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TRU BOOT CAMPS
Description

Shape up! Get the training you need to be the best producer you can be with these TRU opportunities to hone your basic (and not-so-basic) business and organizational skills. This ongoing series of workshops addresses specific areas of need for anyone trying to make theater, film or any performance art happen. From the half-day "Essentials of Self-Producing" and "Mediation Techniques for Producers and Everyone" to the full day "Raising Money for Theater" and "Pitching and Presentation Skills" to the in-depth "Weekend Intensive for Showcase Producing," you will get the information, inspiration and support you need to make everything seem possible. 

Email TRUStaff1@gmail.com if you are interested in any of these workshops, and to receive details of future workshops. Click below to read general information about each workshop:

Raising Money for Theater: Who, How and When to Ask

"I researched almost all of the presenters before arriving so I was impressed.  I have to say that Lisaroxanne and Bailie blew me away with their enthusiasm and their knowledge, as well as the open, honest way they shared.  Bruce was forthright and honest, which I greatly appreciated.  Jack was, for me, the absolute best not only in imparting wisdom but in his approachability and warmth.  One might think that someone of his caliber would want to present and run, but Jack was generous with his time even beyond his presentation.  All of the presenters were generous with their time beyond their actual presentations and that, for me, was a wonderful surprise and most appreciated.  I think this speaks volumes about TRU's collaborative nature - bravo!" ~Charlene Donaghy/Raising Money for Theater 2017

"The TRU Money Bootcamp was an amazing non-stop exposure to fascinating, accomplished theater creators! Kudos for finding, recruiting, scheduling, organizing so many amazing panelists and speakers and designing an 8 hour continuous show with one intermission!!" ~Tita Anntares/Raising Money for Theater 2017

Weekend Intensive for Showcase Producing

Thank you again for an incredible event this weekend.  I learned so many things, both deep and practical. The content, structure and community you’ve already created is so incredibly rich, there should be a waiting-list for your events -- and even paid live streaming. ~Deborah Henson-Conant

I found the Boot Camp to be a fantastic experience. I did learn a tremendous amount about what I need to know at the level on which I'm currently operating, and I got a great preview of what might be in store for me in the future if I can move up a level. ~Ed Levy

"I hope I've adequately conveyed to you how much the Producer's [Weekend] Intensive was helpful in my getting ready for [my show].... While I'm extremely proud of the show for myself, it's also a testament to what I gathered from the Producing sessions at TRU. As a TRU alum, I was able to put this on in a way I wouldn't have been able to had I not taken the course." ~Michael Doshier, Johnny Darlin: In the Closet (FringeNYC 2016)

"Thanks for organizing the event his weekend. We were very impressed by the number of theatre pros who turned out to speak and take questions from the likes of us. I found it very informative -- helpful to get a grasp of things and a sense of what the financial outlay might be for such ventures." ~D.W. Gregory

"I just wanted to say again how wonderful TRU is. I just took the 2nd boot camp after joining 3 months ago. I was out of the business for nearly 10 years and felt so lost coming back to my roots of theatre. I missed the theatre arts and artists and tried different groups but nothing resonated for me....TRU is "tru"ly spectacular! Not only am I amazed how much I've learned but how organized you are and most importantly how genuinely NICE you, the board, the guests and the other "students" are. I wish I would have found you and TRU twenty years ago. You've made me believe in myself again in others again and in theater again!" ~Antonia Kasper

Recognizing Commercial Potential: Is This Show Worth Investing In?

"Thanks so much for opportunity to attend the TRU Investor Lab! I learned so much (and took many notes)! Your panel was generous with their information and insights. As you know, I’m mainly a writer (musicals and plays) , but art, especially a collaborative art like theater, does not exist in a vacuum. It’s important understand the perspective of successful producers, investors, and our attorney and panel chair Eric Goldman." ~Sue Horowitz

Essentials of Self-Producing: So Many Hats, Only One Head

Mediation Techniques for Producers and Everyone

 
 
 

Faculty
  • LEE A. G. FELDSHON

    has over 25 years of experience in entertainment and corporate law. He launched his private practice, Feldshon Law PLLC, in 2018.  He represents producers, co-producers, composers, bookwriters, lyricists, directors, and other creatives in the live theatrical industry. He represented the New York Musical Theatre Festival from its 2004 founding to its dissolution.  He was production counsel for the Broadway revival of Pump Boys & Dinettes, and represented a Tony-award winning actor) in connection with the Tony-award winning Broadway musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.  He represents the producers and/or authors of other live theatrical works including Stranger Sings! The Musical Parody, EPIC, Lizard Boy, Islander-A New Musical, Mozart-The New Musical, Dangerous-A New Musical, Who's Your Baghdaddy? Or How I Started the Iraq War, Desperate Measures (2018 Drama Desk Awards for Original Music and Original Lyrics), Rooms, and others. He is also co-producing Austen's Pride: A New Musical of Pride and Prejudice.  He negotiates screenplay option/purchase agreements and financing documents for film producers, and has worked as film production counsel for  Fly Away (SXSW Official Selection) and the documentary Darkon: An American Fantasy (2006 SXSW Audience Award). While Director of Legal Affairs and Business Development of the Radio City Entertainment division of Madison Square Garden, L.P., he worked on The Radio City Christmas SpectacularA Christmas Carol, and Rockettes performances. As a Levine Plotkin & Menin associate, he worked on Rent (Broadway, touring), The Wild Party (Broadway), De La Guarda (Off Broadway), and other shows. He started his career as a corporate associate at White & Case.  In addition, he handles trademark and copyright registrations for clients, and represents talent management companies.  He received a B.A. from Columbia College in 1991 (magna cum laude, Rhodes Scholar State Finalist) and a J.D. from Columbia Law School in 1994 (Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar). Bar Admissions: New York.

  • ERIC GOLDMAN

    For over 25 years, Eric has provided legal services to Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award winning talent, and to technology and internet entrepreneurs. Recent projects include representing the writers of the Broadway smash hit Come from Away and the producers of the highly successful Off-Broadway musical parody of the television show Friends. Before launching his own firm in 2011, Eric worked for 15 years as a Senior Associate for entertainment attorney Mark Sendroff of Sendroff & Baruch LLP. Eric also served as in-house counsel for St. Martin’s Press and Hertz Computer. His first job out of law school was working as an associate for copyright guru Stanley Rothenberg.  Eric is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and New York University School of Law.

  • BAILIE SLEVIN

    is the founder of Financial Wellness Companion, Entertaining Finance, and is the current Sales Trainer at MediaRadar. She has made a study of language and how people communicate value, be it screenwriting, playwriting, sculpting, performing, painting, or commercial sales. Bailie helps to translate the creator’s passions to others in a business setting. With her15 years in the personal financial planning industry, Bailie developed a niche in the arts and freelance communities, specializing in working with people with an uneven income. She has also spent significant time in the theatre industry as a stage manager, general manager, and producer. She is a Life Purpose Life Coach and a New York Mental Health Peer Specialist. She lives in New York City with her rescue pup, Lorelai.

  • CHERYL WIESENFELD

    Following a career in publishing, Cheryl began her theatre producing career in 1998. Broadway: The Great Society, The Heidi Chronicles, All The Way, Rocky, Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, A Steady Rain, Legally Blonde, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, ‘night Mother, Caroline or Change, Elaine Stritch At Liberty, and Hedda Gabler. Off Broadway: 10th Anniversary Exonerated, Play Dead, In The Continuum, Shockheaded Peter, Talking Heads, The Exonerated, The Waverly Gallery. Film: Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me. Current: Ain’t Too Proud- The Temptations musical. Upcoming: The Harder They Come. Cheryl has produced shows that have spawned national and international tours and sit down productions, regional productions, and London engagements which have grossed hundreds of millions of dollars. Cheryl has won numerous awards for her productions including the Drama League, Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel, New York Drama Critics Awards and 4 Tony Awards. She has been honored by Theater Resources Unlimited with “The Spirit of Theater” award in 2007, and The Houses on The Moon Amplify 2015 Award for her support in championing the unheard voice. Her board commitments: Theater Resource Unlimited where she co-founded the TRU mentorship program. The program to date has mentored over 200 commercial producers and self producing artists. Cheryl is on the board of Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, Connecticut, and is on the Honorary Council of Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven Connecticut. Cheryl continues her mentoring work and speaks at universities, on panels and for different organizations. She is in her second year of curating a theatre program with the title - Theatre that changes OUR World- at The Quick Center at Fairfield University.
Events
  • Essentials of Successful Self-Producing
    October 14, 2023
    12:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Saturday October 14, 12pm to 6:30 pm EDT Our annual workshop reformatted and rethought for virtual presentation. Polaris North Studio, 245 W. 29th Street, NYC Simul-streamed on zoom for attendees and presenters outside of NYC. “Gee, I’m just an artist” no longer cuts it when you make the move from page to paying audience – […]

  • Investor Lab
    May 21, 2023
    12:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Sunday, May 21st, 2023, 12-5PM We continue zooming into the Virtual World – Boot Camp has been reformatted for Zoom! For anyone thinking about investing in theater. (And anyone who hopes to attract investors.) An essential workshop for producers and investors. Panel will include Jane Dubin, producer (recent: Is This A Room, Dana H.; The Prom, Tony winning The Norman […]

  • Raising Money
    January 28, 2023
    12:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Saturday, January 28, 12pm to 7:00pm Retooled for virtual participation.  Click here for curriculum and speakers Click here to register (please fill out the registration form and pay using the red ticketing box on this page) The world has been on hold since March 2020, but hope is on the horizon at last: though uncertainties persist, […]

  • Essentials of Successful Self-Producing
    July 31, 2022
    12:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Sunday July 31, 12pm to 5:30 pm EDT Our annual workshop reformatted and rethought for virtual presentation Sometimes you’ve just got to jump in and be more than an artist to make theater happen. “I’m just an artist” no longer cuts it when you make the move from page to paying audience – you are […]

  • Raising Money
    January 23, 2022
    12:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Sunday, January 23, 12pm to 7:00pm Retooled for virtual participation during the current pandemic.  Click here for curriculum and speakers Click here to register (please fill out the registration form and pay using the red ticketing box on this page) The world has been on hold since March 2020, but hope is on the horizon at […]

  • Essentials of Successful Self-Producing
    September 26, 2021
    1:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Sunday September 26th, 1pm to 6:30 pm EST Our annual workshop reformatted and rethought for virtual presentation Sometimes you’ve just got to jump in and be more than an artist to make theater happen. “I’m just an artist” no longer cuts it when you make the move from page to paying audience – you are […]

  • A Conversation about Producing
    April 1, 2021
    3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Thursday April 1st, 3pm-4:30pm eastern on Zoom. A Virtual Q&A with Jack W. Batman and Bruce Robert Harris, two-time Tony Award-winning Broadway Producers. Since 2005, they have produced over sixty plays and musicals for Broadway, London’s West End, Off-Broadway, regional theatres, and national and international tours and festivals plus many private and corporate events. Special […]

  • Raising Money
    January 23, 2021
    12:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Saturday, January 23, 12pm to 7:30pm Retooled for virtual participation during the current pandemic.  Click here for curriculum and speakers Click here to register (please fill out the registration form and pay using the red ticketing box on this page) The world has been on hold since last March, but hope is on the horizon at […]

  • Essentials of Successful Self-Producing
    December 6, 2020
    1:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Sunday December 6th, 1pm to 6:30 pm EST Our annual workshop reformatted and rethought for virtual presentation Sometimes you’ve just got to jump in and be more than an artist to make theater happen. “I’m just an artist” no longer cuts it when you make the move from page to paying audience – you are […]

  • Raising Money
    January 25, 2020
    10:00 am - 6:00 pm

Saturday, January 25th, 10am to 6pm Studios 150, 150 W. 46th Street, Studio 5, 7th foor Click here for curriculum and speakers Click here to register (please fill out the registration form and pay using the red ticketing box on this page) It’s more important now than ever for the voice of theater to be heard, […]