The Drama Center And TRU Present Practical Playwriting Intensive 7/25

The Drama Center and TRU present a half-day intensive for writers, PRACTICAL PLAYWRITING: How to Write for Commercial Production on Saturday, July 25 from 1-6pm at The Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal Street, Studio 2D.

In accord with its mission of helping producers produce, Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) presents a new and unique seminar that connects playwrights to the real world of commercial theater: PRACTICAL PLAYWRITING: HOW TO WRITE FOR COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION on Saturday, July 25, 2009 from 1-6pm at The Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal Street (below W. 3rd Street), NYC.

"This is an important step in our ongoing effort to improve communication between artists and producers," stated Bob Ost, president of TRU.

TRU has engaged Diana Amsterdam of The Drama Centre in a new position as Program Director for Playwrights and this workshop is her brainchild. "What often holds playwrights back are that they rarely consider the person who will buy and produce their product: the producer. With all the work, hope and sweat they invest in considering character, theme and plot, playwrights rarely take into account produce-ability," said Ms. Amsterdam.

Segments of the workshop will be taught by Ms. Amsterdam; by presentation coach Grace Kiley who will help writers capture the essence of their piece in an effective synopsis and learn how to present themselves successfully; and a panel of commercial producers and marketing experts will analyze the potential markets for participants' projects.

Topics covered will include:

· WHAT IS PRODUCE-ABILITY?
The fact that producers always ask this question, and playwrights hardly ever do, causes a serious disconnect between the commercial producer and most playwrights.

· WRITING TO A MARKET
This intensive will raise questions that playwrights may have never before considered: Who is your market? Who is going to buy tickets? Who is this play written for?

· WRITING VIABLY
This segment will focus on creating writing that holds the attention of the audience with a strong storyline and defined events.This module will cover such primary writing elements as: arc, desire, motivation, conflict, and the clear delineation of theme.

· WRITING ECONOMICALLY
Number of characters, number of sets, extravagance of sets: all these are serious considerations for most commercial producers. Does the play require a casting director, or can it be done successfully by seasoned unknowns? Is there a chorus of thirty that can be pared down to two? Are you kidding yourself when you think one actor can play eight parts?

THE CURRICULUM (subject to change)
1:00-1:15 Introduction
1:15-2:15 How to Write a Play that a Producer Can Love - taught by Diana Amsterdam
2:15-3:15 Getting to the Essence: A Good Synopsis and How to Pitch It - taught by Grace Kiley
3:15-3:30 Break
3:30-4:30 Identifying Your Market - an inter-active "pitch" session with feedback from commercial producers (to be announced)
4:30-5:30 Cost and other Commercial Considerations - taught by Diana Amsterdam
5:30-6:00 Open discussion and Q&A

The workshop will take place at The Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal Street (below W. 3rd Street), NYC. The workshop fee is $175, with an early bird discount of $25 off for those who pay by July 15th. 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-new.html.

Diana Amsterdam is the CEO and Artistic Director of The Drama Center which originated at the Writers' Voice at the West Side YMCA, where she taught playwriting for four years, and founded the Master Playwrights Class. She also taught an original and highly popular dialogue-writing class. TDC's reading series was standing-room; and the development of the play The Prophet of Borough Park culminated in a showcase production. Diana continues to coach playwrights through The Drama Center; and she is intensively developing plays with three outstanding student playwrights. Diana is the originator of the Story Construction method which will soon go live at The School of Story Construction. More at www.thedramacentersite.org.

Grace Kiley, M.A. in Counseling Psychology, professional actress (SAG, AEA) has coached for over 25 years. She specializes coaching professionals in film, writers, performance artists in her Art of Pitching Workshops independently and for organizations. She also coaches business executives, investment advisors, managers, entrepreneurs, and freelance artists, guiding individuals and groups toward their highest level of potential and achievement. Ms. Kiley founded Vermont Actors Workshop, has directed, produced and developed original scripts. Currently on the faculty for NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Kanbar Institute of Film and Television and Trinity La Mama Urban Arts Program where she teaches acting and directing. As Chair of Psychology at Burlington College in Vermont, Ms. Kiley developed curriculum and taught courses in clinical psychology. Over a period of 10 years she was active in The Assisi Conferences in Assisi, Italy. Ms. Kiley is a member of the HB Ensemble at HB Studio in NYC and member of the board for The New York Coalition of Professional Women in the Arts & Media. More at www.gracekileyperformancecoach.com.

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 Boot Camps about producing skills, monthly educational panels, a play and musical developmental reading series, producer mentorships, 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 6000 arts professionals.

Programs of Theater Resources Unlimited are supported in part by public funds awarded through the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA), 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.