TRU Voices New Plays Reading Series Seeks Submissions

Are you a producer with a new play you're interested in developing? Want to hear how it sounds on its feet?  Let Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) pay the costs of a staged reading, as part of their 10th Annual New Plays Reading Series to be presented on 3 or 4 consecutive Monday evenings in June 2008. Submissions are being accepted now through January 11, 2008 (postmarked).

The TRU Voices Play Reading Series is unique in that it seeks to develop new producers as well as new works. "By supporting the development of new producers, we hope to create more opportunities for all theater artists," says Ost. "Better producers will translate into better theater, which is good for everyone" he adds.

Readings are producer-driven, which means plays are either submitted by producers who want to enter into relationship with a new writer and work; or else TRU finds a producer for a play before it can enter into final consideration for the series.  "We think of ourselves as a dating service for producers and writers," quips Ost. Readings are followed by industry talkbacks with commercial producers and general managers, and they focus on producer concerns like marketing and budget.

We are looking for completed works only, at least 75 minutes long, never presented before a paying NY audience. Whatever the actual length of the piece, you must be able to present in 90 minutes, with a cast of no more than 12.  

The second annual Joel and Phyllis Ehrlich Award for a socially relevant new work of theater will be awarded to one of the four plays selected to be read in June.  The winner of this newly created award will be announced at the conclusion of the series, and will be given to a play that reflects on a current issue within our culture (regardless of the time period of the play itself).

The award is named for Joel and Phyllis Ehrlich, driving forces in the entertainment world.  Joel was Senior Vice President at Warner Bros. and Senior Vice President at Marvel Entertainment.  His varied career includes being named New York State Teacher of the Year and winner of the prestigious Brandweek Magazine's Youth Marketer of the Year award. He is now president of The Harmony Entertainment Group, developing and producing a wide variety of projects in New York City and around the country. Phyllis is an award-winning cable television writer and a Senior Vice President for the Cartoon Network and Adult Swim TV Network.The husband-and-wife team started collaborating last year as theater producers and developers of new talent. "We are excited about helping TRU nurture and encourage serious new works for theater," states Phyllis.

TRU was founded in 1990 by award winning playwright/composer Ost, his writing partner Gary Hughes and playwright Cheryl Davis, who was a 2005 recipient of the prestigious Kleban Award for her libretto of the musical Barnstormer. The organization was created by this trio of writers to help producers and self-producing artists strengthen their understanding of the business side of the arts. 

Many of the productions and actors in the TRU Voices Play and Musicals Reading Series have achieved subsequent success, including The Great American Trailer Park Musical by Betsy Kelso and David Nehls, which went on to a popular off-Broadway run and is currently touring; nor'mal by Yvonne Adrian, Cheryl Stern and Tom Kochan, which played a limited run last fall at the Connelly Theater in the East Village starring Barbara Walsh; and the multi-cultural Taxi to Jannah by Mark Sickman, which TRU series producer RK Greene moved to a run at midtown's 59E59, as well as the Queens Theatre in the Park. Currently, Pied a Terre by John Anastasi, from the 2005 TRU Series, is playing a limited run off-Broadway at the Kirk Theatre on Theatre Row, and Missives by Jon Garrett Groenveld, from the 2006 series, is scheduled for a run in March at 59E59 Street, produced by Animated Theatreworks in association with TRU.