Theater Resources Unlimited Sets February Panel

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU), and The Playroom Theatre, in association with TRU's Young Patrons and Artists' Circle (co-founders Molly Morris & Kimberly Eaton, Outreach Director, Christin Cato), present the February panel, New Voices of Diversity: The Gradual Evolution of Commercial Theater, on Tuesday, February 16, 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 http://truonline.org/events/new-voices-of-diversity/.

Panelists will include Maria Goyanes of The Public Theatre; Roberta Pereira of Bisno Productions; Daryl Sledge, producing member of Rhymes Over Beats, a hip hop theater company; Tiffany Vega of Hi-Arts/Hip-Hop Theatre Fesitval.

This important discussion will consider how new forms have found their way to Broadway, with specific focus on Hamilton, and other ways in which hip-hop may be insinuating itself into the mainstream... how Broadway theater-goers are being exposed to, and embracing to an extent, a greater range of diversity through Hamilton and other shows like Allegiance, On Your Feet and Fun Home... and how producers have successfully merged different genres of music and diverse content bringing it to Broadway audiences. What works, what has worked, and what didn't work, and why? And from the artists' point of view, given the fact that the theater world is evolving and that it is inevitable, how does the diverse spectrum of creators, directors and producers see to it that their visions are included in this evolution?

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 thirty-second summary of who you are, and what you need. Free for TRU members, $12 for non-members! Please call at least a day in advance (or way sooner) for reservations: 212/714-7628; or e-mail TRUStaff1@gmail.com

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." The Playroom Theatre is also host to Masterworks Theater Company, (Eric Krebs, Founding Director; Christopher Scott, Artistic Director; Frankie Dailey, Managing Director) a professional not-for-profit Equity theater company, whose repertoire will include the masterworks of the theater (plays, musicals and stage adaptation of novels) that every young person should have an opportunity to experience.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) is a twenty-three 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 theater. 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; TRU 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 and a Director-Writer Communications Lab; programs for actors include the Annual Combined Audition and quarterly

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, visitwww.truonline.orgor call (212) 714-7628.