SDCF Podcast Series

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 th...

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...

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 ...

On Thursday, October 8 th , 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 th...

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 Theatr...

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 9 th , 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 (...

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 T...

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...

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.

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 SDCF Podcast 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 SDCF Podcast 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 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 th...

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 h...

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.

Director Jon Tracy sits with M. Graham Smith to discuss directing and leading a regional theater as well as his process.

Director Victor Malana Maog sits with M. Graham Smith to discuss process of working on new plays and working in the regional theaters for SDCF Podcast Series, Regional Originals.

This episode was recorded at a live event sponsored by both the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society and Stage Directors UK on February 24, 2019 in London. The event was the first ever SDC-SDUK member gathering, and the conversation, featured artistic directors Jeremy Herrin and Pam MacKinnon. It was moderated by SDUK Executive Director, Thomas Hescott.

Pam MacKinnon discusses her process of directing and, as the new Artistic Director of A.C.T. in San Francisco, the relationship of the theatre to its community.