6/27 ATW Panel to Focus on Literary & Talent Agents

"The Work of a Literary & Talent Agent" will be the focus of the next panel of The American Theatre Wing's Theatre Intern Group. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 27th at 6:30 PM, at the Manhattan Theatre Club Studios, 311 West 43rd Street – 8th Floor.

Panelists for the discussion will be: Joseph Rosswog, of the Gersh Agency, Maura Teitelbaum of the Abrams Artists Agency and Derek Zasky of the William Morris Agency.

Joseph Rosswog came to the Gersh Agency in December of 2004. He currently assists theatrical agent John Buzzetti and represents playwrights. Before joining the Gersh Agency, Joseph administered the play selection process for The O'Neill Playwrights Conference and was the Readings and Workshops Coordinator for New York Stage and Film.

Maura Teitelbaum is currently an agent at Abrams Artists Agency where she represents writers for books, theatre, television and film. Prior to joining Abrams Artists Agency, she worked in Los Angeles at Broder Kurland Webb Uffner and the William Morris Agency. Agenting was a second career; after graduating from Binghamton University, she became a licensed CPA. She is most proud of her discovery of new talent and getting them off the ground. She initiated representing books at Abrams and has built up a decent business in only three years. She just became a member the Association of Authors' Representatives, Inc.

Derek Zasky first came to the William Morris Agency in 2001 working for veteran talent agent Samuel (Biff) Liff. He then spent a year working in PR and marketing at The Karpel Group before returning to the William Morris Agency in 2003 to work with talent agent David Kalodner. Mr. Zasky is a graduate of New York University with a BFA in Drama and a minor in Psychology.

"The American Theatre Wing's Theatre Intern Group creates social and professional development opportunities for young people who work in theatrical offices; enabling them to build contacts with their peers immediately upon starting work in the theatrical community. Monthly panel discussions on the many facets of the theatrical field offer opportunities for the interns to learn from professionals with 5 to 10 years of experience – long enough to be immersed in the profession, but not so far removed from the experiences of the interns themselves. Membership is open to all interns working in a theatrical office and annual dues are $10," state press notes. Visit the ATW website for more information.

The American Theatre Wing is a not–for–profit service organization dedicated to education and excellence in the theatre. In addition to creating and awarding the Antoinette Perry Tony Awards, ATW's programs include the long–running "Working in the Theatre" seminars, broadcast in New York on CUNY-TV; a grants and scholarship program, awarding more than 50 grants annually to New York not-for-profit theatre companies and theatre students; "Downstage Center," a weekly theatrical interview show on XM Satellite Radio; and SpringboardNYC, a two-week, college-to-career arts "boot camp". All of ATW's seminars and interviews are available, for free, from the company's website — www.americantheatrewing.org.

Current members, and those wishing to join the group, can RSVP for the event by emailing Theatreinterngroup@americantheatrewing.org, or by calling Stephen Abrams, Program Manager, at 212-765-0606 x311.