THEATER RESOURCES UNLIMITED Seeks Submissions of Musicals

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,” stated 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.