What, exactly, does a theatrical producer do – and how do you get to be one? For anyone interested in the business behind the show, the Commercial Theater Institute (CTI) will once again offer its annual three-day intensive training program, "Producing for the Commercial Theater" at New World Stages. This unique program is designed to help foster the next generation of commercial theatre producers. The program is open to anyone interested in producing or co-producing on or Off-Broadway, on the road or investing in commercial productions. Participants are invited to spend their weekend with theatre professionals such as Rocco Landesman (The Producers), Kevin McCollum (Avenue Q) and David Stone (Wicked).

For 26 years, the Commercial Theater Institute has been the preeminent apprentice program for anyone interested in learning about commercial theatre. Presented by the League of American Theatres & Producers and Theatre Development Fund, past seminars have attracted over 2,900 registrants from five different countries. More than 50 graduates of the program have gone on to produce successfully on and off Broadway.

The 24-hour workshop, spread over three days, provides attendees with the hard, factual information required to get a show on stage. Workshop leaders are drawn from a pool of commercial theatre’s most respected producers, general managers, theatre operators, press and literary agents, theatrical attorneys, and others. These industry professionals cover the business essentials of topics such as creative development, marketing, management, non-profits, legal issues, and the challenges of producing on and off Broadway.

2007 THREE DAY WEEKEND SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, MAY 4

Why Produce? Led by Rocco Landesman (President, Jujamcyn Theaters; Producer, The Producers, Into The Woods, Big River)

Production Budget Analysis Led by Abbie Strassler (Iron Mountain Productions; General Manager, Spring Awakening)

Managing Risk Led by Roy Furman (Jeffries and Company; Producer, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, The History Boys, The Color Purple, The Odd Couple)

Legal Aspects of Producing Led by Entertainment Attorneys Dan Wassler and Jon Lonner of Franklin, Weinrib, Rudell & Vassallo, PC

Creative Development & Exploitation of Material Led by Ted Chapin (President of the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization; Producer, The Sound of Music, The King and I, Carousel)

SATURDAY, MAY 5

The Play’s the Thing: Producing Challenges Led by Roy Gabay (General Manager, Producer, Roy Gabay Theatrical Management); Roger Alan Gindi (General Manager, Producer, Gindi Theatrical Management); Ben Sprecher (Producer, The Sprecher Organization); Stuart Thompson (General Manager, Producer, Stuart Thompson Productions)

Taking the Plunge: The First Production Led By Patrick Catullo (Producer, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee); Marc Falato (Producer, Spring Awakening); Jill Furman (Producer, The Drowsy Chaperone); Fran Kirmser (Producer, Radio Golf)

Working With Not-for-Profits Led by Marty Bell (Producer, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels); Todd Haimes (Artistic Director, Roundabout Theatre Company); Harriet Leve (Producer, Lieutenant of Inishmore); Neil Pepe (Artistic Director, Atlantic Theater Company)

What Makes a Great Producer: The Agent’s Perspective Led by John Buzzetti (The Gersh Agency); David Kalodner (William Morris Agency); Mark Sendroff (Sendroff & Baruch)

Managing the Marketing Mix Led by Betsy Dollinger Bernstein (BDB Marketing); Bob Bucci (National Artists Management Company); Scott Moore (The Producing Office); Eric Schnall (Marketing Director)

Producing for the Road Led by Mike Isaacson (Producer, Fox Associates, LLC), Al Nocciolino (Producer/Presenter, NAC Enterprises, Ltd.) and Alecia Parker (National Artists Management Company)

SUNDAY, MAY 5

Building Your Show’s Brand Led by Jed Bernstein (Program Director, CTI; Former President, League of American Theaters & Producers; President, Above the Title Entertainment)

Promoting Your Show Led by John Barlow (Barlow-Hartman Public Relations); Richard Kornberg (Richard Kornberg & Associates)

Creative Producing Led by Kevin McCollum (The Producing Office; Producer, The Drowsy Chaperone, Avenue Q, Rent); David Stone (Producer, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Wicked)

Both Friday and Saturday will end with a wine and cheese reception where participants are encouraged to network with the guest speakers.

The fee for the three-day workshop is $400. New World Stages is located at 340 West 50th Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenues. For more information or to register for the CTI seminar, visit www.commercialtheaterinstitute.com or contact the CTI office at (212) 586-1109.

CTI is a program of The League of American Theatres and Producers, Inc. and Theatre Development Fund. It was founded by the late Frederic B. Vogel in 1982, and is now led by Jed Bernstein, President of Above the Title Entertainment and former President of the League.

The League of American Theatres and Producers, Inc., founded in 1930 as the League of New York Theatres and operating under the “Live Broadway” trademark, is the national trade association for the Broadway industry. The League’s 600-plus members include theatre owners and operators, producers, presenters, and general managers in 240 North American cities, as well as suppliers of goods and services to the theatre industry. Each year, League members bring Broadway to nearly 30 million people in New York and across the U.S. and Canada.www.livebroadway.com

Theatre Development Fund, the largest not-for-profit service organization for the performing arts in the United States, was established in 1968 to foster works of artistic merit by supporting new productions and to broaden the audience for all the performing arts. Since then, TDF has played a unique role in strengthening New York City performing arts. TDF combined programs have filled over 70 million theatre seats; provided subsidy support to over 800 plays, including 28 Pulitzer Prize honorees; and returned over $1.5 billion dollars in revenue to theatre, dance and music organizations. In partnership with the Times Square Alliance and the Coalition for Father Duffy, TDF is currently constructing a new TKTS ticket booth as part of the revitalization of Father Duffy Square. More about TDF and its programs may be found at www.tdf.org.