Producing Theater from the Experts’ Perspective (CLE)

Join us on November 2, 2017 for a rare opportunity to hear our expert panel of legal and theater professionals discuss the structure of commercial and not-for-profit theater, the role of producers in creating the productions that we love, legal issues such as copyright and First Amendment from the viewpoint of the playwright and the publisher.

3.0 New York Professional Practice CLE credits available for attorneys.

When:
Thursday, November 2, 9:30am – 12:30pm

Where:
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
1285 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019

Panelists:

Carolyn Casselman, Esq.
Counsel; Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

Cheryl Davis, Esq.
Partner, Menaker & Herrmann LLP and playwright

Florie Seery
General Manager; Manhattan Theatre Club

Michael Sinder, Esq
Law Offices of Michael J. Sinder

Moderator and Panelist:

Peter Hagan
President, Dramatists Play Service

Fees:
$60 Full-Time Student (must present proof of full-time status with registration)
$75 Artist Over Sixty
$100 Arts Professional VLA Member
$150 Arts Professional Non-Member
$200 Legal Professional VLA Member
$250 Legal Professional Non-Member

All registration fees are non-refundable. Please note you are not registered until full payment is received.

To apply for a full or partial CLE scholarship, please view our Financial Aid Policy Guidelines here.

For more information on this program, please contact VLA at registrations@vlany.org or 212.319.2787 x 10

Panelists/Moderator bios:

As counsel in the Entertainment Department, Carolyn J. Casselman, Esq., is engaged in representing individuals and companies in all aspects of the entertainment industry, including film, television, publishing, music, digital platforms and live stage. Her practice covers a range of matters such as advising financiers in connection with film and live stage investments, representing producers in the acquisition of underlying material for exploitation in a variety of media, negotiating collaboration and publishing agreements on behalf of authors, publishers and celebrity personalities, and representing directors, designers, writers, rightsholders and producers in all manner of live stage, motion picture and television transactions.

In addition, Ms. Casselman regularly advises companies in connection with mergers, acquisitions and financing transactions in the media, sports and entertainment space, spanning a range of assets and activities, including television production and programming, film libraries, music catalogs, sports teams, sponsorships and talent representation.

Ms. Casselman is an adjunct professor in the MFA program at Columbia University School of the Arts, and has guest lectured at Columbia Law School and Brooklyn College.

Cheryl Davis is a litigator who concentrates in intellectual property matters (particularly copyright and trademark cases), employment, and real estate/construction related matters. She has counseled clients on how to protect their intellectual property and has also represented theater clients in connection with a variety of contract and corporate issues. A published playwright whose work has been frequently performed, Cheryl won the Kleban Award for her works as a musical theater librettist and her show Barnstormer has received one of the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation Awards.

Florie Seery is General Manager of Manhattan Theatre Club, a not for profit theatre company. MTC’s many laurels include twenty three Tony awards and six Pulitzer prizes including “Proof,” “Doubt,” “Rabbit Hole” and “Ruined.” Recent shows include “Jitney,” “The Father,” “Constellations,” and “Vietgone.” As General Manager, Florie oversees all ongoing activities relating to operations and production of a subscription season of both Broadway and Off-Broadway shows. Seery has been working steadily in New York theatre for over 25 years. Her experience includes overseeing the running of Broadway and touring shows, including “Skylight,” “A Doll’s House,” “Master Class” and “Art.” Prior to joining MTC in 2005, she served as Associate Producer of Disney Theatrical Productions, where she was involved with the development of new musicals. She managed Disney’s theatrical licensing, which included professional productions and the development of musical theatre scripts for children to perform. Seery began her theatrical career as an assistant to producer Jim Walsh on the long-running Broadway hit “I’m Not Rappaport.” While Company Manager at Lincoln Center Theatre, her projects included Wendy Wasserstein’s “The Sisters Rosensweig” and Edward Albee’s “A Delicate Balance.” She is a member of The Broadway League. She serves on the board of the Camphill Foundation. Florie is a graduate of Smith College and is married to photographer Marc Bryan-Brown. They have two children.

Michael Sinder is an entertainment attorney practicing predominantly in live theater. His professional career over more than two decades includes practicing law with entertainment firms, as well as serving as the in-house lawyer and Director of Business Affairs for a team of Tony Award-winning Broadway producers and general managers, working as a theatrical agent and serving as the Manager of Labor Relations for The Broadway League. As a result of his diverse experience and unique perspective, Mr. Sinder not only advises clients on legal matters, negotiations and contract drafting, but he also provides helpful guidance regarding business decisions, customary industry practices, budgeting and recoupment projections. His current clients include new and established producers, rights owners, authors and other creative team members. He counsels clients and prepares all contracts with respect to the acquisition of rights and all other matters relating to the development, financing and exploitation of theatrical projects. Mr. Sinder is a member of the Entertainment and Sports Law Section of the New York State Bar Association and a graduate of CTI’s 14-week program. He received his B.A. and J.D. degrees from Washington University in St. Louis, and has been licensed to practice law in New York since 1994. See www.michaelsinderlaw.com for more information.

Peter Hagan is the President of Dramatists Play Service. He began his career at the William Morris Agency, and subsequently worked at Writers and Artists, The Gersh Agency (where he was head of the Theatre Department) and at Abrams Artists Agency, representing writers, directors and designers.  He is a graduate of the University of Virginia.