TRU Voices Musicals Series

"I direct a lot of these readings. But the event last night (and the whole experience) had to have been one of the most helpful, well thought out, useful readings I've ever been a part of. You should be very proud of what you are doing for artists and theater in general."
-Jeremy Dobrish, director (Hell Hole Honeys, TRU Series '06)

"Thank you for the opportunity to present At the Back of the North Wind in the TRU Voices musicals series. Not only was it a perfect venue to see and hear the show again from the creators' point of view, but also very instructive to hear what the "Dollars and Sense" panel had to say. Writers need to get the producer's viewpoint, and that we did - loud and clear. There were many new insights that came up, and I believe we all found it quite useful on our journey of getting North Wind from page to stage."
~Tom Tierney writer (At the Back of the North Wind, TRU Series '07)

"I can’t thank you enough - we had a great time and learned so much from the panel, as well as made some fantastic contacts."
~ Sheila McDevitt producer (Once Upon a Wind, TRU Series '08)

"Thank you for the opportunity. I was very honored to be included, got some very helpful feedback from the panel and other attendees at the event. Especially thanks for such a terrific panel!"
~John Sparks, writer (The Arresting Dilemma of Mr K, TRU Series '09)

We will open for 2010 musical submissions in May
Click here for web page with 2009 guidelines
Click here to download printable 2009 Guidelines & Application as a pdf

We are currently accepting plays for our 2010 Play Series. Click here for application. Click here for guidelines. Deadline 1/9/10.

Click here for a complete list of TRU Musicals

THE 2009 TRU VOICES
NEW MUSICALS READING SERIES!
Ninth annual series of new musicals by TRU writers produced by TRU producers, followed by reception and our "Dollars and Sense" panels on producing featuring prominent commercial producers, artistic directors and general managers. RESERVATIONS ARE ESSENTIAL. Online ticketing at www.theplayerstheatre.com or phone 212-475-1449.

Monday evening December 14:
Apples & Oranges Productions presents

Lyrics and Book by Matthew Hardy, Music by Randy Klein
Directed by Tim Kashani
Joe dreams of being a maitre d' like his father.
Join his search for love, laughter ...
and flaming desserts.

"Dollars and Sense" panel featuring: Maggie Brohn, Nina Lannan Associates, general managers (Mamma Mia!, Billy Elliot, 9 to 5); Victoria Cairl, formerly with Serino Coyne (accounts including Spamalot, Grey Gardens, The Lion King) currently vice president east coast - marketing/business development for the entertainment marketing and advertising company Allied Live; James Morgan, producing artistic director the York Theatre Company (My Vaudeville Man, Enter Laughing, Yank!); Jack Thomas, producer Bulldog Theatrical (Desire Under the Elms, Almost, Maine, No Way to Treat a Lady, Our Lady of 121st Street), formerly with the Shubert Organization; Cheryl Wiesenfeld (A Steady Rain, Legally Blonde, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Caroline or Change, Elaine Stritch: At Liberty).

* * * * * * * * *

Tuesday evening December 15:
6 Pound Productions/Maren Berthelsen
in association with Theresa Wozunk presents

Book, Music and Lyrics by Dan Furman
Additional lyrics by Mary-Liz McNamara
Directed by Igor Goldin / Musical Direction by Jeff Biering
Rip thought going to war would be a way out.
20 years later, he's ready to come back.

with Michael Blackmon*, Scott Cote*, Mark Emerson*, Brandon Espinoza*, Amanda Flynn*, Stephanie Lynne Mason*, Doug Shapiro*, Kim Stern*, Derrick Trumbly*, Carey Van Driest*, Christopher Vettel*, Giulia Volterra

"Dollars and Sense" panel featuring: R Erin Craig, general manager / producer La Vie Productions (In the Heights, Elliot: A Soldier's Fugue, High Fidelity, Captain Louie, Liberty: A New Musical, The Jazz Age, Love! That 4-Letter Word, The Extremities Project, Avow); Laura Heller, General Manager Group (Enchanted April, Xanadu, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, long running Off-Broadway hits Stomp, Forbidden Broadway, Beau Jest); Pam Koslow (Jelly's Last Jam, Jane Eyre, Captain Louie, upcoming Yank!); Eva Price, Maximum Entertainment (The Addams Family, Carrie Fisher’s Wishful Drinking, Joy, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, The J.A.P. Show).

* * * * * * * * *

Monday evening December 21:
Playlab NYC presents

Based on the novel Der Prozess by Franz Kafka
Book by John Sparks. Music & Lyrics by Jon Steinhagen
Directed by Christopher Carter Sanderson
Joseph has awakened into a nightmare.
Hitting the snooze button won't help and neither will anyone else.

with Robert Berliner, Demetrios Bonaros, Jacklyn Collier, Ellen DiStasi, Abe Goldfarb, Michael Jay Henry, Mark Montague, JessAnn Smith and Babs Winn

"Dollars and Sense" panel featuring: Pat Addiss (The Fantasticks revival, Spring Awakening, 39 Steps, Passing Strange, upcoming Promises, Promises); Jed Bernstein, Above the Title Entertainment (Passing Strange, recent revivals of Equus, Hair and Oleanna, Duet for One in London), former President of the League of American Theatres and Producers, executive director of Commercial Theater Institute; Jennifer Manocherian (Burn the Floor, Superior Donuts, A Little Night Music revival, Spring Awakening, August: Osage County, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Caroline or Change, Sunday in the Park with George revival, 39 Steps); Kent Nicholson, Director of Musical Theater & Literary Associate Playwrights Horizons; Tom Polum (The Toxic Avenger); Nancy Richards, president The Richards Group marketing & promotions (13 the musical, Spring Awakening, Dirty Blonde, Fosse, Ragtime, Amour, Bridge & Tunnel, Enchanted April, Urban Cowboy, Topdog/Underdog).

All shows at 7pm followed by reception plus panel.
The Players Theatre mainstage,
115 MacDougal Street (south of West 3rd Street)

HIGHLIGHTS FROM PREVIOUS SERIES...

THE 2008 TRU VOICES
NEW MUSICALS READING SERIES!

Monday 12/8, 7:00pm
Sheila McDevitt presents

Book and Lyrics by Tom Diggs • Music by Jay D'Amico
Directed by Jeremy Dobrish
Music Direction by Oran Eldor

with
Alex Brightman, Molly Ephraim, Laura Fois, Kevin Pariseau, Marcus Stevens, Ken Triwush

"Dollars and Sense" panel featuring: Laura Heller, General Manager Group (previous: Enchanted April, Xanadu, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, upcoming Little House on the Prairie); Stewart Lane (La Cage Aux Folles, Woman of the Year, Legally Blonde, Sunday in the Park with George revival, 39 Steps); Jennifer Manocherian (Spring Awakening, August: Osage County, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Caroline or Change, Sunday in the Park with George revival, 39 Steps); Cheryl Wiesenfeld (Legally Blonde, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Caroline or Change, Elaine Stritch: At Liberty).

In war torn England, two teens attempt to make sense of their lives as they come of age through the lens of love, magic … and lies. Based on the Cottingley Fairy Hoax.

Monday 12/15, 7:00pm
Meredith Lucio/ Wild Bird Productions in association with Fumiko Eda/ Live Arts Pacific presents

Book by Judy Freed
Music by Sari Miller • Lyrics by Randi Wolfe
Additional lyrics by Sari Miller
Directed by Kim Wield
Music Direction by Jason Loffredo

with
Ann Harada (Avenue Q), Melanie Kann, Barbara McCulloh (Tovarich at Musicals Tonight!), Allyson Tucker-Mitchell (Man of La Mancha, Oh Kay!)

"Dollars and Sense" panel featuring: Peter Bogyo, (General Manager/General Manager Group - American Buffalo, A Moon for the Misbegotten, Sly Fox, Fortune's Fool, Adult Entertainment, Showtune, Madame Melville, The Unexpected Man); Pat Addiss (Spring Awakening, 39 Steps, Passing Strange); Pam Koslow (Jelly's Last Jam, Jane Eyre, Captain Louie, upcoming Yank!); James Morgan, producing artistic director the York Theatre Company; Tom Smedes, producer (Ace, The Musical), producer/general manager formerly with Martian Entertainment (Naked Boys Singing); Brian Swasey, Queens Theatre on the Park.

The Players Theatre mainstage,
115 MacDougal Street (south of West 3rd Street)

A musical revue celebrating the challenges and rewards of motherhood. Touching, humorous, and thought-provoking, it transports the audience to a bewildering world of love, relationships, discipline, gender roles, career paths, sex, family planning, and facing the empty nest.

THE 2007 TRU VOICES
NEW MUSICALS READING SERIES!
Seventh annual series of new musicals by TRU writers produced by TRU producers, followed by reception and our "Dollars and Sense" panels on producing featuring prominent commercial producers, artistic directors and general managers. RESERVATIONS ARE ESSENTIAL: call 212/714-7628 or email TRUnltd@aol.com

Monday 12/3, 7:00pm
Pat Flicker Addiss presents
At the Back of the North Wind
A magical flight for the whole family ... into a world of possibility.
Based on the family classic by George MacDonald.
book by Jeffrey Haddow
music by Thomas Tierney
lyrics by Jeffrey Haddow and Thomas Tierney
directed by Sam Scalamoni

Followed by the TRU "Dollars and Sense" producer's panel featuring Gabor Barabas, executive producer New Jersey Repertory; Jane Bergere, producer (Curtains, Is He Dead?); Peter Bogyo, general manager with the Sprecher Organization (A Moon for the Misbegotten, Sly Fox, Fortune's Fool, The Unexpected Man); Tara Schoen Fishman, Off-Broadway Booking; Tom Smedes, producer (Ace, The Musical), general manager formerly with Martian Entertainment (Naked Boys Singing); Cheryl Wiesenfeld (Legally Blonde, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Elaine Stritch: At Liberty)

Monday 12/10, 7:30pm
Dennis Grimaldi presents
Saratoga Trunk Songs
An eccentric troupe presents a revue of songs
they THINK were cut from famous Broadway musicals!
book, music and lyrics by David Arthur
with John Bolton (Curtains, Spamalot), Jennifer Smith (Drowsey Chaperone, The Producers, Victor/Victoria), Doug Trapp (Annie), Kristine Zbornik (A Catered Affair, Chess).

Followed by the TRU "Dollars and Sense" producer's panel featuring Trevor Brown, marketing director LAByrinth Theatre Co., formerly with the National theatre in London, producer (Gutenberg! The Musical!); Ken Davenport (Altar Boyz, My First Time, The Awesome 80s Prom), general manager (Gypsy, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jekyll & Hyde); Laura Heller, general manager (Xanadu, Enchanted April, Great American Trailer Park Musical); Alexa Kelly, Pulse Ensemble Theater; Jack Thomas, producer Bulldog Theatrical (Almost, Maine, No Way to Treat a Lady, Our Lady of 121st Street), formerly with the Shubert Organization; others tba.

Monday 12/17, 7:30pm
Double Play Connections, LLC
and Wild Bird Productions, Inc. present
Opa!
Life and love on a forgotten Grecian isle.
Book by Mari Carras & Laurel Ollstein
Lyrics by Mari Carras &
Donald Carl Eugster
Music by Nicholas Carras &
Nicholas Kitsopoulos
directed by Spiro Veloudos
with Demetri Bonaros, Michael Dantuono, Michael Dionissiou, Funda Duval, Carolee Goodgold, Michael Alan Jacobs, Costa Nicholas, Sarah Rolleston, Eric Ruben, Loukas Skipitaris, Natasha Tabandera and Susan Wallack

Followed by the TRU "Dollars and Sense" producer's panel featuring Kristin Caskey, VP Fox Theatricals (Legally Blonde, Caroline or Change, Thoroughly Modern Millie); Tiffani Gavin, Theatrical Rights Worldwide; Jana Robbins, producer (Little Women, I Love Your Because, Unlock'd); Lauren Stevens, Wonder City LLC (Radio Golf); Ricky L. Stevens, producer/general manager (over 110 productions around the country, and NYC; Radio Golf); Spiro Veloudos, producing artistic director the Lyric Stage Company in Boston.

The Players Theatre mainstage,
115 MacDougal Street (south of 3rd Street)

The 2006 TRU Voices
New Musicals Reading Series

Mon 12/4: Friends Like These
2006 Howard L. Blau Award winner!
Music/book by John McMahon, lyrics/book by Jay Jeffries
Presented by Joel & Phyllis Ehrlich,
assisted by Sarah Rotker
Directed by Kelly Briggs
A witty look at friendship, New York style,
as four women discover what a bitch it (and they) can be.
With Jana Robbins, Katona Bennett, Casey Clark, Trisha Rapier.

• "Dollars and Sense" panel: Jennifer Manocherian, (Caroline or Change, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Stomp, The Crucible, upcoming Adrift in Macao); Linda Nelson, producing artistic director Shotgun Productions (Chaos Theories, Don't Hug Me); Dan Markley (Damn Yankees revival, Stomp, Vagina Monologues, Shockheaded Peter, High Fidelity); Ricky L. Stevens, producer/general manager (over 110 productions in San Francisco, Chicago, Florida, Boston, and New York; plus four shows in development); Jack Thomas, producer Bulldog Theatrical (Almost, Maine, No Way to Treat a Lady, Our Lady of 121st Street), formerly with the Shubert Organization; Ric Wanetik, producer (Marlene, Jolson & Company, Twilight: Los Angeles 1992, television: The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show); others TBA.

Mon 12/11: Hell Hole Honeys
music by David Ogrin, book by Steve Mackes,
lyrics by Ben Budick, S. Mackes & D. Ogrin
Presented by Lisa Dozier and Matt Wolf
Directed by Jeremy Dobrish
A darkly funny contemporary pop chicks-in-prison operetta...!
(Yeah, you heard us.)

with Becca Ayers (front), Karla Mosley, Allison Briner, Jene Hernandez, Veronica Jackson, Daniel Levine, Shelly Thomas, Georgia Hauge.

• "Dollars and Sense" panel: Jennifer Costello, vice-president Live Nation (Spamalot, High Fidelity, The Producers); Alexander Fraser, freelance executive producer and consultant (Zhivago), former executive producer for Waxman Williams Entertainment (Topdog/Underdog, Bombay Dreams); Cheryl Wiesenfeld (Elaine Stritch: At Liberty, The Exonerated, Caroline or Change, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Legally Blonde); Carl White, Martian Entertainment (Naked Boys Singing, The Last Session).

Monday, 12/18: By the Numbers
book/lyrics by Amanda Yesnowitz, music by Brian Feinstein
Presented for TRU by Stephanie Riso and Cabaret Pittsburgh*,
in association with Jo Ann Cunningham
Directed by Alex Lippard
What happens when a girl tries to live her life
as if it were a mathematical equation?
with Chip Zien, Liz Larsen, Sara Delaney,
Bridget Clark and John Henry Cox

• "Dollars and Sense" panel: Pat Addiss, producer (Little Women, Chita Rivera: A Dancer's Life, Bridge & Tunnel, Spring Awakening); Jamie Cesa, producer/general manager (Kiki and Herb, Naked Boys Singing!, White Chocolate); Jack DePalma, creative director NAMCO (Chicago, Wonderful Town, Sweet Charity); Pam Koslow, producer (Jelly's Last Jam, Jane Eyre, Captain Louie); Kris Stewart, executive director New York Musical Theatre Festival/NYMF.

Tuesday, 12/19: Meester Amerika
book by Jennifer Berman, music by Artie Bressler,
lyrics by Michael Colby
Presented by June Rachelson Ospa and Daniel Neiden
Directed by Daniel Neiden
Played against the background of the Yiddish theater circa 1920,
the story of a guy who gave up the chance to be a star,
but found a different way to shine.
with Michael Aurit, Jeff Dunn, Jerold Goldstein, Jeff Keller,
Dan Kohler, Amy London, Sheila Rubell, Steve Sterner.

• "Dollars and Sense" panel: Ken Davenport, producer (Altar Boys, Awesome 80's Prom, Somewhere in Time), general manager (Gypsy, Thoroughly Modern Millie Jekyll & Hyde); John LaRock, associate producer North Shore Music theatre; Lauren Stevens, producer The Black Swan film production company, TV commercials and now off-Broadway (My Sweetheart’s the Man in the Moon); Lawrence S. Toppall, Mazel Musicals Inc. (New York and Florida Production Company specializing in touring, producing and presenting Jewish themed theatrical and concert presentations, including On Second Avenue, The Golden Land, Yiddle With A Fiddle, Those Were The Days), producer (The Gathering, Say Goodnight Gracie); Donna Trinkoff, producing director Amas Musical Theatre (Little Ham, Lone Star Love, Zanna Don't).

Readings are free, but reservations are essential. Call 212/714-7628.
The Players Theater, 115 MacDougal Street in the Village
(south of West 3rd, at Minetta Lane)

This series made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.
Thanks also to the generous support of the Friars National Association Foundation.