TRUSPEAK ... HEAR OUR VOICES!
an evening of awareness
Sunday evening March 20, 5pm to 7:00pm ET

Honoring CATE CAMMARATA of CreateTheater.com
recipient of the 2022 TRU Entrepreneur Award,
and remembering friend and colleague VAN DIRK FISHER
of the Riant Theatre, Strawberry Festival and Jocunda Festival.

Presented with generous sponsorship from R.K. Greene and THE STORYLINE PROJECT, Patrick Blake of RHYMES OVER BEATS, Merrie L. Davis of NEXT ACT 2 FOLLOW, Stephanie Rosenberg/Financial Advisor at WELLS FARGO ADVISORS, Neal Rubinstein/DANGEROUS, Judith Estrine/PRISM STAGE COMPANY and Judith Manocherian LLC.

featuring Danny Bolero, Brenda Braxton, Todd Buonopane, Terry Burrell, 
Phil Chin, Veanne Cox, Jonathan Dauermann, Penelope Hsu, Daralyn Jay,
Jacob Henrie-Naffaa, Patrick John O’Dea, Jessica Luu Pelletier,
Bruce Sabath, Guy Whitlock

with special appearances by Pat Addiss, Michael Alden, Patrick Blake, Rashad V. Chambers,
Chuck Cooper, Robert Cuccioli, Cheryl L. Davis, Peter Filichia, Jim Kierstead, Jerry Mitchell

plus spoken word performer Gha'il Rhodes Benjamin and rapper Masta Ace

and Stephanie Pope Lofgren as the Voice of TRU

casting: Jamibeth Margolis Casting

directors: Andrea Andresakis, Glynn Borders, Robert Cuccioli, Cady Huffman,
Rain Pryor, Ben Harney, Sharifa Williams
technologists: Scott Arundale, Jay Lucas Chacon, Maarten Cornelis, Henry Garrou,
Jens Haulund, Brian Lawton, Joe Nelms, Sadah Espii Proctor, Carley Santori

producers: Maureen Condon, Merrie L. Davis, Jesica Garrou,
Melvina Douse-Manuel, Noel MacDuffie, Claudia Zahn
executive producers: Bob Ost, Iben Cenholt and Janel Scarborough
assistants to the producers: Jay Lucas Chacon, Connor McKenna

technical director: Iben Cenholt • marketing: Joe Nelms, Gary Hughes
creative consultant: Janel Scarborough
sound editors: T Cat Ford, Doug Oberhamer

Buy your ticket using the bright red reservation box.
Click here to offer added support
or upgrade to a VIP ticket ($25 or more): 

Click here in honor of TRU award recipient Cate Cammarata:

Join us for our annual fundraising gala reinvented for virtual times. This is an evening to raise awareness of current social issues, as well as awareness of the work TRU has been doing for the theater community for over 28 years. And to honor the work of CATE CAMMARATA and the legacy of VAN DIRK FISHER. We are presenting a curated selection of 7 short plays we have matched with directors, producers and technologists, to create high quality video performances of these provocative pieces:

THE FIRST ANTI-VAXXERS
by James McLindon, directed by Cady Huffman
produced by Noel MacDuffie
director of photography Carley Santori, editor Scott Arundale
costumes Donald Sanders, props Megan McQueeney, hats Rodney Gordon
rotoscoping Edward Pinkava, post production services Mercer Film Group, inc.
with VEANNE COX

COLD BREAD
by Aladrian C. Wetzel, directed by Rain Pryor
produced by Melvina Douse-Manuel
director of photography/editor Sadah Espii Proctor
consulting producer Janel Scarborough
technical consultant Iben Cenholt
with DARALYN JAY

ONLY BLACK
by Kristy Thomas, directed by Ben Harney
produced by Melvina Douse-Manuel
creative editor Maarten Cornelis
consulting producer Janel Scarborough
technical consultant Iben Cenholt
with GUY WHITLOCK

SLAVE TRADE
by Ian Patrick Williams, directed by Andrea Andresakis
produced by Merrie L. Davis
director of photography Carley Santori, editor Joe Nelms
creative consultant Janel Scarborough
with BRENDA BRAXTON, BRUCE SABATH

OBSTACLE
by John Busser, directed by Glynn Borders
produced by Maureen Condon
editor Jens Haulund
technical consultant Iben Cenholt
with DANNY BOLERO

SHE'S BLOWN AWAY
by Vince Gatton, directed by Robert Cuccioli
produced by Claudia Zahn
director of photography/editor Brian Lawton
with JACOB HENRIE-NAFAA, JESSICA LUU PELLETIER, PATRICK JOHN O'DEA
special thanks to Eric Krebs and Theater 555

EVERY CREEPING THING
by David Beardsley, directed by Sharifa Williams
produced by Jesica Garrou
director of photography/editor Henry Garrou
music by Rudy Gabrielson
with TODD BUONOPANE, TERRY BURRELL, 
PHIL CHIN, JONATHAN DAUERMANN, PENELOPE HSU

TICKETING

• General Admission is $55 for the virtual show only ($30 for TRU members)

• VIP ticket is $90 ($75 for TRU) includes post-show after party -
meet the actors, creative teams and TRU Board and past Honorees

• Circle of Angels tickets are $100, $250, $500, include the above
plus thank you credit in waiting room, opening and closing credits. 

*Anything above the basic ticket price is a tax-deductible donation

ON DEMAND STREAM OF THE EVENT WILL BE AVAILABLE
3/21 thru 3/24 - email TRUStaff1@gmail.com for the link to purchase
Price: $25-$35

2022 FINALISTS AND SEMI-FINALISTS

We received over 130 submissions, and we congratulate the following 10 finalists, 7 of which we will be presenting (see above):

Every Creeping Thing by David Beardsley
Good Bad Times by Diana Burbano
Obstacle by John Busser
She's Blown Away by Vince Gatton
The First Anti-Vaxxers by James McLindon
Only Black by Kristy Thomas
I Could See, a Raging Revolt by Ajene D. Washington
Cold Bread by Aladrian Wetzel
Slave Trade by Ian Patrick Williams
My Father's Father by Marie Yuen

Additional congratulations to the following additional semi-finalists - this was an amazing array of work, all addressing significant topics in effective and dramatic ways. We were truly overwhelmed!

Eviction Notice by Ramla Bandele
Black Santa by David Beardsley
Transcodicil by Peter Dakutis
Menapace by J Lois Diamond
Children Asking Why - Joe & Granddaddy by T Cat Ford
Water's Water by T Cat Ford
A Mother's Privilege by Donna Hoke
Birth Control by Nico Juber
Only a Matter of Time by Mark Levine 
Grace Finds Kel by Rex McGregor 
Closing Doors by John Minigan
Guilty by Joe Nelms
My (Diagnosed) Self by Dave Osmundsen
For Sale by Owner by Marc Paykuss
Last Night in the Lincoln Hotel by Adam Richter
Wish Me Luck by Laurie Tanner
Girls Softball by Greg Vovos