TRU Seeks Submissions for 2017-18 Producer Development & Mentorship Program

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) announces that submissions are being accepted through August 25, 2017 for the 2017-18 Producer Development & Mentorship Program (PDMP).

Created in collaboration with four-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), this monthly program runs one night a month from September through July, and offers ongoing support and education for producers at all levels of experience. The program is designed to offer a sophisticated but accessible range of information to educate and guide career producers, not-for-profit producers and self-Producing Artists.

Details are available at truonline.org/tru-event-category/pdmp.

The program consists of two levels of training: Basic and Master Class. The 2017-18 Basic PDMP will be led by producer/consultant/former general manager R. Erin Craig of La Vie Productions (Himself and Nora, Stalking the Bogeyman, Mr. Rickey Calls a Meeting; Austen's Pride, Academy, Right Before I Go benefit in October 2017) and Broadway/off-Broadway producerJana Robbins (Roof of the World, Ragtime revival, I Love You Because, Little Women).

The 2017-18 Master Class will be led by Tony Award winning producers Jane Dubin (Tony winning The Norman Conquests, Bandstand, Peter and the Starcatcher and An American in Paris; plus Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey, The 39 Steps, Ann; upcoming: Farinelli and the King and Fingersmith) and Rachel Weinstein (Tony winning Dear Evan Hansen, Disgraced, The Heiress with Jessica Chastain).

Basic Class is open to everyone interested in producing; Master Class is open for graduates of the Basic Class, with limited openings for people who have taken previous TRU workshops, or the Commercial Theatre Institute 14-week course, or a combination of other CTI courses. To request an application, or to inquire about the program, email TRUMentor@gmail.com or download the form at truonline.org/pdmp and fill out and email toTRUMentor@gmail.com. Also send a resume emphasizing your theater and business experience.

"I wanted to take a moment to personally thank [program directors Jane Dubin and Van Dean] for your wisdom and guidance, and especially for your generosity of time, and your commitment to supporting new generations of producers, and showing them it really is possible to play in this arena and make some wonderful things happen. It is remarkable to me how much I've learned so far." ~ Frank Avellino, producer (Dead Dog Park)

"As an actor/playwright I finally found a supportive program that not only helped me achieve my goals but taught me the business of the business. Thanks to TRU, I now have a concrete knowledge of how the business of theater works and a supportive community to turn to when I need advice!" ~ T. Cat Ford

"Thank you so much for being my mentors for the Master Class. I don't think I realized how much you taught me until I presented my business plan at the last session. It was the Master Class application that motivated me to commit to my very first project! Ten months later I've navigated from option agreements to hiring a director to staging a successful reading with four Tony-nominated actors!... I would recommend this program to anyone who wants to learn producing, because you learn by doing." ~ Wendy Leopold, producer (The Whitmores)

Submission deadline for 2017-18 is extended to August 30th. Cost for Basic Class is $295 for new members. The program will meet one Wednesday evening of each month from September through July - that's 11 sessions. You must also be a paid member of TRU, currently $95/year. Master Class will meet one night a month from October until July, mostly Mondays (Tuesdays in January and June). To inquire about eligibility for Master Class, email TRUMentor@gmail.com. If accepted, the cost is $395.

Upon completion of the program, members are eligible for the annual Randall Wreghitt New Producer Endowment, a cash award to be used for the development of a new show. The award is given in memory of TRU Advisory Board member and friend, Broadway producer Randall Wreghitt.

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 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 Legislatureand The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, 9th district former Council Member Inez Dickens; and with support from the Montage Foundation and the Leibowitz/Greenway Foundation.

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