TRU Announces Honorees for 8th Annual TRU Love Benefit Held on 11/8

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) proudly announces the two honorees for their 8th annual TRU Love Benefit, which will be held on Sunday, November 8, 2009 from noon to 4pm at Caroline's on Broadway, 1626 Broadway at 49th Street, NYC. Elysabeth Kleinhans of 59E59 Theatres will receive the TRU "Spirit of Theater" Award for her ongoing generosity towards TRU as well as the off-Broadway producing community in general; and Allan Buchman of Culture Project will be acknowledged with the TRU Humanitarian Award for his dedication to bringing politically and socially conscious works to life in New York theater, and successfully using the arts for social change.

The theme of this year's benefit is "Opening Doors" in recognition of both the nurturing homes the honorees have provided for the development of new work and new opportunities; and for their dedication to keeping open doors of communication for political and international conversations in New York theater. The event will start with a cocktail hour at noon, followed by a full luncheon. Performances will include representative scenes and songs from shows developed at 59E59 or The Culture Project, including Gutenberg the Musical, Prospect Theater's bluegrass musical Golden Boy of Blue Ridge, Clean Alternatives with writer Brian Dykstra and The Exonerated excerpts performed by celebrity guests. TRU will also present songs from upcoming musicals being developed by TRU producers. Nancy Anderson will perform a song from Yank!, the musical debuting off-Broadway in February 2010, and previewing a song from the upcoming Broadway musical Pure Country. In addition Brian Dykstra will perform a piece from his play Clean Alternatives and Radiotheatre will perform from one of their radio pieces.

Friends and supporters of the honorees who are lending their names to the Benefit Committee include actor/producer Bob Balaban, Dan Bianchi of Radiotheatre, critic Michael Feingold, Elliott Fox and Andrew Leynse of Primary Stages, Dr. Gail Furman, Steve and Ruth Hendel, George Heslin of Origins Theatre, Peter Kleinhans, Barbara Iams Korein, actor Fisher Stevens, Peter Tear of 59E59 and producer Cheryl Wiesenfeld.

"Elysabeth has been a loyal supporter of TRU for many years, and has even been a valued partner - she attends many of our TRU Voices play readings as a panelist, and has actually developed two shows from our series at her theater: Taxi to Jannah by Mark Sickman and Missives by Garret Jon Groenveld," stated TRU president Bob Ost. "In fact, we co-produced a production of Missives with her at 59E59 last year." In addition to TRU's personal reasons for honoring Ms. Kleinhans, Ost says her theaters have been crucial incubators for new talent and are unique in the amount of marketing and technical support they offer shows that produce there, as well as being one of the most reasonable rentals in town.

"I've known Allan since he opened his theater in 1996, and I am inspired by his dedication to producing works that make a difference in our lives," said Ost. Buchman first propelled his company into national prominence with its acclaimed production of The Exonerated that focused attention on six people wrongfully imprisoned, and then released without recognition of wrongdoing or compensation. The play's political reach was wide, having been performed at the United Nations and in front of the likes of Janet Reno, Supreme Court Justice David Souter, Senator Patrick Leahy, and members of the Justice Department. With Meryl Streep, Culture Project co-produced Bridge and Tunnel, in which Sarah Jones brilliantly portrayed a diverse spectrum of immigrants meeting the challenges of living in America today. Other works have solidified Culture Projects political purpose and effectiveness, including Guantánamo: Honor Bound to Defend Freedom, White Chocolate, Belfast Blues, Dai and many more.

The TRU Love "Opening Doors" Benefit will take place Sunday, November 8, 2009, at 12 noon, at Caroline's on Broadway, 1626 Broadway at 49th Street, NYC, with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres at noon, luncheon at 1pm and performances and awards ceremony starting at 2:15. Tickets are $175 for Premium Patron level seats in the first tier, $150 for Patron level 2nd tier and $100 for general admission. Tickets may be purchased at www.truonline.org/store-new.html. Inquiries may be made by phoning 212/714-7628 or emailing TRUnltd@aol.com.

TRU was founded in 1992 to promote a spirit of cooperation and support within the general theater community by providing information and a variety of entertainment-related services and resources that strengthen the business capability of producing organizations, individual producers, self-producing artists and other theater professionals. The company holds monthly seminars on a wide range of subjects important to theatrical producers and artistic directors conducted by panels of experts from both the commercial and not-for-profit segments of Broadway, Off-Broadway and the motion picture industry. TRU also publishes a monthly email community newsletter of services, goods and productions; produces the TRU VOICES Annual New Play Reading Series and the TRU VOICES Annual New Musicals Reading Series in which TRU underwrites developmental readings of new works for theater; gives annual scholarships to The Commercial Theater Institute, to encourage the development of aspiring producers; and most recently created a Producer Mentoring Program whose mentors are among the most prominent producers and general managers in New York theater.

Programs of Theater Resources Unlimited are supported in part by public funds awarded through the New York State Council on the Arts and the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, as well as generous support from the Friar's National Foundation Association.

For more information, visit www.truonline.org.

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