TRU Announces New Program Directors for TRU Producer Development & Mentorship Program

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) announces the new Broadway-credited program directors for the TRU Producer Development & Mentorship Program and the 2016-2017 Applications. This innovative hands-on training program, created in collaboration with 4-time Tony winning producer Cheryl Wiesenfeld (The Heidi Chronicles, Rocky, All the Way, The Gershwin's Porgy & Bess, Vanya & Sonya & Masha & Spike, Elaine Stritch: At Liberty, The Exonerated), offers ongoing support and education for producers at all levels of experience.

Aspiring producers and self-Producing Artists may apply now for the PDMP Basic Class that runs from September 30th 2016 through July 2017, meeting once a month, mostly on Monday nights. The program consists of three separate but interactive divisions. Career Producers Group (CPG) and Not-for-Profit producers will be led, respectively, by Broadway/off-Broadway producers David Elliott and Martin Platt of Perry Street Theatricals (Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike, Dames at Sea, Bedlam Theater Company's Hamlet and St Joan, In the Continuum, Lend Me a Tenor the musical); and Self-Producing Artists (SPA) will be led by Broadway/off-Broadway producer and actress Jana Robbins (Roof of the World, Ragtime revival, I Love You Because, Little Women). PDMP also has a Master Class open only to graduates of the Basic Class.

This unprecedented program opens with real commercial and not-for-profit producers pitching real productions in development, to members who then choose a project of interest and are placed on producing teams. Monthly meetings with top professional speakers cover specific topics whose information is incorporated into a development plan for the team project, in consultation with the actual producer. Teams are also assigned a mentoring entertainment attorney and general manager.

Whether in the Early Stages of development working toward a staged reading or looking to produce a full commercial production, participants will leave the course with a ready-to-use, project-specific business plan they can adapt to their own project. In addition, members may consult with their program directors as well as outside consultants to the program, for mentorship on their own projects.

Submissions accepted now through August 31st (Basic Class only). Candidates will be interviewed shortly after Labor Day with a start date for the program of Monday evening, September 26th.

To request an application or to inquire about the program, email TRUMentor@gmail.com. To download application, visit truonline.org/pdmp. Completed applications can be emailed to TRUMentor@gmail.com (be sure to add your name to the document name when you send it).

"I wanted to reach out and thank you so much for being my mentors ... I don't think I realized how much you taught me until I presented my business plan at the last session. ... I've navigated from option agreements to hiring a director to staging a successful reading with four Tony-nominated actors! Having access to the caliber of theater professionals you brought us was invaluable. Having mentors to talk to and listen to in class, and forming relationships with my other theater mates has been invaluable.... The access you all have given me to yourselves, to the great professionals who have spoken and to my other members has jump-started my learning curve. I got my first investor for one of the projects I raised money for. And I am able to make inroads developing other investors. ... I would recommend this program to anyone who wants to learn producing because you learn by doing." ~ Wendy Leopold

For bios of all faculty visit: truonline.org/tru-event-category/pdmp.

Theater Resources Unlimited(TRU) is the leading network for developing theater professionals, a twenty-four year old 501c3 nonprofit organization created to help producers produce, emerging theater companies to emerge healthily and all theater professionals to understand and navigate the business of the arts. Membership includes self-Producing Artists as well as career producers and theater companies.

TRU publishes an email community newsletter of services, goods and productions; presents the TRU VOICES Annual New Play Reading Series and Annual New Musicals Reading Series, two new works series in which TRU underwrites developmental readings to nurture new shows as well as new producers for theater; offers a Producer Development & Mentorship Program whose mentors are among the most prominent producers and general managers in New York Theater, and also presents Producer Boot Camp workshops to help aspirants develop the business skills they need. TRU serves writers through a Writer-Producer Speed Date, a Practical Playwriting Workshop, How to Write a Musical That Works and a Director-Writer Communications Lab; programs for actors include the Annual Combined Audition, Resource Nights and "Speed Dating" as well as free actor workshops.

Programs of Theater Resources Unlimited are supported in part by public funds awarded through the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, 9th district Council Member Inez Dickens; and with support from the Montage Foundation and the Friars National Association Foundation.

For more information about TRU membership and programs, visit www.truonline.org or call (212) 714-7628.