TRU Panel Artistic Director vs. Commercial Producer: 
The Blurred Line Between Art and Commerce

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) announces the January panel Artistic Director vs. Commercial Producer: The Blurred Line Between Art and Commerceon Wednesday, February 19, 2014 at 7:30pm at The Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal Street, Mainstage Theatre, NYC. Doors open at 7pm for networking and refreshments, presentations and roundtable introductions start at 7:30pm (come prepared with your best half-minute summary of who you are, and what you need).

Guests will include producer Bill Franzblau (Tony® Award nominee for Say Goodnight Gracie, American Buffalo revival, Wonderland; off-Broadway: Evil Dead the Musical, Jewtopia, Sistas the Musical, iluminate; on tour: Little House on the Prairie); Andrew Leynse, artistic director Primary Stages; Cara Reichel, producing artistic director Prospect Theater Company; Cheryl Wiesenfeld, commercial producer (Rocky, All the Way, Tony® winner Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike, Tony® winner The Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess, Tony® winner Elaine Stritch: At Liberty, The Exonerated, In the Continuum, Legally Blonde, A Steady Rain); plus others to be announced.

Both artistic directors and commercial producers aim to bring works to the stage that they believe in and that will please their audiences, yet artistic directors tend to be well-respected leaders of companies who are perceived to do “important” work, while commercial producers are often viewed with distrust. Both are generally the guiding vision behind a body of work, and both must balance artistic and commercial concerns. This panel will discuss the differences and similarities between the two titles and explore whether it is possible for an individual to work successfully in both roles.

Admission is $12 (free for TRU members). Please RSVP at least a day in advance (or much sooner) for reservations: 212/714-7628; or e-mail TRUStaff1@gmail.com.