Plus the brand new Musical Writers First Act Feedback Fest
Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) seeks submissions for the 13th Annual TRU Voices New Musicals Reading Series, and increases the opportunities for musical theater writers by creating the first-ever Musical Writers First Act Feedback Fest (FAFF). Writers, producers and theater companies are welcome to submit new musicals for both the developmental reading series which takes place Mondays in December 2013, and the daylong feedback festival on Saturday July 20, 2013, 10am to 5pm. Non members may submit to the TRU Voices New Musicals Series (completed musicals only) for a $25 fee, submit to the First Act Feedback Fest (completed shows or works-in-progress) for $20, or apply to both for $35. Deadline for both is June 10, 2013; deadline for JUST the TRU Voices Series is August 10.
“It frustrates us that we have only been able to offer developmental support to 2 or 3 new musicals each year. With this new program, we now open up the possibility of nurturing a dozen more writers and writing teams,” states TRU Literary Manager Cate Cammarata.
The TRU Voices New Musicals Reading Series will take place in December 2013 and will consist of 2-3 new works presented on consecutive Monday evenings in Manhattan. 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 the 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 work.
“The success of the series is clearly demonstrated by the fact that two of our recent musicals were optioned for future commercial production by panelists on their talkback; and the third show has been scheduled for presentation as part of the upcoming New York Musical Theatre Festival,” beams proud TRU executive director Bob Ost. For full submission information about TRU Voices, visit http://www.truonline.org/Musicals13guidelines.htm.
The newly created First Act Feedback Festival will accept 12 writing teams who will share works in progress and get feedback from a panel of expert evaluators. The experienced panel of commercial producers and writers will include Tom Polum (The Toxic Avenger, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Peter Schneider (The Lion King, Aida), Musicalwriters.com columnist William Squier (The Treatment of Doctor Love, Route 66), and others to be announced. The panel will choose one show that will be considered for a full reading in the TRU Voices Reading Series. Bob Ost, executive director of Theater Resources Unlimited, will facilitate. The Musical Writers First Act Feedback Fest is co-sponsored by MusicalWriters.com, which is run by Carol de Giere, the biographer of Stephen Schwartz. For full submission information on FAFF, visit http://www.truonline.org/MusicalsFAFF.htm
Writers in search of a producer may also want to look into TRU’s Writer-Producer Speed Date on Sunday July 28th, 2013, 5:30 to 8:30pm. Visit http://www.truonline.org/writerSpeedDateJuly13.htm for details.
Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) is a twenty-one 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 an Annual Combined Audition and quarterly Resource Nights and “Speed Dating” as well as free monthly actor workshops, in partnership with Weist-Barron Studios.
Programs of Theater Resources Unlimited are supported in part by public funds awarded through the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, 9th district Council Member Inez Dickens and Council Member Christine Quinn; The Montage Foundation, as well as generous support from the Friar’s National Foundation Association.
For more information about TRU membership and programs, visit www.truonline.orgor call (212) 714-7628.
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