Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) presents the monthly Panel, Developing New Works in a Virtual New World: Different Countries, Different Challenges on Thursday, January 28, 2021 via Zoom. The panel will be led by Australian producer Neil Gooding, New York producer Cody Lassen, and London producer Katy Lipson. Reserve a spot on the event page at https://truonline.org/events/developing-new-works/, or by emailing TRUStaff1@gmail.com – you will be put on a list to receive the Zoom link.

“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we were forced to rethink all TRU programs for Zoom presentation. Turns out that what seemed at first to be a drastic inconvenience has paid off with surprising benefits,” said Bob Ost, executive director of TRU. “We now have extended our reach well beyond the New York area, throughout the US and as far away as Australia, Singapore and Malaysia. This panel in particular illustrates the valuable lesson learned. How else could we have panelists speaking with us live from New York, London and Sydney? Very exciting!” 

New York doesn’t see a likelihood of reopening theaters until September. London has tried opening theaters with social distancing but is now back in lockdown. Australia has had theaters re-opened since late November. The current COVID situation is really causing problems for our business around the world. Nevertheless, with all the roadblocks, New Works can still be developed right now. So what is the best use of the time and resources we currently have at our disposal? The vaccine is a likely pathway to the return of live theater, but how do we plan for the future with so many unknown factors?

The Zoom session will open at 5:30pm eastern time for roundtable introductions of attendees; program will start at 6:00pm – come prepared with your best 20-second summary of who you are, and what you need. 

With guest speakers: Australian producer Neil Gooding (Australian premieres of Gutenberg! The Musical!, and Dogfight and New York productions of Church and State, Handle with Care, The 39 Steps, Alan Cumming’s one-man Macbeth on Broadway); New York producer Cody Lassen (Tootsie, What the Constitution Means to Me, Indecent, Significant Other, Spring Awakening revival; upcoming Titanic, How I Learned to Drive); and London producer Katy Lipson of Aria Entertainment (UK Premiere Tour of The Addams Family, 50th Anniversary Touring Production of HAIR, European Premiere of The Toxic Avenger and Off-West End Productions of Pippin, Spring Awakening, Mame, Rags and the British Premiere of Unexpected Joy at Southwark Playhouse which she also was a part of at The York Theatre, Off-Broadway), and the creator of the From Page to Stage festival of new musicals.