Sdcf Masters Of The Stage

As live productions resume across the country, theater artists and managers are working to reopen for audiences. There are several conversations they must respond to—namely the ongoing pandemic and calls for action for equity and inclusion. This series will elevate those conversations, hearing from a group of theater leaders, directors and choreographers about their experiences on returning. In the first installment of this series we hear from Producing Artistic Director of Philadelphia Theatre Company Paige Price and director of The Garbologists at Philadelphia Theatre Company Estefanía Fadul as they join us in conversation and discuss the process of putting up this production. Learn more about the panelists here: https://sdcfoundation.org/sdcf-conversation-series-returning-to-rehearsal/ Join our mailing list: https://forms.gle/4yBHJSyu98cQw2Qm8

In this episode, the SDCF 2021 Zelda Fichandler Award Winner, Mark Valdez is interviewed by Michael John Garcés and they discuss everything from the most beautiful theater and how art can influence policy to rethinking the need for traditional performance spaces and leavening heavy themes with silliness and surprises. This podcast took place in early February 2022, Mark is now the current Artistic Director for the Mixed Blood Theatre. The Zelda Fichandler Award recognizes directors and choreographers who have demonstrated great accomplishment to date with singular creativity and deep investment in a particular community or region. The award was named after Zelda Fichandler who was the founding artistic director of the Arena Stage in Washington D.C. You can find this year's recipient and finalists here.   Mark Valdez is an LA-based director, writer, and cultural organizer. His work has been seen at community venues and professional theatres across California, including a tomato field in Grayson, a de-commissio

SDCF announced the honorees of this year’s Joe A. Callaway Awards, Gordon Davidson Award, and The Zelda Fichandler Award. The Awards were presented virtually on Monday, February 8, 2021 at 8pm ET. The Joe A. Callaway Awards was presented to Danya Taymor for her outstanding direction in Heroes of the Fourth Turning (Playwrights Horizons), and to Travis Wall for his outstanding choreography in The Wrong Man (MCC Theater). The finalists for this award are Knud Adams and Les Waters. The Joe A. Callaway Awards recognize excellence in directing and choreography in New York City and are the only awards given by peer directors and choreographers for work on a single production. The Gordon Davidson Award was presented to Seret Scott. The Gordon Davidson Award is bestowed annually by SDCF to recognize a director or choreographer for lifetime achievement and distinguished service in the regional theatre nationally. The Zelda Fichandler Award was presented to Kamilah Forbes. The finalists for this award are Carol Dunne,

On Thursday, October 8th, 2020 SDCF Trustee Sheldon Epps continued his conversation on artistic leadership with Gordon Davidson Award recipient Seret Scott. Scott and Epps discussed her wide-ranging and inspiring achievements and her work with the Free Southern Theatre in the 1960s, her performances as an actress on Broadway and beyond, and her remarkable career as a freelance director across the country.

On August 25th, 2020 SDCF Trustee and Artistic Director Emeritus of Pasadena Playhouse Sheldon Epps moderated a second roundtable conversation with regional Artistic Directors new to their roles about facing the specific challenges of the moment. He was joined by Melia Bensussen (Hartford Stage), Tim Bond (TheatreWorks Silicon Valley), David Ivers (South Coast Repertory), Rob Melrose (Alley Theatre) and Sarah Rasmussen (McCarter Theatre Center).

On July 22, 2020 SDCF held a webinar with financial behaviorist, Jacquette Timmons. Jacquette spoke with us about financial planning during long-term unemployment and shared her unique blend of strategic budgeting advice coupled with candid talk about the ways our emotions play out in our financial lives.

On July 9th, 2020 SDCF hosted a virtual roundtable conversation, moderated by Sheldon Epps, SDCF Trustee and Artistic Director Emeritus of Pasadena Playhouse. He led a conversation about the challenges and opportunities of leading a non-ethnic specific organization as a leader of color. Sheldon was joined by Artistic Directors Robert Barry Fleming (Actors Theatre of Louisville), Nataki Garrett (Oregon Shakespeare Festival), Jacob Padrón (Long Wharf Theatre), Hana Sharif (Repertory Theatre of St. Louis), and Stephanie Ybarra (Baltimore Center Stage).

We’re excited to share the second episode of The Founder’s Series with Anne Kauffman, as part of SDCF’s Masters of the Stage. In this episode, Anne speaks with Jonathan McCrory, Artistic Director and Sade Lythcott, CEO of the National Black Theatre. They discuss Dr. Barbara Ann Teer’s revolutionary vision and the founding of Harlem’s National Black Theatre; how Jonathan joined the National Black Theatre team and how together, Sade and Jonathan have reimagined the theatre’s mission, audience and visibility in the 21st century.

The Founder's Series was created by Anne Kauffman, Artistic Director of Encores! Off Center at New York City Center, as part of SDCF’s Masters of the Stage. In this series, Anne interviews artistic directors and founders who have had a lasting impact on the nonprofit theater community around the country. In this episode Anne talks with Emily Mann, Artistic Director of the McCarter Theatre Center, about her career journey as a female director, the adversity she’s faced, and how she has navigated these situations, including the current COVID-19 crisis, with strength.

American Shakespeare Center's Artistic Director, Ethan McSweeny sat down with Geoffrey Kent in a new episode of Masters of the Stage: Careers in the Classics.

Evren Odcikin, Founder of Maia Directors, sits with M. Graham Smith to discuss career and craft of working in regional theaters.

American Shakespeare Center's artistic director, Ethan McSweeny sat with Eric Tucker in the new Masters of the Stage series, Careers in the Classics.

On July 6th, 2019, American Shakespeare Center's artistic director, Ethan McSweeny sat with Sharon Ott, the director of ASC's production of Antony and Cleopatra, for the inaugural episode of the brand new Masters of the Stage series, Careers in the Classics.

Elizabeth Williamson, Associate Artistic Director at Hartford Stage, sits with M. Graham Smith to discuss career and craft of working in regional theaters.

This episode, was recorded at Stage Directors and Choreographers offices on May 22, 2019. Director Robert O’Hara interviews SDC Foundation Board of Trustees President, Sheldon Epps.

Choreographer Bill T. Jones sits with Wendy Seyb to talk process in SDC Foundations' In Motion series.

Anne Kauffman sits down with Robert Moss, the founding Artistic Director of Playwrights Horizon, for the inaugural episode of Masters of the Stage, Founder's Series. The goal of this series is to ensure we don't loose touch of the insights and guidance of those leaders who founded non-profit theaters in this country. On May 30th, 2019, Anne sat with Bob as he told stories of his early career and the early days of Off-Broadway's Playwrights Horizon

Playwright's Center's Producing Artistic Director Jeremy B. Cohen, sits with M. Graham Smith to discuss the process of working on new plays.

On Monday May 6, 2019, at Seattle Repertory Theatre, Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) held a conversation entitled Leadership: Making Theatre & Shaping Communities with Berkley Repertory Theatre’s Artistic Director, Tony Taccone and moderated by SDC Executive Director Laura Penn. This conversation explores the balancing of artistic leadership and individual artistic ambition, and how that dynamic can build strong institutions and contribute to a community’s cultural vibrancy.

This episode, was recorded at a live One-on-One Conversation event sponsored by Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation on April 8th, 2019. The event, entitled “STATE OF THE ART: DIRECTING SHAKESPEARE IN THE AMERICAN THEATRE” featured directors Davis McCallum and Erica Schmidt, and was moderated by SDC Foundation Trustee Ethan McSweeny.