Founding Meeting
August 16, 2005

TOPICS

What would we like for the Roundtable do for directors?
Provide networking opportunities between directors
Provide a safe haven for networking opportunities between directors and others
Provide info on resources such as rental space, crew members, etc
Provide a “community” for directors

How can we accomplish this?
Have monthly gatherings where we attend a show en masse then go out afterward.
Share information on resources via email
Create a website that compiles resource info (see list below)
Create a relationship with staff at national universities to provide students for crew/designer positions
Get a space

RESOURCE INFORMATION

Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers – http://www.ssdc.org. See this site for information on Observerships (opportunities to work with experienced directors; available to non-SSDC members). Site also holds sample contracts between directors and producers. Info on monthly networking meetings.  Become part of SSDC’s emailing list by sending an email to info@ssdc.org.

Sanctuary: Playwrights Theatre – http://sanctuarytheatre.org. Bob Jude's company. Specializes in creative playwrighting events such as “Six Nights” and the upcoming collaboration between playwrights and artists from another discipline (painting, sculpture, etc).

Atlantic Center for the Arts – http://www.atlanticcenterforthearts.org. Has residency and internship programs that are worth your time to investigate.

Play by play.com – http://www.play-by-play.com  
Audience Extras – http://www.audienceextras.com
Production "papering" organizations that can offer great deals on tickets to plays.

Dorset Theatre Festival – http://dorsettheatrefestival.org. For many years, DTF has compiled and sold books with information that might be interesting to you, such as “Summer Theatre Directory 2005” or “Regional Theatre Directory” (not yet updated). They even have a service that provides “Demographic info for each of our directories, Regional Theatres (annual), Summer Theatres (annual), Directory of Theatre Training Programs (biennial) either on labels or email.”

Chashama – http://www.chashama.org. In their own words: Chashama is a non-profit arts organization that provides opportunities for performing and visual artists. We support the development of art by awarding grants, producing shows and providing subsidized studio, rehearsal and performance space. Since 1995, we have provided artists with a home and the support resources necessary to present and create art that engages the community of New York. chashama has assisted almost 4,500 artists and presented, produced or sponsored over 450 shows, 15 festivals, and created 120 studio spaces for artist residencies.” Founded and run by Anita Durst.

The Field – An umbrella organization like fractured atlas, which allows people to claim 5013 (c), but it does end up costing $$ both upfront and a % of grant money.

Lower Manhattan Cultural Council – http://www.lmcc.net. Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC) is a non-profit organization that offers a broad range of public programs that help cultivate new arts audiences and improve the quality of urban life; and funding opportunities and support services for artists working in all artistic disciplines across Manhattan.”  Check ‘em out for rehearsal/performance space, grants and other helps.

Playbill.com – http://www.playbill.com. Arguably the best online source for directing jobs, although even here they are few and far between. Also, the Roundtable could make use of Playbill.com to solicit crew resumes and then turn that into a resource for our members.

Chronicle of Higher Education – http://chronicle.com. Source for academic jobs.

New York Innovative Theatre (IT) Awards – http://www.nyitawards.com. Again, in their own words: “The IT Awards were organized to bring recognition to the great work being done in Off-Off-Broadway and help create a community base for the estimated 40,000 artists working in the Off-Off-Broadway venue.”

Starving Artist Award – http://www.studio-42.org. The Starving Artist Award supports and promotes the creation of new work by emerging artists living in and around New York City. The award is designated on an annual basis and the recipient is officially announced at Studio 42’s Starving Artists Ball (SAB). The 2005 Starving Artist Award will be designated to an emerging artist/collective working in the arts in areas such as, but not limited to: Theater and Performance Art, Writing, Fine Art, Film, Design, Choreography or Music.”

The Magic Shop and Abracadabra – Magic stores. Good possibilities for some props.

Theatre Resources Unlimited – http://www.truonline.org. TRU was formed to promote a spirit of cooperation and support within the general theatre community by providing information and a variety of entertainment-related services and resources that strengthen the capacity of producing organizations, individuals producers, and other theater professionals.”

State Supply – http://www.producers-source.com/ps.ny/prop/statesupply
Props for Today – http://www.propsfortoday.com
Movieprop.com – http://www.movieprop.com/Production/stage.htm
Anything But Costumes – http://www.anythingbutcostumes.com
Prop houses with many a good possibility for your prop needs.

Materials for the Arts – http://www.mfta.org/home.php. At Materials for the Arts, we provide 3134 arts programs with the things they need to prosper and endure. We gather materials from companies that no longer need them, and distribute them to artists and educators that do. In the process, we remove hundreds of tons from the New York City sanitation system. We help artists realize their visions, provide students with a richer educational experience, and furnish businesses with a simple and efficient way to enhance the cultural life of their city.” Consider donating your set to them after your strike. They’ll even come and get it.

Brooklyn Arts Exchange – http://www.bax.org. A varied resource for us starving artist types. Rental space for a wonderful price. Opportunities for first run productions.

Theatre Without Borders – http://www.theatrewithoutborders.com/index.html. (We didn’t discuss TWB at the meeting, but I found the recently, and thought it would be good to pass on.) TWB is an informal group of individual artists around the world who are interested in supporting international theatre exchange. TWB advocates for theatre artists who see themselves as members of a global community, as well as citizens of their respective nations and cultures.