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, Seema Sueko, and Pirronne Yousefzadeh. The Zelda Fichandler Award is SDCF’s first award devoted to the regional theatre. With this award, SDCF acknowledges the profound impact the founders of regional theatre have had on the field, honoring their legacy through the recognition of the extraordinary directors and choreographers who are transforming the national arts landscape with their unique, creative work and deep investment in a community. The Breakout Award was presented to Jenn Rose.  The Breakout Award is given to a director or choreographer for a production or selection of work that signals a shift in a career and the beginning of critical recognition — a “rising star” moment. For 2020, the winner and finalists were chosen on the above criteria and directed or choregraphed digital work during the pandemic that made an impact.

SDCF Masters of the Stage

SDCF Awards 2021

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.

One-on-One Conversation with Sheldon Epps and Seret Scott

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).

SDCF's Second Virtual Roundtable Conversation

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.

A conversation with financial behaviorist, Jacquette Timmons

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).

SDCF Virtual Roundtable Conversation

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.

SDCF Podcast Series: The Founder's Series with Anne Kauffman, Jonathan McCrory and Sade Lythcott

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 Podcast Series. 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.

SDCF Podcast Series: The Founder's Series with Anne Kauffman and Emily Mann

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

SDCF Podcast Series: Careers in the Classics with Ethan McSweeny + Geoffrey Kent

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

SDCF Podcast Series: Regional Originals with M. Graham Smith and Evren Odcikin

American Shakespeare Center's artistic director, Ethan McSweeny sat with Eric Tucker in the new SDCF Podcast Series, Careers in the Classics.

SDCF Podcast Series: Careers in the Classics with Ethan McSweeny + Eric Tucker

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 SDCF Podcast Series, Careers in the Classics.

Sharon Ott: SDCF Podcast Series, Careers in the Classics with Ethan McSweeny

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

Elizabeth Williamson: SDCF Podcast Series, Regional Originals with M. Graham Smith

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.

Sheldon Epps and Robert O'Hara: A One-on-One Conversation.

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

Bill T. Jones: SDCF Podcast Series, In Motion with Wendy Seyb

Anne Kauffman sits down with Robert Moss, the founding Artistic Director of Playwrights Horizon, for the inaugural episode of SDCF Podcast Series, 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

Robert Moss and Anne Kauffman, SDCF Podcast Series, Founders Series

Rare insights into the working process of America's most seminal directors and choreographers are the focus of "Masters of the Stage." This series features more than three decades of priceless One-on-One interviews and panel discussions with theatre's most distinguished luminaries. Listen to these never before broadcast programs and hear the story of the American theatre told by those who helped chart its course.

hubhopper

SDCF Masters of the Stage

hubhopper