The Playroom Theatre
151 W. 46th Street, 8th floor

With panelists John Chatterton, founder of Midtown International Theatre Festival (MITF); Gene Fisch, New York New Works Theatre Festival; Abby Judd, general manager Broadway Bound Theatre Festival; Jay Michaels, marketing and public relations for Midtown International Theatre Festival, Planet Connections and Spotlight-On Festival; Brock H. Hill, producing artistic director Planet Connections Theatre Festivity; Michael Scott-Price, artistic director Dream Up Festival at Theatre for the New City; Liz Ulmer, general manager NY Musical Festival (NYMF).

The summer festival scene is a hotbed of opportunity for the development of new work. Which festivals provide the best environment for your production? How do you submit, and what are some of the secrets to giving your submission a competitive edge? Once accepted, what is expected of you? More importantly, what goals along your developmental path can you reasonably expect to achieve from a festival showcase? And how do you distinguish yourself in the marketplace so that once you build it, they really will come?

Doors open at 7:00pm for networking and refreshments, roundtable introductions of everyone in the room will start at 7:30pm - come prepared with your best one-minute summary of who you are, and what you need. Free for TRU members; $15 for non-members  ($12.50 in advance). Please call at least a day in advance (or much sooner) for reservations: 212-714-7628; or e-mail TRUStaff1@gmail.com

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  JOHN CHATTERTON

  MITF Executive Producer, came to the New York area to participate in theatre as a playwright (Frankenstein: The Musical Drama, Beyond the Veil) in 1993. To get producers to return his phone calls, he started oobr (“the off-off-broadway review”), the only publication devoted exclusively to reviewing Off-Off-Broadway plays. When the Present Company started FringeNYC in 1998, an oobr reviewer said that “someone” should start a Midtown fringe festival. Of course no one did, so John started the Midtown International Theatre Festival, in 2000. It has grown steadily over 17 seasons. John (who sometimes styles himself as a “theatrical entrepreneur”) also started Where Eagles Dare rehearsal studios and theatres, which offered low-cost space to the Off-Off-Broadway world for 7 years. Out of Where Eagles Dare grew the Short Play Lab, which presents some 20 10-min. plays several times a season. These festivals have been absorbed into the MITF: Spring (March), MITF: Summer (July), and MITF: Fall (November) festivals. For the time being, MITF: Spring and MITF: Fall comprise only short plays, either 30-60-min. long or 10-min. long (in the Short Play Lab). MITF: Summer contains short plays, a Short Play Lab, and full-length plays and musicals.
  
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  GENE FISCH JR.

  has been a passionate fan of the arts his entire life. Though only as a hobby these past ten years, he has either produced, directed, or invested in 100+ shows during that span, most all at the Off Broadway and Broadway levels. Philanthropy being his primary focus, he was the lead producer for Carnegie Hall performance / Album that donated the proceeds to establish music programs in NYC schools. He has two television pilots in his repertoire, one of which was his directorial debut that was funded for four episodes by a group who worked for ABC.  Fisch is particularly fond of his work directing the Off Broadway parody of the television show, “Dexter”. Subsequent to being part of the Broadway producing team for High starring Kathleen Turner, Gene founded The New York New Works Theatre Festival, helping over 1,000 artists by giving them a shot on a top tier stage (historically the Duke and Acorn Theaters). Three shows from NYNW’s stages are on their way to Broadway and one (“12 Angry Voices” produced by his mentor and panelist, Lauren Class Schneider) is generating traction for its national tour. Submissions are free and NYNW outlays most all of the upfront costs with the hopes that the NYNW stage is only the first step of the project's journey (Numerous shows have moved forward). Every submission is reviewed by at least one Broadway producer. Gene has led a wonderfully diverse career outside of the arts and currently teaches Engineering Technogenesis at the Stevens Institute of Technology. "The bottom line is that theatre is awesome and if there is a way that we can help someone take their art to the next level while having a ton of fun, we’re all in!"   nynwtheatrefestival.com
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  BROCK H. HILL

  is a New York based director.  He is known for ensemble based, organic work.  He is the Producing Artistic Director of the Planet Connections Festivity and Artistic Director of the Altruistic Theatre Company.  Selected projects include: Current project - Helvetica (Rising Sun, Planet Connections); Mistakes Madeline Made, Books on Tape, Humans Anonymous (Tongue in Cheek Prod); Civilization! (Planet Connection Festivity); Choose Your Grown Adventure, Wardrobe of the Living Dead (Altruistic Theatre); Invoice (Leela Theatre Festival).
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  ABBY JUDD

  is the resident light/sound designer at the Laurie Beechman Theatre in New York City and has stage managed and designed for numerous productions and festivals internationally. Recently nominated for the Manhattan Association of Cabaret's award for 'Outstanding Technical Direction,' some of Abby's favorite projects include: multiple events with the charity Lady Parts Justice, various productions in the New York Musical Festival 2015 and 2016, and The Puppet Shakespeare Players Titus Andronicus. Abby is a partner in Bear in Mind Creative, a boutique agency operating in both the USA and UK; specializing in branding, web design and marketing, as well as General Management and Production for Theatre, TV and Film. www.bearinmindcreative.com
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  JAY MICHAELS

  is a producer/director, marketing and public relations executive, entrepreneur & educator. He has been part of the indie theater and film scene since 1985. In 1997, he took the knowledge he acquired as a casting director for New York Daily News commercials and production associate for KSL Media and PBS and founded the boutique PR firm that now bears his name. Jay Michaels Arts & Entertainment creates visibility for self-producing stage artists and production companies on the East & West coasts and in multiple film arenas. Stage clients include Planet Connections Theatre Festivity; Downtown Urban Arts Festival; Fresh Fruit Festival; New York New Works Theatre Festival; Richard Skipper Celebrates; the Improvisational Repertory Theatre Ensemble; Step1 Theatre Project; Medicine Show Theatre; Opera at Hunter College; Spotlight-On Festivals; Playwrights/Authors Doug DeVita, Gary Morgenstein, Patrick Hickey, Jr., Anthony J. Piccione, Antonia Kasper, and Dorian Palumbo; Cabaret Artists Lane Bradbury, Andrea Bell Wolff, and Rev. Mary and Granny's Blue-Mers. Film clients include award-winning filmmakers, Eliana Ujueta (“Beneath The Rock,” “The Airport Run”) and Ben Goldstein ("Jack London") and Steve Silver (“The Watchtower,”). JMA&E also produces live promotional events. Michaels presented live promo events for the HBO Summer Stage, Spotlight-On Film Festival, and the promo showings of “UVX,” a live theater and film hybrid, which was a sponsor of the 2017 New York ComicCon. In 1999, he and Mary Elizabeth Micari formed Genesis Repertory Ensemble, a non-profit arts organization dedicated to giving opportunities to emerging artists in the stage and film (and live event) industries. A professor of communications at Kingsborough College, Michaels continues to appear as a guest speaker and artist throughout the tri-state area at universities and arts organizations.
• MICHAEL SCOTT-PRICE

  is the Director of New Projects at Theater for the New City. Michael still maintains his role as Literary Manager at TNC. You are welcome to send your new stage projects for (full/co) production consideration to him at literary@theaterforthenewcity.net He is a director/creator and artistic director of the Asteroid B612 Theatre Company. Michael has written and directed productions presented nationally as well as in Canada, Ireland, and England. As a playwright, Michael's play LYNCH PLAY was selected for a performance residency at Antioch College (2006). He has studied at the School of Physical Theatre in London, England and the Odin Teatret in Hostelbro, Denmark. Scott-Price is a member of Lincoln Center Theater Director's Lab. He also serves as curator of TNC's New City, New Blood Readings Series, Scratch Night at TNC (works-in-progress) and of its summer Dream Up Festival.
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  LIZ ULMER

  has served as the General Manager of the New York Musical Festival since March 2015.  Other general management credits include Real Men: the Musical (New World Stages), the multimedia-laden Wing-Man (Ars Nova) and Independents (Soho Playhouse), which was named by the New York Times and Huffington Post among the "Top Shows of 2012."  Prior to becoming the Festival GM, Liz helmed several award-winning NYMF shows, including I Got Fired: The Revenge Musical, (which transferred to South Korea for a production at the Daegu Opera House), Academia Nuts, Date of a Lifetime, Flambé Dreams, and the circus/trapeze musical The Awakening of Angel DeLuna.  She previously worked with Davenport Theatrical (Company Manager, Clinton the Musical at New World Stages) and DR Theatrical Management (Company Manager, Tail! Spin! at Lynn Redgrave Theater and Stalking the Bogeyman at New World Stages).  Member, Off-Broadway League and Off-Broadway Alliance.  Graduate, Ithaca College.