TRU Writer Speed Date

Not to be tossed off lightly, here's a chance to pitch your work to a roomful of serious producers ...
TRU Writer-Producer Speed Date
(The Art of the Pitch)
No, it's not really a "date." It's a quick way to meet over a dozen producers -
from beginner to Broadway level - and practice your pitching skills.
(No, we're not talkin' baseball.)

Sunday evening March 1st at 5:30 and 6:30pm (Submissions closed. )
Next Speed date in June - apply now!
The Players Theatre, 115 Macdougal Street (below West 3rd)

"Thank you so much for the great Speed Date evening. It was a blast and such a great opportunity to meet with the producers. I must say, they were incredibly open and gracious and it meant a lot to all of us nervous first-time "daters." The experience of pitching in that format was really helpful in getting across what our story was in a short, concise manner, finding a way to convey it passionately, and making sure our intentions were clear. Thanks, also, to our coach Karen. She was amazing and cut and slashed away at our long, drawn out speeches. The producers would be so grateful if they knew. Your efforts on behalf of writers and producers are greatly appreciated." ~Marylee Martin, writer

"Speaking as an out-of-town playwright I have to tell you that TRU’s writer/producer speed date program accomplished as much for me in one evening as I accomplish in a year of blind script submissions. The quality of the people participating – playwrights and producers -- was impressive and the program’s format of structured four-minute sessions with each producer was a godsend for me. Frankly, I’m a hopeless klutz at parties and other social situations where meetings with producers might happen casually or spontaneously, so when you created this concept of a concentrated four minutes devoted exclusively to the play and the producer, you liberated me from all those social bonding rituals at which I’m so awful. And I came away with the sense that, however brief it was, my plays finally got the stage I’ve hoped they would receive. I hope that, if you have more writer/producer speed dates, I can participate again." ~Sean O’Leary, writer

Want to apply for the next Speed Date?
We are targeting June, and already have a dozen great producers lined up.
Click here for the application in Word format.
Click here for application as a PDF.
Email application to TRUnltd@aol.com - you must send by May 4th.

You meet a producer at a party, and have two minutes to interest him in your work. Do you have the skill to sell yourself?

Here's a chance to practice your pitching with real producers who are open to and looking for new work. Okay, they probably won't option you on the spot, but you'll meet them and have the opportunity to start developing a relationship. And that's what this business is all about. We have eleven producers lined up, from both the commercial and not-for-profit worlds, all with an interest in new projects; we also have eleven aspiring producers from our mentorship program. So you'll be pitching to 22 producers in total!

Come with a willingness to learn, because the real value is the chance to practice your pitching. And you'll be getting invaluable coaching from experts, as well. And did we mention the wine and cheese afterwards? Click here to meet the producers.

ABOUT SPEED DATING. How does it work? 11 writers will arrive at 5:30, and we have two coaches coming who will coach the writers on their presentations. Then at 6:30, they go into the Pitch Room to meet the producers - one at each of the stations. We ring a bell, writers have two minutes to pitch. We ring a second bell, producers have two minutes to respond and ask questions, or give feedback. Writers bring a packet with a synopsis, bio, cast breakdown and production requirements to leave with each of the producers. If the project interests the producer, he may request that you send a full script.

Meanwhile, group two is in the Coaching Room getting coached for an hour starting at 6:30. Second group goes into the Pitch Room at 7:30. We estimate that pitches and turnaround should take about 50 minutes total for all eleven. We will have wine and cheese afterwards, so although the pitch sessions will end at around 8:20, we hope writers and producers will stay and chat informally until 9pm or so.

Yikes! Eleven writers pitching to eleven producers at one time? Think of it as the "cocktail party" pitch where you have to hold someone's interest with dozens of conversations going on around you. A little chaotic perhaps, but true to life.

WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING: A one-page (maximum) synopsis, a one-page writer/theater resume or bio, production history (including reviews), set and cast breakdown. You will need 22 sets, one for each of the producers. Make them nice - it's part of that all-important first impression.

ABOUT THE COACHES: we are bringing in two professional coaches to wotk with each writer on vocal technique, presentation skills and content. Click here to read about Grace Kiley and Karen Schadow.

NOT EVERYONE WILL BE ACCEPTED. We will judge your application based on the viability of the project, your experience as a writer and the specific interests of the participating producers. If accepted into the program, the cost is $50 for TRU members and $75 for non-members (and yes, you can always join as a member to qualify for the discount).

Click here for the application in Word format.
Click here for application as a PDF.
Email application to TRUnltd@aol.com - you must send by February 18th.
Evening limited to 22 writers.

Click to return to top of page.

THE PRODUCERS - 3/1
	SHARON CARR - After a 29-year stint in a Wall Street related business, Sharon began her producing career in January 2006. Off-Broadway credits include I Love You Because (February 2006) and Masked (July 2007). She joined GFour Productions as an independent Associate Producer, on Respect: A Musical Journey of Women in Cleveland (September 2006), Boston (October 2006) and Atlanta (March 2007); as well as the Minneapolis production of Menopause The Musical (May 2007+). In 2007, she also earned credits as a Producing Associate on Broadway with How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Holiday 2006) and Legally Blonde (April 2007). She participated in a money raise for both the Toronto & US productions of Dirty Dancing and the recent revival of American Buffalo; she is the lead producer of the hit comedy Glimpses of the Moon playing Monday nights in the Oak Room of the Algonquin Hotel. Future projects include Idaho! The Comedy Musical Love Story in development and the revival of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, opening Feb 2010 at Hartford Stage prior to its US Tour.
JANE DUBIN is the President of DOUBLE PLAY CONNECTIONS, a theatrical production and management company committed to supporting emerging artists & playwrights in the creation and development of new works. Jane is a graduate of the Commercial Theatre Institute's 14 week (NYC) and O’Neill Center Intensive (CT) Producing Workshops and a member of TRU’s Producer Mentorship Program. Currently: Broadway: The Norman Conquests (opening April, 2009). Recently: Off-Broadway: Beebo Brinker Chronicles at 37 Arts (2008 GLAAD Media Award for Theatre). Other: OPA! at TBG Theatre (Best Commercial Production, MITF 2008; TRU Voices Award for Most Promising New Musical 2007), Take Me America by Bill Nabel and Bob Christianson (Best Musical, MITF 2007), Count Down, by Dominique Cieri, at the Bank Street Theatre and MentalPause by Margaret Liston, at the WorkShop Theatre (MITF 2006) and Society Hill Playhouse in Philadelphia. Jane was a member of the August Wilson Group, a producer of the Tony-nominated Radio Golf on Broadway. www.DoublePlayConnections.com "Quality is paramount, but I have interest in commercial and non-commercial ventures, plays and musicals, etc. I am open to most anything, prefer plays at this point and playwrights who have been produced before (on any level)."
ANTHONY FRANCAVILLA (Producer/General Manager) is the owner of DRD Productions, a commercial General Management/Production Company. For DRD he produced: The Importance of Marrying Wells (Best Play, Theatre Web), The Fartiste (Outstanding Musical, Fringe NYC 2006), Semi-Permanent (Outstanding Solo-Show, Fringe NYC 2007), Platforms (Outstanding Choreography, NYMF 2007), Wild About Harry (NYMF 2008), Fell (Fringe 2008) and Half of Plenty (Summer Play Festival). He is an Associate Producer for NYMF, spent a year as an Assistant General Manager at Richard Frankel Productions and two years as the Operations Manager of the Atlantic Theater Company. Professional memberships include: the Broadway League (Adjunct Member), NYMF's On Board and MENSA. Anthony hopes to eventually take a Virgin Galactic trip to low-earth orbit. "Over the past 4 years I've produced 4 Fringe Shows, 2 NYMF productions and an SPF show. I am always looking for new projects. Interested in commercial properties, both musical and non-musical. In the long-term, I would like to find new and innovative content that speaks to people while turning a profit both for me and the artists."
	ROGER ALAN GINDI - Producer, Broadway: Jay Johnson: The Two and Only (Tony Award); off-Broadway, Shakespeare's R&J (Lortel Award). Roger is the head of the theatrical producing and general management firm of Gindi Theatrical Management. He was represented on Broadway by King Hedley II and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom by August Wilson and The Gathering by Arje Shaw’s. He managed August Wilson’s award-winning Jitney Off-Broadway and prepared its London production at the Royal National Theatre and West End. He was General Manager of David Mamet’s controversial hit off-Broadway play, Oleanna, as well its National Tour. Additionally, the company was represented on Broadway with the Hartford Stage Company production of Our Country’s Good, which was nominated for six Tony Awards including Best Play. For the past 24 years, Mr. Gindi has been General Manager of the long-running musical comedy Nunsense and its offspring. Nunsense has been performed in hundreds of theatres of all sizes across the country and around the world and was recently on a highly successful "25th Anniversary" National Tour starring Sally Struthers. Roger has been involved in theatrical management since 1973, previously with the New York Shakespeare Festival and Gatchell and Neufeld, Ltd. as Company Manager on numerous shows including A Chorus Line, Beyond Therapy, Hurlyburly (Off-Broadway and Broadway), Cats, Smile and Starlight Express. "I'm looking for producible plays or musicals for Broadway or off-Broadway. I have very eclectic taste but it must be inherently theatrical so that it makes the live medium special. For me the best shows do something more in addition to mere entertainment. When they can enlighten or make you feel that's great!"
	JEREMY HANDELMAN (Off the Leash Productions) has produced and managed many New York productions including The Bronx Balmers, CYCLE: A Vaudeville Comedy, The Aspern Papers, Scapin, Five by Tenn, Fritz & Froyim, Following the Yellow Brick Road…Down the Rabbit Hole, and The ARTC Spring Reading Series. He is the author of The Bronx Balmers, Tic-Tac-Toe and numerous short plays. Jeremy is the founder of Off The Leash Productions, where he also produces and edits film and video. He is a proud member of TRU, in the TRU Producer Mentorship Program, and a member of the American Renaissance Theater Company, where he also serves as Outreach Coordinator. He is the Marketing Adviser for Turtle Shell Productions, and is the facilitator and board member of the Turtle Shell Playwrights Platform. In a previous life as a television executive he was Vice President, Programming for CBS Sports. "Seeking commercially viable projects, especially but not limited to musicals."
	BRUCE LAZARUS produced the Broadway productions of SAY GOODNIGHT GRACIE by Rupert Holmes (Tony Award nominee for Best Play, National Broadway Theatre Award winner for Best Play on tour) and THE GATHERING by Arje Shaw. Bruce also produced several notable off-Broadway productions including SHAKESPEARES'S R&J adapted by Joe Calarco (Lucile Lortel Award winner for Special Production) , ONLY KIDDING by Jim Geoghan, and MAYBE BABY ITS YOU. As a theatrical attorney Bruce Lazarus has represented over 20 Broadway and off-Broadway shows including BLUEMAN GROUP:TUBES off-Broadway and THE LION KING, AIDA and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST in his capacity as Director of Business and Legal Affairs for Walt Disney Theatrical Productions. He has taught producing commercial theatre at the Commercial Theatre Institute in New York, Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the UCLA School of Continuing Education. He is a member New York State Bar and the Advisory Board of the Donald E. Biederman Entertainment and Media Law Institute at Southwestern Law School. He began his entertainment business career as a talent agent and later became the personal manager for Ray Liotta, David Caruso, Troy Beyer, Philip Baker Hall and Marian Mercer. Connect with Bruce at www.Linkedin/in/BruceLazarus "I am always looking for the unusual –off the track- weird and wonderful non-linear theatrical experience. I love an event! With big marketing hooks. I also like plays. I want to laugh my ass off, to care about the characters and be brought to tears. I love language, history, art, spirituality, romance, sex and rock and roll. I am also interested in small cast musicals."
	MICHAEL LELAND Michael LeLand has worked as an actor, singer, writer, theater educator, producer, choreographer and director in New York City and in his hometown of Philadelphia for over fifteen years. Mr. LeLand has produced over forty theatrical productions and ran Theatre Double’s two-theatre complex on Walnut Street in Philadelphia for four years Mr. LeLand has helped developed a dozen new plays that have received professional productions, including Langston Hughes: An American Celebration, Theatre Double’s Just The Boys, Theatre Double’s Jason and Medea, Theatre Double's . . .And The Sky Can Still Fall on Our Heads, Slipping by Yvonne Delet, Gypsy Wagon by Ed Shockley. He also developed and, wrote lyrics for the full length children’s musicals The Witch and the Magic Mountain, Nsume Namlou: The Stories of My People, Magic Bookshop: The Snow Queen and The Magic Bookshop Inside the World of Jack and the Beanstalk. Mr. LeLand helped create Just the Boys, a Theatre Double collaboration published by Simon and Schuster in Action: the Nuyorican Poet’s Café Theatre Festival. Portions of his production, The Witch and the Magic Mountain, produced by Freedom Theatre, were performed at the Barrymore Awards and for former Mayor of Philadelphia, Edward Rendell. In April 1998, Lincoln Center Theatre named Mr. LeLand to the Directors Lab. He was also one of only twelve directors selected by the Lincoln Center Directors’ Lab to be showcased at Here Center for Contemporary Arts in the American Living Room Series. Mr. LeLand had the honor of directed Pulitzer Prize, Tony Award Winner, and Academy Award nominee Jason Miller in his one man play Barrymore’s Ghost. "Small cast quirky plays. Similar to work on Showtime and HBO."
JANET PAILET/P2 Creations 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. "I am most interested in small 4-6 person musicals and touring properties."
	MICHAEL SGOUROS is owner of The Players Theatre. The facility includes, a main stage 248 seat Off-Broadway theatre, a 50 seat black box theatre, 4 rehearsal studios, an office suite for arts organizations and the famous Cafe Wha?, which has been a Greenwich Village mainstay since the 1960's. A native New Yorker, Michael has enjoyed performing in a variety of musical settings which have included the Broadway productions of The Secret Garden, Falsettos, The Goodbye Girl, Sunset Boulevard, Miss Saigon and Phantom of the Opera. Mr. Sgouros has served as producer/composer for the Off-Broadway show The Selfish Giant and has worked professionally as drummer/percussionist with Eartha Kitt, Mandy Patinkin, Michael Rupert, Bernadette Peters, Martin Short, Danny Aiello, Michael Kamen, Alison Janney, Laura Linney, Jake Weber and Richard Thomas. Currently, Michael is director of the percussion program at Molloy College in Rockville Centre, NY. In addition, he is producer/composer for the Off-Broadway show Treasure Island and the interactive Off-Broadway music production, Percussion People at The Players Theatre (www.theplayerstheatre.com). "As a theatre owner, I am always interested in co-producing productions which might help fill out our calendar. Often these are productions which already have some support and just need a few extra concessions to get on their feet. In addition, shows that are interested in a recurring non-prime slots such as Mon-Wed evenings and late night Thur-Sat are shows which I have an interest in co-producing. These shows can run as little as once a week or even once a month."
	RANDALL L. WREGHITT - Producer - 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
SHELA XOREGOS has produced arcane original and classical plays, poetry, dance and music. Playwrights she's produced and/or commissioned include Dave DeChristopher, Ade Ademola, Adam Kraar, Grace Cavalieri and Rick Foster. She has discovered and premiered plays by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Oscar Wilde, Sarah Bernardt, Rene Magritte and others. She is Producing Artistic Director of Manhattan based Xoregos Performing Company (a non-profit) as well as a free-lance director and choreographer. She looks for the bizarre; can be non-linear, heightened use of language, rarely dis-functional family or kitchen sink plays. xoregos.com "Plays which interest me usually have one or more of the followinG: bizarre plots/characters, abstract/no plots, character-driven, skilled writing, elevated language, comedic or dramatic. I'm also used to reading ordinary plays with kitchen sink plots. But I rarely produce those."
Click to return to top of page. THE COACHES
	GRACE KILEY, M.A. in Counseling Psychology, professional actress (SAG, AEA) has coached for over 25 years. She specializes coaching professionals in film, writers, performance artists in her Art of Pitching Workshops independently and for organizations. She also coaches business executives, investment advisors, managers, entrepreneurs, and freelance artists, guiding individuals and groups toward their highest level of potential and achievement. Ms. Kiley founded Vermont Actors Workshop, has directed, produced and developed original scripts. Currently on the faculty for NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Kanbar Institute of Film and Television and Trinity La Mama Urban Arts Program where she teaches acting and directing. As Chair of Psychology at Burlington College in Vermont, Ms. Kiley developed curriculum and taught courses in clinical psychology. Over a period of 10 years she was active in The Assisi Conferences in Assisi, Italy. Ms. Kiley is a member of the HB Ensemble at HB Studio in NYC and member of the board for The New York Coalition of Professional Women in the Arts & Media. www.gracekileyperformancecoach.com
	KAREN SCHADOW - With her specialty in Voice Training and Public Speaking, Karen Schadow is President of her own company, The Voice of Success. She brings to the communications training field over twenty-five years experience in television, film and theatre, from which she has developed her highly-recognized expertise in vocal coaching, presentation skills coaching, and media training. Her dynamism and her individualistic and caring approach bring success every time! Karen has created and taught her distinctive voice development programs to hundreds of actors, Fortune 500 corporate clients, and universities and media groups. Her unique ability to diagnose each client's individual vocal and presentation needs and her years of experience on both sides of the camera -- as one of ABC-TV’s first female network camera people, and as an on-camera arts reporter and announcer -- combine to give clients total confidence and effectiveness in speaking at interviews, auditions, group presentations, and before large audiences. She has been acknowledged with two Emmy Awards. Karen's clients include A & E Television, Colgate Palmolive, Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission, New York Women in Communications, The Hired Guns, Center for Arts Education, National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Presentation Excellence, Toastmasters, Deutsche Bank, Biography, T-Mobile, BMW, Association for Conservation Information, OgilvyOne Worldwide, and many more. Receiving her Master's Degree in Theatre (Magna cum Laude) from Florida State University, Karen has studied extensively in London on English Theatre. A long-time SAG and Equity member, she has appeared in over 500 performances nationwide in her one-woman show, encouraging teens' self-esteem, and has acted in over thirty professional theatrical productions around the country. Karen has taught at New York University for over 15 years, creating highly in-demand courses in On-Camera Reporting and Television Journalism. Her current courses in Voice and Presentation Skills, "Ten Steps to a More Dynamic Voice," are fully subscribed every term. You can read more about Karen on her website, www.thevoiceof success.com.

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