TRU Current Panels & Events

Wednesday, May 28th
7pm networking, 7:30pm panel
Exploring Spaces: Things to Consider
Before Booking a Venue
Roy Arias, Roy Arias Studios and Theatres; John Chatterton, Where Eagles Dare Studios and Theatre; John Cooper, The Turtle's Shell Theatre; Erika Feldman, general manager Theatre Row Theatres; Carlo Rivieccio, manager The Players Theatre; Richmond Shepard, The Richmond Shepard Theatre; Ron Shetler, Robin Paterson (managing AD) and Chad Brinkman (manager), Shetler Studios; Alfred Tollja and Jenna Weinberg, The Producers Club. Co-moderated by Sherry Eaker, editor-at-large of Back Stage. An honest look at what works and what doesn't work in certain venues, and the questions you need to ask before deciding if a theater is right for your production: what audience capacity do you need for the Equity contract you are using? Is sound and lighting included? Does your show require wing area or height? What insurance are you responsible for? Are there any additional expenses besides the basic rent? Does the space simply work for your concept, and did you remember to ask your director before booking it? One size does NOT fit all.

Tuesday evening April 15th
7pm networking, 7:30pm panel
Producing on the Edge:
The Commercial Value of Controversy.
Panelists to include: Jessica Blank, playwright (The Exonerated); David Mogentale, artistic director 29th Street Rep, "Where brutal theater lives" (Killer Joe, The Conversation); Janet Pailet (Masked, Passing Strange, Grinch, Great American Trailer Park Musical) and Seth Goldstein of The Splinter Group (Masked, Christine Jorgensen Revealed); Jonathan Pollard, producer/general manager(Dai (enough), I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, All Shook Up); Alfred Preisser, artistic director Classical Theater of Harlem; Cheryl Wiesenfeld, producer (The Exonerated, In the Continuum). Politically timely plays, racially sensitive plays ... guiding producers in making choices that may not be considered so safe. Also considering when and if these risks can pay off; how to market these event plays; the fine line between relevance and exploitation. Co-moderated by Sherry Eaker, editor-at-large of Back Stage.

The Players Theatre, 115 Macdougal Street (below west 3rd)

Wednesday evening March 26th
7pm networking, 7:30pm panel
Creative Fundraising,
and the Benefit of Benefits.
Event planners Margot Astrachan (Assoc. Producer of the Drama Desk Awards, St. George's Society arts chair, American Artistic Director for London's Jermyn Street Theatre) and Bruce Robert Harris (Associate Producer & Director of Marketing for White Plains Performing Arts Center, producer Gayfest NYC); Patricia Klausner and Linda Nelson (Co-Producing Artistic Directors of Shotgun Productions); Michael Roderick, (Artistic Director Small Pond Entertainment); Bob Ost (Executive Director Theater Resources Unlimited) and others will talk about different fundraising events, the different elements of a successful fundraiser, cost-effective ways to generate money for your company, partnering with charities to increase your donor base, maintaining an effective cost-to-profit ratio. Co-moderated by Sherry Eaker, editor-at-large of Back Stage.

The Players Theatre, 115 Macdougal Street (below west 3rd)

Wednesday evening February 20th
7pm networking, 7:30pm panel
The Care and Feeding of
the Endangered Playwright:
The Producer's Role in Developing New Work.
Broadway producers Randall Wreghitt (Beauty Queen of Leenane, Lieutenant of Inishmore, Little Women, Gray Gardens, The Great Game), Chase Mishkin (Urban Cowboy, Prymate, Match, Little Women, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Lovemusik) and Chris Presley (Pure Country); plus writers D. Tucker Smith (The Great Game) and Allan Knee (Little Women, The Jazz Age, The Man Who Was Peter Pan); will talk about the delicate dance of the producer and writer: how to find and nurture original properties... the option agreement and realistic expectations on both sides ... creating clear agreements at the start of the relationship ... how to cultivate the relationship for the greatest good of the production... how and when to offer your creative input ... how to be collaborative without being intrusive. Co-moderated by Sherry Eaker, editor-at-large of Back Stage.

Tuesday evening January 15th
7pm networking, 7:30pm panel
Everything You Need to Know About
Producing an Equity Showcase. And Beyond.
A followup to July's panel with Equity, this time focusing on the intricate ins and outs of the showcase code, and the possibilities that may be available for extending your run and moving to the next level. With Equity Business Representatives Nancy Fattorini (Showcase and Dinner Theatre) and Michelle Kelts (Mini-contracts, Transitional, LOA). Co-moderated by Bob Ost and Sherry Eaker, editor-at-large of BackStage.

Doors open at 7:00pm for networking and refreshments, panel starts promptly at 7:30pm. FREE for TRU members; $10 for non-members. Please call at least a day in advance for reservations: 212.714.7628; or e-mail TRUnltd@aol.com

Wednesday evening December 12th
7pm networking, 7:30pm panel
"So I've Got this Great Show –
NOW What Do I Do?"
A Self-Producer's Guide to Getting It Up.
We'll answer your questions about producing at a staged reading, cabaret or showcase level. How do you start? What does it cost? But perhaps most important of all: what are your long-term goals for your project? This is also a chance for self-producing artists to come with suggestions for programs that TRU can implement in 2008 that you would find helpful.

Panelist (left to right): Robert Sherrill of Pit Bull Productions; Janet Zarecor, company manager Impetuous Theatre Group; Mike Roderick of Small Pond Entertainment; Linda Amiel Burns of The Singing Experience, cabaret director & reviewer, former member of the MAC Board of Directors(Both Small Pond and Pit Bull offer general management and contract services for showcase level productions.)

The Players Theater Loft, 115 MacDougal Street
(south of West 3rd Street) - 3rd floor

Click Here to visit DODGER PROPERTIES
Elysabeth Kleinhans and Animated Theatreworks - look for Missives in March at 59E59!