Tony-Winning Producers Set for Fundraising Boot Camp at TRU

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) and The Playroom Theatre present the annual TRU Producer Boot Camp Raising Money for Theater: Who, How and When to Ask, on Saturday, February 4, 2017 from 10am - 6pm at The Playroom Theater, 151 W. 46th Street, 8th floor, NYC 10036. For more details, including a full schedule and faculty bios, visit truonline.org/events/raising-money.

Come hear seven Tony Award-winning producers with a combined total of 19 awards - plus other theater professionals - share the secrets of raising money for theater: 3-time winners Jack W. Batman and Bruce Robert Harris (Pippin revival, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Clybourne Park) will talk you through the nuances of finding and keeping investors, four-time winner Cheryl Wiesenfeld (The Gershwin's Porgy & Bess, Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike, All the Way, Elaine Stritch: At Liberty) will lead a discussion about overcoming your fears and just asking, as well as offer an inspiring closing keynote speech, six-time Tony winner Stewart Lane (A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, War Horse, Jay Johnson: The Two & Only, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Will Rogers Follies and La Cage Aux Folles) will offer opening remarks, investor/producers Jamie deRoy (Tonys for A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike and The Norman Conquests) and Josh Goodman (currently on Natasha Pierre, Tonys for Pippin and Vanya & Sonia Masha & Spike) will tell you how they make their investment decisions, and Tony winner Patricia Klausner (Pippin) will talk about how to ask, along with Molly Morris (Come from Away), Jesse B. Langston (Question 1) and Theresa Wozunk (The Gershwin's Porgy & Bess, Liberty the musical). Plus attorneys Erach Screwvala and Lisaroxanne Walters will lead you through the legalities, and financial advisor Bailie Slevin will help you talk to investors more effectively.

Can you afford not to take this workshop? No matter what level of production you are at, whether commercial or not-for-profit, showcase or Broadway, TRU invites you to acquire some basic tools and crucial information that will help you overcome your money shyness and effectively reach out to potential supporters. From pitching techniques and presentation skills to legal requirements and investor cultivation, plus a wealth of first-hand experience from more than a half dozen producers who are currently active in the Broadway and off-Broadway worlds, this promises to be an informative, empowering and inspiring day.

Tuition for the Boot Camp ranges from $150 for TRU Members to $175 for Non-Members special discounts for students and for people producing in festivals - email TRUStaff1@gmail.com with student ID or proof of application to a festival, and you will be given the discount code. For a full list of prices and to register, visit truonline.org/events/raising-money.

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 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.