Theater Resources Unlimited Announces the Cast for UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER, THE MUSICAL

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) announces the cast for the upcoming reading of Ugly Christmas Sweater, The Musical, part of the TRU Voices New Musicals Reading Series, on January 29, 2018 at 7pm at The Actors Temple Theater, 339 W. 47th Street, NYC. A "Dollars and Sense" talkback on the future development of the presented works will be held after each performance. Admission is free. Please RSVP at least a day in advance (or much sooner) by calling 212/714-7628, or e-mailingTRUVoicesSeries@gmail.com.

Ugly Christmas Sweater, The Musical on January 29, 2017 has book, music and lyrics by Mark William Butler (Mr. Whiskers Goes Viral; Instant Happy!; Attack of the One Acts; Pizza Punks from Outer Space; Patrick's Parade, The Laundry War, The Nickname Fairy, Bad Christmas Sweater); directed by Richard P. Butler (new works: In the Wilderness; Cat Gets Credit Card!; Instant Happy!; A Brooklyn Bargain Basement Christmas; Bad Christmas Sweater; The Laundry War. Revivals: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas; Godspell; The Rocky Horror Show); music director Will Buck; produced by John Lant; stage manager Mark Speeney. The cast includes Kaitlyn Baldwin, Sam Balzac, Richard Butler, Alexis DiGregorio, Brandon Grimes*, Pamela Jorgensen, Isabel Kruse+, Kristine Louis, John Skocik*, Jennifer Smith, Jacob Stein

* member of Actors' Equity Association, + member of Canadian Actors' Equity Association

Holly thinks Christmas is ugly until she wears "the sweater" - and goes on a high-flying storybook sleigh ride with a wacky cast of North Pole characters - including an ugly Christmas sweater that comes alive and helps her navigate her journey from naughty to nice in this fresh, grown-up holiday yarn.

The purpose of the series is to help develop new musicals, help producers develop the skills needed to produce new works, and foster the producer-writer relationship for future development beyond our series. Each reading will be followed by a "Dollars and Sense" panel discussion with prominent New York producers, general managers and artistic directors focusing on potential venues, marketing and budgeting of the works presented. The "Dollars and Sense" industry experts will include Ed Gaynes, producer (Cougar the musical, Zero Hour, Black Angels Over Tuskegee, Fried Chicken and Latkes), theater owner St. Luke's, manager Actors Temple; Sarahbeth Grossman, producer (An American in Paris, Ann with Holland Taylor, Stick Fly, Time Stands Still, Ghetto Klown, West End Umbrellas of Cherbourg, The Irish Curse, 60th anniversary revival of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn); Ron Simons/SimonSays Entertainment, Broadway producer (A Gentleman's Guide..., Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike, Porgy & Bess, all black Streetcar Named Desire, Off-Broadway: Bedlam's St. Joan and Hamlet); Frank Zuback, producer (Taking Leave, American Soldier, Roof of the World); others tba.

The series continues on February 5, 2018.

Carolina Rising on February 5, 2018, a new country-western musical with book & lyrics by Bryan D. Leys (Hell's Belles, La Ribalta, How To Marry A Divorced Man, Midsummer Nights, The White Witch of Rosehall, Murder OnBroadway, 2017 TRU Voices New Plays Series-Moonshadow); music by Kevin Kuhn (composer: Midsummer Nights, 66, Harley. Broadway guitarist: Aladdin, The Lion King, The Who's Tommy). The show is directed by Joe Barros (Bastard Jones, Cagney, Gigi, Artistic Director/New York Theatre Barn), with music director Balint Varga, stage manager Michelle Perri. It is presented by Sharon Weiss and Eileen B. Weiss of Tweiss Productions (Hell's Belles, Forbidden Broadway: Alive and Kicking, Forbidden Broadway Comes Out Swinging, Appendage).

Crystal Ann McKay's wild and independent spirit finds no outlet in her town's unending dreariness, but life abruptly changes when a labor organizer arrives from Detroit. Inspired by true events, Carolina Risingshows how frustration mixed with courage can turn a troublemaker into a hero.

Admission is free for everyone. But reservations are required. Please reserve at http://truonline.org/tru-voices (click for the show you wish to reserve), or call at least a day in advance for reservations: 212/714-7628, or e-mailTRUVoicesSeries@gmail.com.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) is the leading network for developing theater professionals, a twenty-five 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 a community email 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 plus Resource Nights and "Speed Dating."

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 with support from the Montage Foundation.

For more information about TRU membership and programs, visitwww.truonline.orgor call 212 714-7628.