From April 25-27, the Commercial Theater Institute will once again offer its annual training program, which is designed to help foster a new generation of theatre producers. A co-project between The League of American Theatres and Producers and Theatre Development Fund, the three-day program will feature top members of the theatrical industry, including producers, general managers, legal experts as well as theatre marketers. Graduates of the program — now in its 21st year — include producers of such theatrical productions as De La Guarda, Flower Drum Song, Hairspray, La Boheme, Man of La Mancha, Paper Dolls, Rent, The Exonerated, Thoroughly Modern Millie and The Man of La Mancha. Over 400 registrants from five different countries participated in last year’s workshop.
Workshops for the upcoming weekend include the following:
Legal Aspects for Producing in Commercial Theater: Led by Nan Bates, Esq.
Budget Analysis of a Production/The Role of the General Manager: Led by Abbie Strassler, Movin' Out (Iron Mountain Productions) and Nina Essman, The Vagina Monologues(Egs).
Developing a Major Musical: Led by Charles Dillingham, Flower Drum Song; Susan Gallin, Man of La Mancha; Mike Isaacson, Thoroughly Modern Millie; Margo Lion, Hairspray; and Jeffrey Seller, La Boheme.
Developing and Producing a Play Off- and On Broadway: Led by Robyn Goodman, Metamorphoses; Mark Johannes, My Old Lady; Harriet Leve, Necessary Targets; Roy Miller, I'm Not Rappaport; and Ric Wanetik, Jolson and Company.
Marketing for Broadway/Off-Broadway in the 21st Century: Led by Jed Bernstein, President of The League of American Theaters and Producers.
Advertising Agency/Press Agents/Marketing Consultants: Led by Hugh Hysell, Hugh Hysell Communications; James Russek, Rave! Advertising; and Keith Sherman, Keith Sherman & Associates.
Producing for the Road: Led by Kevin McCollum, The Producing Office.
The fee for the three-day workshop is priced at $315 ($285, if payment is received prior to March 15). For more information, visit Theatre Development Fund’s website at www.tdf.org or contact CTI's executive director, Frederic B. Vogel at (212) 586-1109.
