TRU Hosts Producer Boot Camp: Weekend Intensive For Newbies 5/30, 5/31 In NYC

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) presents the TRU Producer Boot Camp: WEEKEND INTENSIVE FOR NEWBIES, basic training for producers, geared to those producing at the reading and Equity Showcase level, and with particular application for participants in upcoming summer festivals, on Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31, 2009 from 9:30am - 6:00pm at The Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal Street (below W. 3rd Street), NYC.

"In the current economy, it's more important than ever for people to be smart about producing," says TRU president Bob Ost. "To help assure that our business will survive these tough times, TRU feels it is essential to offer the information and guidance that early-career producers require to make theater happen, and happen successfully."

A faculty of experts will cover topics ranging from "Contracts, Options & Underlying Rights" to "Marketing & PR Basics." Keynote speakers will include Broadway-level producers who will offer insight, experience and inspiration to beginner producers. These speakers will include:
- Kristin Caskey, vice-president of Fox Theatricals (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Legally Blonde, Caroline or Change, revivals of 'night mother and Death of a Salesman).
- Cheryl Wiesenfeld (The Exonerated, Elaine Stritch: At Liberty, In the Continuum, Legally Blonde, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Caroline or Change)
- Randall Wreghitt (Impressionism, Grey Gardens, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Beauty Queen of Leenane, Hedda Gabler, The Waverly Gallery)

The sessions will be moderated by TRU's Director of Self-Producing Artists (S.P.A.) Mike Roderick of Small Pond Entertainment, with TRU president Bob Ost.

Admission is $250 ($225 for early registration before 5/8); $195 for members of TRU with an additional $25 discount for those producing in MITF, Fringe, NYMF or attending CTI Weekend. Payment by check may be mailed to Theater Resources Unlimited, 309 W. 104th Street 1D, NYC NY 10025. On-line payment by Paypal or by credit card is available at www.truonline.org/store.html. Pre-registration is available by emailing trunltd@aol.com. Applications are available at www.truonline.org/BootCampApp.htm.

SCHEDULE - Saturday, May 30th
9:30-10:00am - Coffee and cake/bagels
10:00-10:15am - Keynote speaker Randall Wreghitt
10:15-11:30am - "Which Way to Go: Not-for-Profit or Commercial?" with LisaRoxanne Walters, attorney, law professor and actress
11:30am-1:00pm - "Contracts, Options & Underlying Rights" with Cheryl Davis, attorney and playwright
1:00-2:00pm - Lunch
2:00-3:00pm - "Equity Codes & Contracts" with Robert Sherrill of Pit Bull Productions, general manager for showcase productions
3:00-3:30pm - "Producing Published Works: Licensing Made Painless" with Brad Lohrenz, director of professional licensing for Samuel French, Inc.
3:45-4:45pm - "Producing Smart: Fringes and Festivals, or Doing It On Your Own?", Emileena Pedigo (the Midtown InterNational Theatre Festival) and Jana Robbins (Better World Productions), other speakers tbd
4:45-5:00pm - Keynote speaker Kristin Caskey
5:00-6:00pm - RECEPTION

SCHEDULE - Sunday, May 31st
9:30-10:00am - Coffee and cake/bagels
10:00-10:15am - Keynote speaker
10:15-11:15am - "How to Find (and Book) the Right Space" including what insurance you need, speaker tbd
11:15am-12:15pm - "Budgets and Box Office" with Emileena Pedigo, managing producer of Where Eagles Dare and the Midtown InterNational Theatre Festival and Patricia Klausner, co-artistic managing director Shotgun Productions
12:15-1:00pm - "Personnel Best: Putting Your Creative Team Together" with Mike Roderick of Small Pond Entertainment and Nadine Charlsen, professor of technical theater at Kean University
1:00-1:45pm - Lunch
1:45-2:15pm - "How to Run an Efficient Audition" with Catherine Lamm, Literary & Casting Director of TRU
2:15-2:45pm - "Creative Casting (and When to Call That Casting Director)"
2:45-4:00pm - "Finding Your Audience: Marketing & PR Basics for Showcases" with Hugh Hysell of HHC Marketing and professor of Arts Marketing at Columbia; and Katie Rosin of Kampfire Films PR, professor of Arts Marketing at NYU
4:00-4:45pm - "Success Stories: Moving Beyond the Showcase" with producer Janet Pailet (The Great American Trailer Park Musical, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Musical, Masked); plus TRU producers and friends who have moved shows into commercial productions tell you how they did it!
4:45-5:00pm - Keynote speaker Cheryl Wiesenfeld
5:00-6:00pm - RECEPTION

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) is a not-for-profit service organization that provides educational and support services for the performing arts with a focus on the business side of the arts. In particular, TRU helps producers, theater companies and self-Producing Artists navigate the business of making theater in the New York area and beyond, as well as providing networking opportunities. Programs include monthly educational panels, a play and musical developmental reading series, producer mentorships, business workshops, an annual combined audition event, free workshops for actor members and a community newsletter of services, good, opportunities, ticket discounts and more. TRU also maintains a referral database of over 5000 arts professionals.

Programs of Theater Resources Unlimited are supported in part by public funds awarded through the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, as well as generous support from the Friar's National Foundation Association.

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