TRU and MusicalWriters.com to Host 'Musical Writers First Act Feedback Fest', 7/20

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) and MusicalWriters.com announce the inaugural presentation of a Musical Writers First Act Feedback Fest on Saturday, July 20, 2013 from 10am-5pm at The Players Theatre's Steve & Marie Sgouros Theatre, 3rd floor, 115 MacDougal Street, NYC. Space is limited. Tickets for audience members are $25 ($15 for TRU members). Reservations are required, and can be arranged by emailingTRUStaff1@gmail.com.

This daylong musical feedback workshop has accepted 12 writing teams who will share works in progress and get feedback from a panel of expert evaluators, focusing on two main components of the first act: the "I Want" song to establish the leading character, and the Turnaround Song near the end of the act. Audience members will also have a chance to offer their observations, participate in network sessions and enjoy refreshments.

The experienced panel of commercial producers and writers will include producer Michael Alden (Bat Boy, Grey Gardens, The King's Speech on stage), composer Mark Hollman(Urinetown), producer Tom Polum (The Toxic Avenger, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), writerWilliam Squier (The Treatment of Doctor Love, Route 66), producer Peter Schneider (The Lion King, Aida); and others. Bob Ost, executive director of Theater Resources Unlimited, will facilitate.

TRU is still accepting submissions for the TRU Voices New Musicals Reading Series. For more information or to apply visit http://www.truonline.org/TRUMusicals.htm.

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.

TRU's monthly panels have been a core program of TRU since its inception, and in recent years executive director Ost has partnered with Back Stage to generate topics of interest to both TRU members and Back Stage readers. Founded in 1960, Back Stage is the world's most trusted name in casting, auditions, and entertainment-industry opportunities. "Through TRU, Back Stage is able to reach beyond its actor base to a wider theater community," said Ost, "and we get more visibility through the Back Stage connection." For information about Back Stage, visit www.backstage.com.

Built in 1907 and converted into a theatre in the late 1940's, The Players Theatre, host of the monthly TRU panels, has been a jewel in the midst of beautiful Greenwich Village, serving as a magnet for performing artists and their audiences. The mainstage theatre has been home to such long run productions as An Evening with Quentin Crisp, Psycho Beach Party and Ruthless starring an 8 year old Brittany Spears, Natalie Portman and Legally Blonde the Musical's Laura Bell Bundy. The Steve & Marie Sgouros Theatre, a 60-seat loft space on the 3rd floor offers an intimate home for TRU's panels, as well as a range of new works. For more information, visit www.theplayerstheatre.com.

For more information about TRU membership and programs, visit www.truonline.orgor call (212) 714-7628.