Theater Resources Unlimited to Host 'HOW TO WRITE A MUSICAL THAT WORKS (PART 1)' Workshop

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) presents How to Write a Musical that Works (Part 1): The World and the Want, tentatively scheduled for Sunday, October 16, 2016 from 10am to 6pm at Nola Studios, 250 W. 54th Street, 11th floor. For more details and to apply, visit truonline.org/events/hwm1-16.

This is the first part of an ongoing three-part workshop that offers in-depth guidance in the structure of the musical.

This workshop is dedicated to fostering a conversation about musical theater structure not only for writers but also for producers, directors and everyone involved in the creation and production of new works. Participants (if accepted) are given a half hour slot that incudes their presentation plus feedback from a panel of experts. The presentation generally consists of one song and the scene leading into it. The cost for the full day, including presentation slot, is $100 ($80 for TRU members).

The cost for non-participants to attend for the full day, to observe the presentations and be part of the discussions, is $55 ($35 for TRU members).

Each workshop will accept up to 10 writing teams and/or producers who will share works in progress and get feedback from a panel of expert evaluators. Audience members will also have a chance to offer their observations, participate in discussions and network sessions and enjoy refreshments.

Writers or producers are invited to submit no more than the first 25 pages of a show you are working on, plus MP3s of the songs within those pages. In this workshop (part 1) we will focus on two main aspects: 1) the opening number (or any number that invites the audience into the world of the show); and 2) the songs and scenes in which you introduce your characters. We will discuss "I want" songs, "I am" songs and "I feel" songs, and the function of each, with special attention to the way they move the action. In addition, we will continually explore the delicate balance between script and song.

Our professional panel of commercial producers, directors and writers will include:

Ryan Bogner, VP of creative development for Stageworks Media; former director of creative development and production for RKO Stage Productions;

Nancy Golladay, literary consultant (NY Shakespeare Festival, O'Neill Conference, more), moderator of the BMI Librettists' Workshop;

Skip Kennon, composer/lyricist (Herringbone, Don Juan DeMarco, Time and Again), former artistic coordinator of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop and teacher for two decades;

Tom Polum, producer (The Toxic Avenger, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, All Shook Up).

Bob Ost, executive director of Theater Resources Unlimited, and TRU Literary Manager Cate Cammarata will facilitate.

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 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.