Theatre of NOTE Announces its Panel Discussions

As a leader in the Los Angeles theatre community for 30 years, Theatre of NOTE will facilitate four special panel discussions during the 2nd Annual Hollywood Fringe Festival, June 20-23, 2011. Each panel discussion will be patterned after last year's successful forum and feature experts in the field exploring issues that impact the Los Angeles theatre community. Admission to the Theatre of NOTE panel discussions is Pay-What-You-Can and open to the public.

Monday, June 20th - 3pm: Tech/Designers' Forum

Whether you are a recent graduate, a tech designer with a day job, working with a membership and/or Equity house, or fully employed in your profession - how do you build your resume, learn new technologies, and make the contacts you need to get where you want to go? Share ideas, challenges, eco-friendly approaches, and economic solutions for the designer climbing the ladder. Panelists include Crickets Myers (Tony nominated Sound Designer), John Iacovelli (Scenic Designer Taper/Geffen/SCR), Stephanie Kerley-Schwartz (Costume/Set Designer), Matt Richter (Lighting Designer), and Lyla Forlani (Stage Manager LA Opera).

Tuesday, June 21st - 3pm: Normalizing Diversity

As a producer, director, writer, designer, or actor who has a mission to use the best team possible on and off stage despite our audience and funders' "comfort level," how do we maneuver through stereotypes based on gender, disability, race, sexuality and age to use the creative teams and cast of our choice? Panelists include Anna Khaja (Ovation winning actor/playwright), Tom Jacobson (Garland award-winning Playwright), Ann Stocking (Actress, Performers With Disabilities Committee for the Screen Actors Guild), Guillermo Aviles-Rodriguez (Watts Village Theatre), and Adam Davis (Managing Director Ford Theatres).

Wednesday, June 22nd - 3pm: Developing Your Next Project

Are you a director, producer, playwright, actor or technical designer? Do you have an idea of a concept that will showcase your work the way you want it to be seen, but don't know what to do next? Discuss this with individual artists and producers that can offer helpful advice and strategies for developing work from conception to production. Panelists include Anna Khaja (Ovation winning actor/playwright), David Elzer (Demand PR), Damaso Rodriguez (Furious Theatre Company Co-Founder), and Marja-Lewis Ryan (Writer/Producer 6140 Productions).

Thursday, June 23 - 3pm: Women Breaking the Glass Ceiling

Speak with women who are surpassing our industry's gender generalizations and learn how they do it. What mentality does it take to succeed, what challenges still persist, and how are these women closing the gender gap across theatre disciplines? Panelists include Diane Rodriguez (Obie winning theatre artist and Associate Producer/Director of New Play Production at CTG, Cricket Myers (Tony nominated Sound Designer), and Iris Bahr (Writer/Performer).

Last year's successful Theatre of NOTE Panel Discussions examined such issues as funding, diversity, the TV/Film crossover, and creating opportunities for playwrights. Panelists included JEFF LIU (Literary Director, East West Players), JON LAWRENCE RIVERA (Director), DIANE RODRIGUEZ (Director, Center Theatre Group), JOSEPH STERN (Producer, CAA, Matrix Theatre), VJ FOSTER (Associate Artistic Director, The Actors' Gang), LINA PATEL (Yale Commissioned Playwright), SHERLAN ABESAMIS (Grants Associate, Department of Cultural Affairs), JOHN BILLINGSLEY (Actor, ABC's "Nine"), and KIRSTEN VANGSNESS (Actor, CBS' Criminal Minds).

All panel discussions will take place at Theatre of NOTE, located at 1517 North Cahuenga, Hollywood, CA 90028 just north of Sunset Blvd. Admission is Pay-What-You-Can and open to the public.

For more information about Fringe at NOTE Panel Discussions or visit www.theatreofnote.com