Writer Submissions Open for 'TRU Writer-Director Communications Lab'

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) presents the TRU Writer-Director Communications Lab on Saturday, August 6, 2016 at from 10am to 6pm at the Desotelle NuBox Theatre, 300 W. 43rd Street, 3rd floor.

Writers, visit truonline.org/events/communications-lab/ for a submission form - deadline for submissions is Wednesday July 27th. Email to TRUnltd@aol.com with "Writer Lab Submission" in your subject line. A limited number of observers may also attend and learn for $35 for the day - email TRUnltd@aol.com to check space availability.

This one-of-a-kind workshop is facilitated by producer Ric Wanetik, an active producer, investor and production supervisor, advisor to several regional theaters, and senior advisor for America to the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC); producer Ken Waissman (original Grease, Agnes of God, Torch Song Trilogy, Josephine); producer Margot Astrachan (The Realistic Joneses, A Gentleman's Guide..., Nice Work If You Can Get It); and TRU executive director Bob Ost. Facilitators also act as a feedback panel to guide writer-director conversations and keep them on a constrictive track.

TRU has created a new, experimental program that will train theater artists in the crucial skills of communication. It is led by commercial producers since the producer is generally the real-world mediator in writer-director disagreements, and has the better overview of a production The workshop focuses on one of the most important - and most sensitive - relationships in theater, that between playwright and director.

In this Lab we will team ten directors with ten writers prior to the Lab itself. Playwrights will email us a synopsis, pitch and production history, plus 5-10 sample pages of a script; directors will select a project that interests them from those submitted, request and read the script and prepare for a preliminary director-writer discussion about the play. We will watch and guide that discussion in the Lab.

Confirmed directors (as of 7/23/16): Janet Bentley, Laura Brandel, BrentBuell, Cate Cammarata, Jessica Jennings, Katherine Ray, Paula J. Riley, Rick Roemer, Richard Sabellico plus one more.

Cost: $60 for TRU members (directors and writers), $75 for Non-members (directors and writers), $25 for TRU member (observers), $35 for Non-member (observers). Note: writer regiastration is available after acceptance, July 30, 2016. All other registrations are currently available.

For bios of faculty, go to truonline.org/events/communications-lab/.

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 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, visit www.truonline.org or call (212) 714-7628.