What do In The Heights, In Transit, and Avenue Q all have in common? They were all workshopped at the O’Neill Summer Workshop, where you, too, can step into the world of creative producing!
Learn about navigating the producer’s relationship with authors and creative teams. Craft an image and marketing plan that will get audiences excited about your show. Commercial Theater Institute’s Three-Day Summer Intensive at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center focuses specifically on the producer as a creative force. CTI is thrilled to provide aspiring producers the unique opportunity to get close to the development process as it unfolds this season at the renowned O’Neill campus along the Connecticut shore.
This is a one-of-a-kind chance to explore the creative contributions a producer makes to the development and selling of a show. In a three-day, hands-on intensive program, teams of participants will develop plans for a selection of plays and musicals at the O’Neill Summer Conferences. The experience will be a mixture of talks and breakout sessions with working producers and theater professionals, interaction with writers and directors, and group discussion. The curriculum and setting provide a unique opportunity to interact with the O’Neill’s renowned artistic community and to be part of the development process at the O’Neill’s beautiful campus on the Connecticut shore. The workshop culminates with the teams presenting their strategies to a panel of industry professionals. The program will be led by Tom Viertel- CTI Executive Director, O’Neill Board Chair, and Tony Award®-winning Broadway producer – along with an all-star faculty from the New York theater community.
In addition to your enrollment fee, you will be responsible for travel and accommodations. We’ve arranged for a discounted rate at a hotel located near the O’Neill Theater Center; details will be provided upon acceptance. The hotel is also located near the Amtrak station in New London, CT. Meals are included in the enrollment fee.
Admission is limited to 20 participants. Applications for Summer 2021 are currently unavailable. Check back for updates.
**Summer 2019 Agenda**
Day One
11:00am – 11:45am Welcome, Introductions, Review the Assignment, and Establish Teams
Tom Viertel, Commercial Theater Institute
11:45am – 12:15pm Initial Group Meeting
12:15am – 12:50pm Tour of the O’Neill
John Reinschmidt, Eugene O’Neill Theater Center
12:50pm – 1:30pm Lunch
1:30pm – 2:15pm Welcome from The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center
Preston Whiteway, Executive Director
Wendy Goldberg, Artistic Director of NPC
Alexander Gemignani, Artistic Director of NMTC
Chris Jones, National Critics Institute
2:15pm – 3:15pm Creative Paths
Marisa Sechrest, Altair Entertainment
3:15pm – 4:15pm Keynote
Mara Isaacs, Octopus Theatricals
4:15pm – 5:25pm Presentation Prep
5:30pm – 6:45pm Dinner at Captain Scott’s
7:00pm – 7:30pm Meeting with Undesirables Creative Team
8:00pm Undesirables
Day Two
8:15am – 9:00am Breakfast
9:00am – 10:00am Presentation Elements
Tom Viertel, Commercial Theater Institute
10:00am – 11:00am Putting Teams Together
Mark Kaufman, Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Inc.
11:00am – 12:00pm Managing Creatives
Jack Viertel, Jujamcyn Theaters
12:00pm – 12:45pm Lunch
12:45pm – 2:15pm Presentation Prep
2:15pm – 3:45pm Advertising
Danielle Boyle, Serino Coyne
3:45pm – 4:00pm Break
4:00pm – 5:00pm Cutting Edge Marketing
Damian Bazadona, Situation
5:15pm – 6:15pm Presentation Prep
6:15pm – 7:00pm Dinner
7:00pm – 7:30pm Meeting with it’s not a trip, it’s a journey Creative Team
8:15pm it’s not a trip, it’s a journey
Day Three
8:30am – 9:30am Breakfast
9:30am – 10:30am Branding: Bringing It All Together
Dori Berinstein, Dramatic Forces
10:30am – 11:30am Presentation Prep
11:30am – 12:00pm Final Q&A
Tom Viertel, Commercial Theater Institute
12:00pm – 1:00pm Lunch
1:00pm – 2:30pm Presentation Prep
2:30pm – 4:30pm Presentations
Tom Viertel, Commercial Theater Institute
Preston Whiteway, The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center
Ruth Hendel, Ruth Hendel Productions
4:30pm – 4:45pm Closing Remarks
Tom Viertel, Commercial Theater Institute
