Producing 101

A ten-week, tuition-free course designed to introduce BIPOC to the fundamentals of commercial producing.

This course will equip you with all the basics of commercial producing – from development paths to financing to budgeting and more – with accomplished BIPOC and White ally leaders as your guides.

Using the new Broadway-bound musical GUN & POWDER as a case study throughout the course, participants will gain experience from the team involved in bringing the show to the stage. Additionally, each cohort member will select one of their own projects, or, choose a show currently on Broadway, and practice implementing some of the tools that will be shared over the ten weeks – such as creating project pitch materials for investors and co-producers, navigating the uncertain financial climate of the pandemic, and identifying the most viable development steps for their projects.

Applications are now closed. Please check back for future announcements.

  • March 7 – May 23, 2022 (10 weeks)

    Mondays 6:30–9 PM EST

    There will be no classes on March 21 and May 2.

    This year, the class will be offered online via Zoom, with three optional in-person sessions. In-person sessions will take place at a location in Midtown in New York, TBD. If you are unable to attend the in-person sessions, you may still participate online via Zoom.

    If you have any questions about the course or schedule expectations, please email info@theatreproducersofcolor.org.

  • The Program Mentor for the course is Sammy Lopez.

    Guest speakers include Rashad V. Chambers, E. Clayton Cornelious, Ben Holtzman, Maria Manuela Goyanes, Toni R. Isreal, Nicole Javanna Johnson, Dale Mott, Dana Li, Kevin Lin, Dessie Moynihan, Doug Nevin, Ilene Rosen, Matt Ross, Erica Rotstein, Fiona Rudin, Heather Shields, Rachel Sussman, Barbara Whitman, and Orin Wolf. To learn more about our guest speakers, please click here.

    Topics covered will include:

    • The role of a commercial producer

    • Charting a development path

    • Securing rights

    • Budgeting

    • Raising money

    • Co-producer agreements and offering papers

    • Partnering with non-profit theatres

    • Building anti-racist practices

    • Marketing and advertising

  • Applications are being evaluated by a selection panel of BIPOC industry professionals. Applicants will be notified of decisions by March 4, 2022.

Program Mentor

Sammy Lopez (he/him) is a curious theatre-maker dedicated to uplifting historically excluded voices & stories through the arts. He is a co-founding partner with P3 Productions, an artist-driven production company that’s built on three pillars: thought-provoking stories, strong values, and opening doors. They are currently developing the new productions: GUN & POWDER, HOW TO DANCE IN OHIO, MIDSUMMER, CHONBURI INTERNATIONAL HOTEL & BUTTERFLY CLUB, and more. He co-founded and launched the company with his partners, Ben Holtzman and Fiona Howe Rudin. Recent co-producing credits include The Old Vic's A CHRISTMAS CAROL and BE MORE CHILL on and off-Broadway. more.

FAQs

Who can apply?

Producing 101 is open to all BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) over the age of 18, regardless of background, level of education/training or previous accomplishment. If you are under 18, we encourage you to still sign up for our email list and attend our special topic speaker events.

How much does the course cost?

The course is free for all participants. TPOC relies solely on donations to cover the operating costs of the organization. You can donate here to support us if you’re able.

What are the basic technical requirements for participating in the course?

You will need to access the course via Zoom. This means you will need a device that supports it, and a Zoom account, for which you can register for free.

Will I be able to receive feedback on my application?

Unfortunately, no. While we understand the importance of transparency in undoing the oppressive systems in the industry, we are currently a developing organization with limited resources and do not have the capacity to provide feedback on every application. Our goal is to be able to provide feedback on applications by 2023.