TRU Current Panels & Events

Tuesday evening October 14th, 7pm
I'll Create an Educational Program
and I'll Get Funding.... Won't I?

Tuesday, August 26th 7pm
TRU Actors Resource Night
(and Speed Dating), part 2
Come spend three fulfilling minutes each with agents Casey Ross and Sue Winik, biz whiz Jodie Bentley of TheSavvyActor.com, and seven others. What's this about "Speed Dating"? No, it isn't a fixup, it isn't an audition. It's just a chance to introduce yourself to our sponsoring hosts and spend three minutes getting to know each other before moving on. Just like real life. (Instead of flowers, some of them are bringing discount offers to woo you with.)

Co-hosted by Mike Canizares of Precision Photos. Speed date with: Jodie Bentley & Kevin Urban, of The Savvy Actor business and marketing coaching; Penelope Brackett, The Creative Seed life and career coaching; Leslie Darhansoff, licensed psychotherapist with a specialty in character analysis for actors; Laurie Eliscu, acting coach; Lisa Gold of Actors Connection; Paul J. Michael, executive director of The Network, a place where Metropolitan area theatre and film artists and the agents, managers and casting directors looking to work with them can meet, communicate and connect; Paula J. Riley, acting coach; Casey Ross, agent/Ross Talent Agency, formerly with Funny Face and About Face (print and commercial work only); Lee Ann Simms, headshot photographer; Sue Winik, agent/owner Sheplin-Winik Artists. Also on hand to say hello: Blu of Bluface Photography; Moto Ishibashi, headshot photographer; Ellis Gaskell, headshot photographer; Catherine Lamm, acting coach, Casting Director of TRU; Michael Roderick, executive director of Small Pond Entertainment. Click here for the official invitation and details.

Doors open at 7:00pm for networking and refreshments and speed dating. This is a FREE event for all, but reservations are required. Please call at least two days in advance for reservations: 212.714.7628; or e-mail TRUnltd@aol.com

Precision Photos / 36th Street Studios, 260 W. 36th Street, 3rd floor

Monday, July 28th 7pm
TRU Actors Resource Night
(and Speed Dating).
It's July, it's hot, we just feel like socializing. Come meet, mingle, eat, drink and network with us. And if you like, sign up for "Speed Dating" - introduce yourself to our sponsoring hosts and spend three minutes getting to know each other before moving on. Just like real life. (Instead of flowers, they're bringing discount coupons to woo you with.)

Co-hosted by Mike Canizares of Precision Photos and Sherry Eaker, editor-at-large of Back Stage. Speed date with: Valerie Adami, manager of Weist-Barron and Director of the Weist-Barron Showcase programs, as well as a Commercial Casting Director heading WB Casting; Erin Cronican, the founder of The Actors’ Enterprise (TAE), an affordable, one-on-one coaching service for actors; Todd Etelson, founder of Actors Technique, NY which specializes in On-Camera Audition Technique for kids, teens and adults; Hal Hochhauser of Shakespeare Mailing and internet Talent Search; Bobby Holder, founder and artistic director of The Actor's Project NYC (TAPNYC), which helps actors land agents and get work through quality industry showcases and original plays; Moto Ishibashi, headshot photographer; Cheryl King, Stage Left Studio, the only solo show repertory in NYC; Paul J. Michael, executive director of The Network, a place where Metropolitan area theatre and film artists and the agents, managers and casting directors looking to work with them can meet, communicate and connect; Catherine Lamm, acting coach, Casting Director of TRU; Michael Roderick, Small Pond Entertainment.

Precision Photos / 36th Street Studios, 260 W. 36th Street, 3rd floor

Wednesday, June 25th
7pm networking, 7:30pm panel
What Every Good Designer Knows.
And You Should, Too.
Co-moderated by Sherry Eaker, editor-at-large of Back Stage. Nadine Charlsen, designer/stage manager; Ryan Kravetz, set designer; Jeremy Kumin, lighting designer; Candida Nichols, costume designer; Shane Rettig, sound designer; Narelle Sissons, set designer; Solomon Weisbard, set/lighting designer. Just how much can you expect from a designer working on a showcase budget? Join us for an honest discussion of how creativity can (or cannot) overcome financial limitations. Lighting, set and costume designers will talk about the challenges of working on small budgets, and what they need from producers in order to get the job done. We'll also discuss what you need to know in order to hire the best designer for your show.

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

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

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; Carlo Rivieccio, manager The Players Theatre; Richmond Shepard, The Richmond Shepard Theatre; Robin Paterson (managing AD) and Chad Brinkman (manager), Shetler Studios. 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.

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

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.

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!