus (MITF), Jana Robbins (Better World Productions), other speakers tbd
5:00 - keynote speaker: Kristin Caskey
5:15pm-6pm - reception
Sunday May 31st
9:30-10am - coffee and cake/bagels
10:00-11:00 - "How to Find (and Book) the Right Space" including what insurance you need - speaker tbd
11:00-12:00 - "Budgets and Box Office" with Patricia Klausner, co-artistic managing director Shotgun Productions
12:00-1:00 - "Personnel Best: Putting Your Creative Team Together" with Mike Roderick of Small Pond Entertainment and Nadine Charlsen, professor of technical theater at Kean University
LUNCH - 1:00-1:45
1:45-2:15 - "How to Run an Efficient Audition" with Catherine Lamm, Literary & Casting Director of TRU
2:15-2:45 - "Creative Casting (and When to Call That Casting Director)" with Hillary Cutter (Saint Heaven, Rooms)
2:45-4:00 - "Finding Your Audience: Marketing & PR Basics for Showcases" with Hugh Hysell of HHC Marketing and professor of Arts Marketing at Columbia; and Katie Rosin of Kampfire Films PR, professor of Arts Marketing at NYU
4:00-5:00 - "Success Stories: Moving Beyond the Showcase" - producers Van Dean & Hillary Cutter (Rooms, Saint Heaven), Janet Pailet (The Great American Trailer Park Musical, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Musical, Masked), Jana Robbins (I Love You Because, Unlock'd, Little Women). TRU producers and friends who have moved shows into commercial productions tell you how they did it! Moderated by Cheryl Wiesenfeld.
5:00 - keynote speaker: Cheryl Wiesenfeld
5:15pm-6:30pm - reception
Cost: $250
($195 for TRU members)
early bird discount: $25 off if you register before May 8th
(additional $25 discount for those producing in MITF, Fringe, NYMF or attending CTI Weekend)
CLICK HERE for Application as Word document.
CLICK HERE for application as PDF.
CLICK HERE for Faculty Bios
CLICK HERE for Curriculum
The Players Theatre Mainstage,
115 MacDougal Street (below West 3rd Street)
TRU BOOT CAMP FACULTY
(complete)
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KRISTIN CASKEY heads Fox Theatricals with partner Mike Isaacson. Broadway: The Seagull; Legally Blonde (currently on National Tour); ‘night, Mother; Caroline, or Change; Thoroughly Modern Millie (Tony Award); One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (Tony Award); Death of a Salesman (Tony Award), You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown and Jekyll & Hyde. Off Broadway: Trying, Lobby Hero (associate). Chicago: Fully Committed, And Neither Have I Wings To Fly, Rum & Coke. Upcoming: Mad Hot Ballroom and Matewan. Kristin is chair of The Broadway League’s Marketing Committee, Treasurer for Early Stages, a non-profit program dedicated to providing the arts in New York City public schools, and a proud alum of Chicago’s Strawdog Theatre. |
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RANDALL L. WREGHITT - Upcoming Broadway productions include CAMILLE and THE GREAT GAME, as well as, the musicals PURE COUNTRY, PEPITA: Senorita Matador, and EDDIE AND THE CRUISERS. Broadway productions include the Tony Award winning musical GREY GARDENS (10 Tony nominations including Best Musical); Martin McDonagh’s LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE (five Tony nominations including Best Play); LITTLE WOMEN - the musical starring Tony winner Sutton Foster (Best Actress Tony nomination) and Maureen McGovern; GOLDA’S BALCONY starring Tovah Feldshuh (Best Actress Tony nomination) and written by William Gibson; Mary Zimmerman’s Tony Award winning METAMORPHOSES (three Tony nominations including Best Play); HEDDA GABLER starring Kate Burton (Best Actress Tony nomination); the Tony Award winning revival of ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST starring Gary Sinese (two Tony nominations); McDonagh’s THE LONESOME WEST (four Tony nominations including Best Play); McDonagh’s four-time Tony Award winning play, THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE (six Tony nominations including Best Play); the acclaimed revival of ELECTRA starring Zoe Wanamaker (three Tony nominations including Best Revival); and the musical, BAND IN BERLIN. He was the Associate Producer of the Tony Award winning Broadway revival of Tom Stoppard’s THE REAL THING.
Off Broadway productions include: THE WAVERLY GALLERY by Kenny Lonergan starring the legendary Eileen Heckert in the role that won her every major theater award (including the Tony, Drama Desk, Obie, Lortel and Drama League). He also produced Douglas Carter Beane’s hit comedy, AS BEES IN HONEY DROWN; Karen Trott’s acclaimed one person musical, THE SPRINGHILL SINGING DISASTER; the hit revival of Mart Crowley’s THE BOYS IN THE BAND; Nicky Silver’s long running hit, THE FOOD CHAIN; Mark St. Germaine’s award- winning comedy, CAMPING WITH HENRY AND TOM; and the Off-Broadway cult hit musical, ZOMBIE PROM. He was the Associate Producer of Edward Albee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play THREE TALL WOMEN. www.RandallWreghitt.com |
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CHERYL WIESENFELD (“Why Do You Want to be a Producer?”) - Broadway: Legally Blonde; Dirty Rotten Scoundrels; Caroline, or Change; ‘night, Mother; Elaine Stritch: At Liberty (Tony). Off-Broadway: In the Continuum; Shockheaded Peter; The Exonerated; Talking Heads; The Waverly Gallery. Ms. Wiesenfeld was the recipient of Theater Resoucres Unlimited's 2007 "Spirit of Theater" Award for her ongoing generosity to young producers in the New York community, as well as her selfless support of the work that TRU does. She is one of the founding Mentors in the TRU Producer Mentorship Program, and to date has mentored six aspirants, including guiding one production to win four Audelco Awards, and helping another production find success in regional theaters. |
INSTRUCTORS |
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CHERYL L. DAVIS (Contracts, Options, Underlying Rights) is a partner at the firm of Menaker & Herrmann LLC. Her practice concentrates on intellectual property matters, including particularly copyright and trademark cases, and she has represented theater clients in connection with a variety of contract and corporate issues. A published playwright whose work has been frequently performed, Cheryl won the 2005 Kleban Award for her works as a musical theater librettist and her show Barnstormer received one of the 2005 Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation Awards. She is a graduate of Princeton (A.B. 1983) and Columbia (M.S.J. 1986 and J.D. 1987) Universities, and an active member of the New York City Bar Association, where she has served on the Committees on Copyright and Literary Property and on Communications and Media Law. For more information, please visit her firm's website at www.mhjur.com |
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HUGH HYSELL (Marketing/PR) is president of HHC MARKETING, an integrated marketing, promotions and services company specializing in entertainment and niche marketing. HHC's clients include over 200 Broadway and Off Broadway shows, TNT Network, The Metropolitan Opera, New York Musical Theatre Festival, FilmandStagejob.com, and BroadwayBox.com. Recent successes include promotional partnerships with Guinness World Records, Starz/Encore, New Jersey Transit, Atkins, Bloomingdale's, AOL, Macy's, Perrier, Continental Airlines, Virgin Airlines, Children's Museum of Manhattan, ABC, Out Magazine, McDonalds, Toys R Us, Bravo, E!, AMC Empire 25, US Postal Service, Perrier, The New Let's Make A Deal, Gray Line Sightseeing, NY Daily News, NY Times, Star Ledger, and Verizon. Hugh is an adjunct professor at Columbia University where he teaches graduate MFA Theatre Management students about Marketing and Promotions for Live Entertainment. He has also lectured at NYU, University of Florida, Out Professionals, and Theatre Resources Unlimited. Hugh is proud to have launched several online medias such as www.HHCevents.com, www.BroadwayInsider.com and www.TheMenEvent.com, all created to better serve his clients. |
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PATRICIA KLAUSNER (Budgets) has produced, written and assistant directed theater since 1990. Her theatrical experience includes: General Manager of The Donald Byrd Dance Foundation, Assistant Director of Beyond Measure (Kampo Cultural Center, NYC), The Boys Next Door (Theater 22, NYC) and A Girls' Guide to Chaos (Innerspace Theater, NYC), and conceived The Tides of Intolerance (The Asia Society, NYC). As the Co-Artistic/Managing Director of Shotgun Productions, a theatrical non-profit, she has developed & produced theater, dance and opera. Productions include: Marc Deaton in Vienna (classical concert), The Lost Boy, Tristan und Isolde in Sofia (staged concert), 24-Hour Drama-Thons, Big Kids, The Chaos Theories, Seduction (musical theater dance opera), Undivulged Crimes, Don't Hug Me, Mia Michael's R.A.W. (dance concert), and Joined at the Head. Business experience includes Director of Marketing, PR & Special Events at Steps on Broadway, editor of a weekly financial trade publication, and consulting for various cable television companies and arts businesses. She currently sits on the Board of Directors and is a past Vice President of Cable Audit Associates, Inc. Ms. Klausner has a Ph.D. in sociology and has taught women's studies, race relations, and criminology at the University of Delaware and Montclair State College. She held a seat on the University of Delaware's President's Commission on the Status of Women and was co-Chair of the Delaware Chapter of Sociologists for Women in Society, and was nominated to Who's Who of American Women. She has presented and published academic articles on women's roles in society, and more recently has written plays, screenplays and short stories with similar themes. She is a member of the Dramatist Guild. |
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CATHERINE LAMM (How to Run an Audition), literary & casting director of TRU, is a director and private coach who has trained with the Royal National Theatre (Edinburgh), the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation, and the American Film Institute. She was formerly the casting director for the Chelsea and West Side Theaters. Catherine is also a feature writer and reviewer for Stage Press Weekly and British Theatre Guide . A veteran theatre professional, she has worked with The Players' Guide , Samuel French, and Broadway producers Mordeccai & Associates, and is a sometime dramaturg/literary consultant to various NYC-based theatre companies and producing organizations. A former professional actor with Off Broadway and West End roles to her credit, Catherine has been teaching actors about the business of performing since 1986. www.catherinelamm.com |
| JANET PAILET/P2 Creations (Success Stories: Moving Beyond the Showcase) Janet Pailet/P2 Creations is an independent producer in the entertainment field. Theater credits include: Passing Strange (TONY award), Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch stole Christmas, The Great American Trailer Park Musical (NY, Tour, Edinburgh, West End), MASKED. Films: Spike Lee's Passing Strange. In development: IDAHO! (NYMF Best of Fest 2008), On A Glorious Day, Groundswell. Janet is a found and board member of the New York Musical Theater Festival and a 14 week CTI Graduate. |
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SUSAN RANKUS (Producing Smart: Fringes and Festivals, or Doing It On Your Own?) is currently the International Artistic Director for the Midtown International Theatre Festival and the Interim Managing Director for Manhattan Theatre Source. She is currently producing and staring in The Pizza Man in this year's Midtown International Theatre Festival http://ulutheatre.wordpress.com. In 2007, Susan produced Outroverted and her One Woman Show, Renaissance, at the Midtown International Theatre Festival where it played to sold out houses every night and was nominated for Best One Act. In 2006 she produced and stared in the short film Previous Tenants, which was an official selection of the Big Apple, New Filmmakers, and Twin Rivers Film Festival, where it won Fifth Place. For more information on Previous Tenants, please visit www.previoustenants.info. For more information on Susan, please visit her website www.susanrankus.com. |
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JANA ROBBINS (Producing Smart: Fringes and Festivals, or Doing It On Your Own?) made her Broadway producing debut with the Broadway musical of Litle Women starring Sutton Foster and Maureen McGovern. She was also one of the producers of the Off-Broadway musical I Love You Because. Unlock'd, her new Broadway bound musicalwon the “Best of the Fest” Award at the New York Musical Theater Festival, and Talkin’ Broadway called it “One of the most ravishing new musicals of 2007! She produced The Jazz Age by Allan Knee ( Little WOmen/Finding Neverland) in a limited run at 59E59 St., which she recently produced in association with the Blank Theater Co. in LA, where it was the highest grossing play in the theater’s 17 year history! Jana’s company, Better Wolrld Productions, was foundedin 1995 to “present theater and film entertainment that inspires us to create a Better World”. In the film world, she helped to develop, cast and produce the film “The Last Day of Frankie the Fly” starring Dennis Hopper, Daryl Hannah and Kiefer Sutherland, and “Executive Target” with Roy Schieder and Michael Madsen. As an actress Jana has appeared in 6 Broadway shows including Gypsy (standby for Tyne Daly) and The Tale of the Allergist's Wife (Standby for Linda Lavin & Michele Lee), starring opposite Valerie Harper when Allergist's Wife went on National Tour. Her television credits include Law and Order, SVU, Criminal Intent and others, and she was recently seen in the film of The Women starring Meg Ryan, Eva Mendez and Annette Benning. For more information: www.janarobbins.com |
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MICHAEL RODERICK (Boot Camp Director/Putting Your Team Together) started Small Pond Entertainment five years ago when he found that it was virtually impossible for an artist to be at their best when they also had to produce. He developed a system for the advancement of a producing organization to be the umbrella for shows that lacked producers. Over the years Small Pond has become a major name in the NYC Theatre Community having presented shows in numerous venues and with hundreds of different artists. As Artistic Director, Michael has produced over 30 shows since his arrival in NY in September 2002. He has also been the organizer of networking events that have included representatives from The New York Musical Theatre Festival, Fractured Atlas, and RWS casting and Associates. He holds a BA in Secondary Ed English and Theatre performance from Rhode Island College and an MA from NYU in Educational Theatre Colleges and Communities. Michael also teaches English at LaSalle Academy where he is the head of the drama program. He has written 15 plays and his play "I'll do it Tomorrow" will be published in the 2004- 2005 Best American Short Plays published by Applause books. www.smallpondentertainment.com |
| KATIE ROSIN / KAMPFIRE FILMS PR (Marketing/PR) Off-Broadway: Play About the Naked Guy, Claymont & Sisters' Dance, Baruch Performing Arts Center; Mother Load, Sage Theater; Wasps in Bed, Beckett Theater; Anaïs Nin: One Of Her Lives, Beckett Theater; Triple Threat: 2007 Drama Desk Nominee (mis)UNDERSTANDING MAMMY: The Hattie McDaniel Story, Real Danger & Elephant Girls, Theatre 5; The Monument, Clurman Theater; Don Juan in Chicago, Kirk Theater. Rosin was instrumental in the launch of the Broadway musical Brooklyn. Rosin's clients include: Ateh Theater Group, Emerging Artists Theatre, The New York Innovative Theatre Awards, Nicu's Spoon, (re:) Directions Theatre Company, T. Schreiber Studios, Woman Seeking...A Theater Company, as well as, various productions at the Midtown International Theater Festival and the New York Fringe Festival. Rosin worked in the publicity office at Miramax Films. Rosin teaches Marketing the Arts at NYU. For more information visit www.kampfirefilmspr.com. |
| ROBERT A. SHERRILL (Equity Codes & Contracts) has worked extensively in professional theatre in a variety of roles, productions and venues. Off-Broadway backstage credits include: Evil Dead, the Musical; Burleigh Grime$; and The Wooden Breeks (MCC). Producer and Management credits include Gayfest NYC (2007, 2008), Mud Blossom; Rags World AIDS Day Concert; Things to Chase; Flora, The Red Menace; The Sexless Years (Ars Nova); The Unknown (NYMF 2005); King John; and Twelfth Groovy Night; At Richard Frankel Productions he worked in the General Management office of Hairspray and The Producers and On The Road where he coordinated the National tours of Hairspray, Movin’ Out, Sweeney Todd and Spring Awakening, among others. He is the founder and Producing Director of Pit Bull Theatre Productions, a general management company specializing in Equity Basic Showcase Code productions. Currently as the Company Manager at the White Plains Performing Arts Center, a LORT-D theatre, he oversees budgeting, contracting and adherence to all union (AEA, SSDC, AFM, USA) collectively bargained agreements. |
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STEVE SPIEGEL (Producing Published Works: Licensing Made Painless) - President and CEO and the founder of Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW), a new company dedicated to representing musicals on behalf of their authors for presentation by theatre organizations throughout the world. Steve Spiegel previously worked for R&H Theatricals and William Morris Agency. Preceding his tenure at R&H and WMA, Steve was President of Music Theatre International (MTI) from 1994 to 2002, culminating his 23 year career which began there in 1979. As President, Steve built MTI into the leading company in the field of worldwide musical licensing through innovative marketing and promotional enterprises in conjunction with sales and managerial programs aimed at enhancing the value and experience of musical theatre presentation and performance. Steve introduced unmatched licensing strategies and developed innovative new products and services to heighten the value of theatre participation and revenue opportunities. Steve has worked extensively with elementary, middle and high schools, colleges, universities, community, civic and religious groups, youth theatres, tours, professional companies, dinner theatres, regional and community theatres, and Broadway producers.
In 1996, Steve received the Distinguished Merit Award from the American Association of Community Theatres for Outstanding Service to Community Theatre in America and in 1998, the New York State Theatre Educators Association honored him with their award in recognition of advancement in theatre education. In 1999, Steve received the Florida Association For Theatre Education Arts Advocate of the Year Award. In 2000, Steve received the Educational Theatre Association’s Founder’s Award, the Ohio Community Theatre President’s Award and the US Army, European Division’s Outstanding Support of Theatre award. In 2001, The American Association of Community Theatres once again honored him with their Business Partner Award. In 2008, the Tennessee Arts Academy presented him with their Partner in the Arts Award and in 2009 the American Association of Community Theatres presented him with their Corporate Partner Award. Steve is an advocate for the arts and his pioneering efforts and expertise over his 30 year career have nurtured educational, community and professional theatre throughout the world. |
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LISAROXANNE WALTERS, ESQ. (Commercial/Not-for-Profit/Fiscal Sponsorship) enjoys her "day jobs" of corporate attorney, tax preparer, as well as business and law professor. When this seasoned actor is not on stage or a set, she is often starting up and advising small for- and non-profit businesses, drafting contracts, or preparing taxes. Before starting her private practice in 2004, she worked for six years in the corporate departments of leading firms such as Skadden Arps, Phillips Nizer, and others. LisaRoxanne was a legal specialist for non-profits and enjoyed a ten-year appointment to New York City's Neighborhood Advisory Board. This bi-coastal actor is a member of Actors Equity Association and Screen Actors Guild. LisaRoxanne's acting resume, "day job" curriculum vitae, and pix can all be found at www.lisaroxannewalters.com. |
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email TRUnltd@aol.com with "Weekend Intensive RSVP" as your subject header.
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