SDCF Podcast Series

In 2001,   Michael Lupu , senior dramaturg for the Guthrie Theatre, provided directors at the "Directing Shakespeare Symposium" with a brief lesson he called "Shakespeare 101." In this twenty-minute discussion Lupu talks about audience expectations in the Elizabethan period, the history of Shakespeare's company "Lord Chamberlain's Men," and how the shifting of Shakespeare's theatre midway through...

In Conversation with... Moisés Kaufman: Directors rarely get the opportunity to spend time and share ideas in a room with other directors. This new one-on-one conversation series was conceived by director   Thomas Kail   to give himself, and his peers, an opportunity to do just that. This series of conversations explores topics that stretch from finding the spark in their work, making a life as a...

Directors rarely get the opportunity to spend time and share ideas in a room with other directors. This new one-on-one conversation series was conceived by director   Thomas Kail   to give himself, and his peers, an opportunity to do just that. This series of conversations explores topics that stretch from finding the spark in their work, making a life as a director, and how they landed on this si...

In Conversation with... Susan Stroman : Directors rarely get the opportunity to spend time and share ideas in a room with other directors. This new one-on-one conversation series was conceived by director   Thomas Kail   to give himself, and his peers, an opportunity to do just that. This series of conversations explores topics that stretch from finding the spark in their work, making a life as a...

Directors rarely get the opportunity to spend time and share ideas in a room with other directors. This new one-on-one conversation series was conceived by director   Thomas Kail   to give himself, and his peers, an opportunity to do just that. This series of conversations explores topics that stretch from finding the spark in their work, making a life as a director, and how they landed on this si...

Directors rarely get the opportunity to spend time and share ideas in a room with other directors. This new one-on-one conversation series was conceived by director   Thomas Kail   to give himself, and his peers, an opportunity to do just that. This series of conversations explores topics that stretch from finding the spark in their work, making a life as a director, and how they landed on this si...

2002 Symposium: Hal Prince: At its 2002 Symposium, Director of Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation,   Joe Miloscia , welcomed everyone to the symposium and introduced then Executive Director of SSDC   Barbara Hauptman . Barbara introduced the two speakers: V.P. and Managing Director of The Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation   Rob Marx   who moderated a talk with accomplished director...

2003 Symposium: Keynote by Scott Elliott: At its 2003 Symposium SDCF invited   Scott Elliott , freelance director and Artistic Director of The New Group, to give a keynote speech on directing in multiple mediums, running a theatre company, and life as an artist. SDC Observer of Scott Elliott,   Mark Robinson , moderated the talk. Topics include why Elliott shifted from performing to directing, how...

SDCF hosted a Symposium on Musical Theatre in 2003 moderated by Daniella Topol , then the National Alliance Musical Theatre's New Works Program Director. The panel featured   Urinetown   director   John Rando , then Artistic Director of Musical Theatre Works   Thomas Cott , then Artistic Director of North Shore Music Theatre   Jon Kimbell , General Manager Nancy Gibbs , Choreographer of   Zanna, D...

2010 DCN: Directors Programs Applications : At its October 2010 Director-Choreographer-Network, SDC Director of Member Services   Barbara Wolkoff   moderated a panel featuring SDCF's Director of Foundation   Ellen Rusconi , Theatre Communications Group's Director of Artistic Programs   Emilya Cachapero , and The Drama League's Artistic Director   Roger Danforth . Topics cover programs offered, wha...

2011 Emerging Artists Symposium: Opportunities: At its 2011 Emerging Artists Symposium, SDCF hosted a panel moderated by Ellen Rusconi   and featuring Ars Nova's Artistic Director   Jason Eagen , Manhattan Theatre Club's Artistic Line Producer   Lisa McNulty , Playwrights Horizons' Artistic Staff Associate   Briel Steinberg , Lower Manhattan Cultural Council's Program Manager   Haowen Wang , and B...

At its 2011 Emerging Artists Symposium, SDCF hosted a panel moderated by Ellen Rusconi   and featuring established freelance theater artists   Jeremy Dobrish ,   Sarah Maxfield ,   Daniel Talbott , and   Wendy Seyb . Topics cover the career trajectories of these established freelance artists from start to the current moment, the term "emerging" versus "established" artist, how they got jobs at the...

In May 2011 SDCF hosted a One on One Conversation with freelance director David Cromer   and Artistic Director of Writers' Theater   Michael Halberstam . The conversation covers how they come to their projects, previews and reviews, the danger of facing no obstacles in a process, and their artistic approach. Michael and David shed light on collaboration, the role of director and artistic director,...

T his 2003 panel discussion includes artistic leaders   Clinton Turner Davis , Diane Paulus ,   Sabrina Peck ,   Neil Pepe   (Atlantic Theater Company), Scott Elliot   (The New Group), and   Tisa Chang   (Pan Asian Repertory). The discussion centers on challenges and opportunities for artistic leaders. Topics cover how economics affect artistic choices, how to sustain a creatively fulfilling caree...

2003 Symposium: Moving Work: In 2003, SDCF hosted a panel moderated by Karen Azenberg featuring choreographers   Hope Clarke ,   Devanand Janki , and   Peter Pucci . The discussion centers on where work for choreographers is expanding. Topics cover ways in which choreographers work with actors and directors, how process and style vary for operas, musicals, and plays, and methods for breaking caree...

At its 2003 Symposium, SDCF hosted a panel moderated by   Arthur Bartow and featuring playwright   Steve Drukman , director   Fritz Ertl , producer Chris Jaehnig , tech designer   Tom Igoe , and stage manager   Megan Bezdek . The discussion centers on the role of digital media in the developmental and production process on a commissioned play by Steve Druckman for the NYU Undergraduate Mainstage t...

2003 Symposium: Adventurous Producers: At its 2003 Directing Symposium, SDCF hosted a panel moderated by   Rubén Polendo   and featuring producer   Jordan Roth   ( The Rocky Horror Show ,   The Donkey Show ), Artistic Director   Jim Nicola   (New York Theatre Workshop), and former artistic director and current director   Michael Greif   ( Rent ). The discussion centers on the role of the producer...

2003 Symposium: New Writers, New Worlds: At its 2003 Directing Symposium, SDCF hosted a panel moderated by Mary Catherine Burke and featuring directors   Christopher Ashley, Jo Bonney, Susan Einhorn, Leah Gardiner, David Warren   and   Les Waters   and playwrights   Jorge Cortiñas   and   David Henry Hwang   to discuss expanding diversity among writers, directors and subject matter of new plays. T...

2003 Symposium: Designing Outside the Box: At its 2003 Directing Symposium, SDCF hosted a panel featuring the design team from Theater Mitu: Artistic Director   Ruben Polendo , composer and shadow mask designer   Jef Evans , costume, mask and puppet designer Miranda Hoffman , lighting designer   Ryan Mueller   and set designer, puppet designer and choreographer   Scott Spahr . The discussion cente...

2002 Symposium: The Director Choreographer Relationship : At its 2002 Musical Theatre Symposium, SDCF hosted a panel moderated by SDC Executive Director   Barbara Hauptman   featuring directors   David Warren ,   Christopher Ashley ,   Gabriel Barre ,   Jeff Calhoun ,   Mary B. Robinson , choreographers   Daniel Pelzig   and   Joey McKneely   and director/choreographers   Rob Ashford   and   Karen...

At its 2002 Musical Theatre Symposium, SDCF hosted a panel on the writer-director relationship featuring   Urinetown   composer/lyricist   Greg Kotis ,   The Wild Party   composer   Andrew Lippa   and director   Gabriel Barre ,   Violet composer   Jeanine Tesori , bookwriter/lyricist   Brian Crawley   and director Susan H. Schulman ,   Side Show   director   Robert Longbottom ,   Jelly's Last Jam...

Self-Produced Work : In February 2011, SDCF Associate Director Ellen Rusconi moderated a Director/Choreographer Network roundtable discussion with The Civilians Artistic Director   Steve Cosson   and PearlDamour's   Katie Pearl   on producing one's own work as a director. The two directors offer contrasting experiences of developing their companies, from the structural basis of the Civilians to th...

2002 Symposium: Getting Hired: At its 2002 Musical Theatre Symposium, SDCF hosted a panel featuring   Todd Haimes   (Artistic Director, Roundabout Theatre Company),   Marty Bell (Producer,   Kiss of the Spider Woman ,   Ragtime ),   Sue Frost   (Associate Producer, Goodspeed Musicals),   Michael Rego   (Associate Producer, Urinetown ),   Robert Johanson   (Artistic Director, Paper Mill Playhouse),...

On January 17, 2011, SDCF hosted its third One-on-One Conversation of the 2010-2011 season at in the Beckett Theatre at Theatre Row with Berkeley Repertory Theatre Artistic Director   Tony Taccone , moderated by SDCF Associate Director Ellen Rusconi. Mr. Taccone discusses his journey from discovering theatre through "happenings" in during college in the 1960s to his most recent foray into writing...

On December 18, 2010, SDCF hosted their second One-on-One Conversation of the 2010-2011 season in the Beckett Theatre at Theatre Row with Donmar Warehouse Artistic Director   Michael Grandage   ( Red ,   Hamlet ) and Broadway Director/Choreographer   Rob Ashford   ( How To Succeed In Business... ,   Promises, Promises ) and moderated by SDCF Executive Director Laura Penn. The two directors discuss...