I am enjoying the weekly gatherings and meeting all the attendees so much that I just enrolled as a TRU member. Thank you so much for these weekly sessions. ~Edward Osredkar

Thank you so very much for [your editorial]. I needed to read that. What you've done with TRU has been wonderful. I can rarely take part because of my schedule, but I tell all my students about it and I'm proud to do so. What I tell everyone is that it's run by the nicest people I've ever met. You get fantastic information at an inexpensive price and they have the best workshops ever. I tell them about the speed-dating workshop with the writers and producers and all the auditions that happened there for agents and playwrights etc. What you created has worked. It has been a source of creativity for countless actors that needed exactly what you had to offer. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Wonderfully insightful as to the Post War Jewish populations in urban areas. I have a radio broadcast on Saturday and was just putting my own layers of racism in my Liberal NYC upbringing: your essay helped me with some phrasing. ~Ina Chadwick

The first 2 paragraphs of your [essay] could be [my life] if you substitute The Bronx. The remainder has many similarities, different details. I’m glad TRU is leading us forward; the mountain we’re climbing seems a little less steep. See you on ZOOM. ~Stephanie Schwartz

Thank you for sharing your journey to being more aware of the implicit bias we all carry with us. I've concluded that no matter how progressive I think I am, there is always more work to be done. ~Donald Tongue

This is a lovely essay. I hope you don’t mind that I forwarded it on to some of my friends. Beautifully written. And I totally agree. ~David Kurkowski

Thank you for this insightful editorial. It is great. But this should be out there for everyone to read, especially those concerned, but I doubt if they will be dented. Anyway, we need to make our voices heard loud and clear. ~Nora Armani

Very well spoken. If it was a diatribe it's only because they wish our tribe would die. Keep it comin'. ~David Stamps

Your editorial is so thoughtful and you expressed it so eloquently. Thank you.~Stephanie Schwartz

TRU BEGINNINGS: OPPORTUNITIES FOR EARLY DEVELOPMENT

Thank you for all of your hard work today. I have been in your shoes, watching as technology decides to remind the humans who is master, and just know that all of us are eternally grateful for everything you did. Group B was in the cocktail hour having the best time and in great spirits. I had a ton of fun connecting with people!  The pitch coaching was BRILLIANT! (Emileena is a national treasure.) ~Kate Danley

It is obvious you and Mike and Tamra worked hard to get it running. It was actually a good experience; if we were mildly frustrated, you must have been really frustrated. To get it running smoothly will be a boon. When it worked it was really superb. ~Carole di Tosti

I enjoyed the entire event. Yes, chaos was the star of the show, but you all worked so hard and the writers and producers were all such friendly, helpful people. I did learn a lot about my show. Sami was a great coach. What's not to like? ~Elizabeth Appell

I found this virtual pitching much more exciting and engaging than being in a rental studio room where it is either too hot or too cold and the ability to look people in the face is less than elevator pitch personal. The tech will resolve. ~Ina Chadwick

Katherine and I thank you for allowing us to be apart of this marvelous event. I know it was very challenging but it was great to meet so many producers with positive and valuable feedback for me and my show. ~Gregor Gibson

You guys did a fantastic job today in putting this together; today was definitely value added for the writers. I’m taking a look as several scripts, myself. GREAT JOB. ~Gene Fisch, producer

WRITER-PRODUCER SPEED DATE (March '20)

I just wanted to thank you again for the opportunity to participate in the producer speed date. It was exciting, fun, and very enlightening. I truly learned a lot. ~Patrick Emile (As We Lie Still)

Thank you for putting that event together last night! I had a blast and I learned a lot. You guys are great and I look forward to participating in more TRU events in the future. ~ Kaitlin Colombo (Nanotainment)

A very special treat! You did an amazing job and have set up a template for speed dates that is far more value packed than any other offering. ~Ina Chadwick, producer

I just wanted to write a quick thank you for putting together last night's event. I had an excellent time and learned far more than I had even thought I would! I thought Bailie was absolutely excellent in our session. She was direct, succinct, and clear without rewriting the pitch for you - she was more of a guide. Her manner was disarming and kind, and she made me feel as though I was in the right room with the right person to help me elevate my pitch in a short period of time. I'm grateful for her work and expertise! ~Michael Radi (The King's Legacy)

I wanted to thank you for letting me squeeze in at the last moment for last night’s Speed Date. I also wanted to thank you for the huge amount of effort and time you and Gary spend on all TRU events. I know you do them as an act of love; I can’t imagine you make much (if any) money from them.... I found last night’s event extremely helpful. I’ve already typed up my notes on what information to include (and what to trim) if I ever get to the point when I finish the first draft of my show and am looking for future development. ~Larry Daggett, producer-writer

What a great event last night! Thank you so much for having me. I had such a good time. Looking forward to more TRU events! ~Joe Nelms (Burning House)

Thanks very much, for you and TRU for making the opportunity possible. The event was terrific for tuning up the process of making an introduction. And all I wanted was to get my play in good hands, so thanks again. ~James O’Connor (Rosemary)

WRITER-DIRECTOR COMMUNICATIONS LAB

Just wanted to extend my thanks to you and your team for the awesome teaching I received through your Writer-Director Communications Lab yesterday! I left the Lab extremely encouraged, with a clearer understanding of how to navigate relationships with Directors as a writer (and vice versa!), as well as a greater confidence in my ability to discern what to look for in early partnership meetings. I now recognize the importance of understanding my own behavior style, and being able to clearly communicate this with prospective partners on artistic projects for the sake of healthy collaboration. I'm especially excited about the connection I made with Noel MacDuffie, and am planning to continue talking with him from here. ~Jonathan Hogue, writer

Thank you for the excellent workshop yesterday. It is always an illuminating process and you handled it all with grace and wisdom, which is always appreciated! Thank you for assembling your panel, it was a great group and I thought they all brought interesting perspectives to the conversations. I thought Zoom worked well for this – allowing a closeness to the conversations that was not possible even in a comfortably small room. I am not suggesting it was better than in person, where social cues are more fulfilling, but it was a good consolation prize from the perspective of the viewers. That said, I found the viewing to be extremely fatiguing, and I often opted to simply listen. Too much Zoom makes me nauseous. ~Noel MacDuffie, director

You did an extraordinary job Saturday and I’m so glad I was there. I said I wanted to attend so I could see first hand, the dynamics of the Writer/Director relationship and benefit from what would be presented. Well I did and I’m ready to run with the knowledge. ~Merrie L. Davis, producer

Saturday was wonderful. Chris and I plan on continuing to work together. ~Mike Canstraro, director

PRACTICAL PLAYWRITING

I want to thank you again for yesterday’s program! I learned a lot from you, Patrick and Cate!! The budget analysis of characters and sets, the info on regional theaters, and how to approach producers, etc., was all very valuable info that I’ll incorporate into my scripts and pitches going forward. I took six pages of notes!! ~Maureen Condon

PANELS

Life On Hold... with Jim Morgan, Jim Kierstead, Markus Potter

This panel was wonderful. You and TRU are a gift to the theater world. In the past, my TRU membership has lapsed from time to time, but I will be sure to keep it up to date! ~Tony Scialli

That was a great and incredibly timely meeting. Thank you! I look forward to more in the future as well as being part of your TRU organization as a member. ~Lloyd Khaner

TRU VOICES

DISBELIEF (2020)

Congratulations to Molly [Morris] and the team who all gave brilliant performances. It's lovely to see creative fires are still burning brightly, until the time we can all work together again. ~ Helen Milne

COMMUNITY GATHERING 

General

Pardon me for getting squishy but first I must say how lucky I am to have TRU in my life. TRU has been such a huge help in these troubling times. The service you've provided through your weekly Friday Zooms has been incalculable. ~Larry Daggett

I am enjoying the weekly gatherings and meeting all the attendees so much that I enrolled as a TRU member right after last Friday's gathering! Thank you so much for these weekly sessions. ~Ed Osredkar

Thanks again for your encouragement and support. My new TRU friends have turned into a real lifeline during this pandemic isolation. ~Alan Becker

I want to commend you for providing this wonderful lifeline during our challenging times. ~Eric Marciano 

Regional Perspective

I think you are providing, on many levels, an incredible service to those of us who live for the arts. I plan to join soon as a member. ~Grant Robbin

A Conversation with Mara Isaacs

I was extremely impressed with Mara. What an interesting dynamo!... What you've done for writers in this time of covid is truly amazing.~Elizabeth Appell

Read All About It

Thank you so much for inviting me to participate on the panel tonight. As I mentioned at the end of the meeting, I believe what you have been doing to provide a forum for theater artists is terrific. ~Marcina Zaccaria

The COVID Effect

I have to thank you for doing the Breakout Rooms. I wasn’t so keen on the idea when you suggested it but it was like a chance to actually be with other people. It was great. I am alone twenty four seven every week and have been since this COVID thing hit. Suddenly I wasn’t. Thanks. ~Earl Lewin

I like the breakout rooms. Nice to meet the people I see in the Zoom grid every week. ~Joe Nelms

Alternative Theater

with Shelley Butler/West of Artistic Stamp and

Molly Rice/Rusty Thelin of RealTime Interventions

It was a real pleasure attending the zoom panel and talking a bit about our new endeavor. I'm incredibly appreciative that you amplified our process and hope that some of your attendees will keep in touch with us in the future as we look for writers for our upcoming seasons. ~West Hyler

Are Producers Artists? with Maria Aponte, Patricia Klausner, Tonya Pinkins, Tom Polum

Thanks to you and Emileena for a really nice program yesterday.  It got me thinking about budgets. As a writer, I have no idea what a budget is like for a show. But the panel’s comments suggest that we playwrights should know something. That way, we can rein in our wildest impulses and think in realistic terms about how we can tell our story.... Finally, I’m grateful for all you do for us writers, and I’ve sent my contribution to TRU this morning. ~David Kurkowski

I made a donation. Great meetings and very informative. I invited 4 people who attended yesterday's meeting. They loved it!. ~Van Dirk Fisher, Riant Theatre

Life on Hold - The Conversation Continues 
with Margot Astrachan, Martin Platt, R.K. Greene

Thanks for doing these, Bob. I didn’t realize how much zooming with colleagues would help my spirits, being quarantined so far from NY out here on the coast (actually on an island off Seattle right now). ... It was also a little daunting how much some people seem to be accomplishing with putting shows online and all.... The can-do bunch on the zoom call who rattled off all their latest online efforts made me think I shouldn’t be quite so pessimistic. ~Alan Becker

Kind of mind blowing to hear producers talking about breakthroughs in producing. Without oversight. In person. Live. Very dramatic. And isn’t it interesting how drama helps you to remember the specifics of a complicated topic? ... I just joined Tru. I decided that the money I saved mowing my own lawn this summer entitles me to a membership.... Loving the experience of the community. It is totally new for me as I’ve been in playwriting and writing classes for years but this Is ... The Bomb! ~Elizabeth Laytin  

Thank you for a wonderful panel discussions on Saturday. So much great information, so many wonderful contacts! I have already made a successful contact with [a lawyer and a producer].... Thank you again for all the opportunities you provide and the education and help so that I don't fall into traps or issues. TRU has been TRU-ly a Godsend. You will be remembered in my TONY speech. ~Michelle Ackerman