TRU and The Playroom Host 'EDUCATION, OUTREACH & SOCIAL JUSTICE' Panel Tonight

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) and The Playroom Theatre present the May panel, Theater & Community: Education, Outreach and Social Justice, tonight, May 17, 2016 at 7:30pm at The Playroom Theater, 151 W. 46th Street, 8th floor, NYC 10036. Doors open at 7pm for networking and refreshments; roundtable introductions of everyone in the room will start at 7:30pm. For more details, visit truonline.org/events/community.

Panelists will include Brent Buell, producing artistic director of Doing Life Productions and Founding Producer of Rhymes Over Beats; Van Dean, a commercial producer (Porgy and Bess, Cinderella) who has been working with the Sandy Hook/Newtown community since the tragic shooting to use the performing arts to raise funds and help empower the community; Annie Hamburger, executive producer of EnGarde Arts, an award-winning producer whose documentary theatre productions bring theatre to the uninitiated promoting community and conversation in New York and across the country; Michael Presser, executive director of Inside Broadway, dedicated to introducing NYC school children to live theater; and David Shookhoff, director of education for Manhattan Theatre Club; and Emily Joy Weiner, co-artistic director Houses on the Moon Theatre Company.

The arts is one of the most powerful tools we have for influencing and molding our culture and social consciousness. Beyond entertainment and commerce, there is a whole world of ways theater can be used to impact society. If producing is your passion, consider broadening your reach and scope by engaging and helping your community and possibly improving lives. We will look at arts education programs that mold young audiences and artists, including opportunities for "teaching artists" ... collaborations with the social justice system for healing and helping integrate inmates back into society ... productions that engage audiences in conversations they might not otherwise have ... benefits and special events to raise awareness and support for social causes ... and more. Come let us inspire you to use your skills for the greater good.

Doors open at 7pm for networking and refreshments, roundtable introductions of everyone in the room will start at 7:30pm - come prepared with your best 30-second summary of who you are, and what you need. Free for TRU members, $12 for non-members! Call at least a day in advance (or way sooner) for reservations: 212/714-7628; or e-mail TRUStaff1@gmail.com. For bios of the panelists, go to truonline.org/community.

The Playroom Theater, a small theater with a purpose on West Forty Sixth Street. Created by longtime theatrical producer Eric Krebs, The Playroom Theater features a 62-seat boutique theater, appropriate for rehearsals, readings, auditions, producers' presentations and workshop productions. Conceived of as an artists' workspace for writers, directors, composers, actors, producers and others committed to the professional theater arts and its industry. "The idea of The Playroom has grown out of my desire to create a small and financially manageable space in the heart of the theater district," commented Krebs. "I want this to be a place where industry professionals can pop over for a reading, a backer's audition or a small production of a work in progress." For more information on The Playroom Theater, call Frankie Dailey, General Manager, at 212-967-8278.

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.