TRU Presents the February Panel: SINGING A NEW TUNE, 2/19

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) announces its February panel, Singing a New Tune:
Let's Revitalize the Musical Theater Development Process on Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 7:30pmat The Players Theatre's Steve & Marie Sgouros Theatre, 3rd floor, 115 MacDougal Street, NYC. Doors open at 7pm for networking and refreshments, panel starts promptly at 7:30pm.

Panelists include Joe Calarco, director/adaptor of Shakespeare's R&J, director of Sarah Plain and Tall, In Transit, co-artistic director of Breaking Bread Theatre Company; Tiffani Gavin, producer/general manager, formerly with American Repertory Theater (Porgy & Bess), Theatrical Rights Worldwide, Martian Entertainment; Eric Goldman, entertainment attorney; Jamibeth Margolis, artistic director of musicals for Midtown InterNational Theatre Festival; and Frank Ventura, producing artistic director of CAP 21.

This panel will explore the musical theater development process. As few original works from new authors are being developed, and production budgets skyrocket, many feel the American musical theater industry is in crisis. The panel will investigate how to revitalize the musical theater development process, from labs and showcases to production, in order to make more room in the market for new voices and properties that may not be viewed as "commercial."

Admission is $12 (free for TRU members). Please RSVP by email to TRUStaff1@gmail.com or by phone at (212) 714-7628 at least one day in advance.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) is a twenty-one 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 theater. 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; TRU 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 and a Director-Writer Communications Lab; programs for actors include an Annual Combined Audition and quarterly Resource Nights and "Speed Dating" as well as free monthly actor workshops, in partnership with Weist-Barron Studios.

TRU's monthly panels have been a core program of TRU since its inception, and in recent years executive director Ost has partnered with Back Stage to generate topics of interest to both TRU members and Back Stage readers. Founded in 1960, Back Stage is the world's most trusted name in casting, auditions, and entertainment-industry opportunities. "Through TRU, Back Stage is able to reach beyond its actor base to a wider theater community," said Ost, "and we get more visibility through the Back Stage connection." For information about Back Stage, visit http://www.backstage.com