Laura Penn News

Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation has named director and playwright Emily Mann, the former artistic director of the McCarter Theatre, as the recipient of its annual Gordon Davidson Award.

The Founding Members of Black Theatre United (BTU) announce the release of their historic New Deal For Broadway, establishing industry-wide standards and reforms around Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility & Belonging (EDIAB) with a focus on Black individuals in theatre.

Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation, the not-for-profit foundation of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, announces the election of Justin Emeka, Doug Hughes, and Seema Sueko as the newest members of the SDCF Board of Trustees. They join President Mark Brokaw, Vice President/Secretary Anne Kauffman, Sheldon Epps, Linda Hartzell, Dan Knechtges, Laura Penn, and Victoria Traube as Trustees of the Foundation. Hughes will serve as the Foundation's Treasurer.

As Black Theatre United (BTU) marks its first year since the organization’s creation, the Founding Members have just announced they held a three-month Commercial Theatre Summit from March to June 2021 to establish industry- wide standards around Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility & Belonging (EDIAB) with a focus on Black individuals in theatre as we move into the future.

One year ago, on April 1, 2020, Stage Directors and Choreographers Society issued its first Remote Work Contract to support SDC Members who were—in the earliest days of industry shutdown—pivoting to virtual rehearsal rooms and stages.

Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation has announced that Dani Barlow has joined its leadership team as Foundation Director. “I am thrilled to be joining SDCF as its next Director,” says Barlow. Barlow holds an MFA in Theater Management from the Yale School of Drama and a BA in Theatre and Business Administration from Muhlenberg College.

As the initial action in its campaign for health care relief, the Coalition sent letters last week to the Hon. Neil D. Breslin, Senate Insurance Committee Chair; the Hon. Richard Gottfried, Assembly Health Committee Chair; the Hon. Gustavo Rivera, Senate Health Committee Chair; and the chairs of eight other committees, including Assemblyman Kevin Cahill, the Chair of the New York State Assembly Insurance Committee.

Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), the theatrical union that unites, empowers, and protects professional Stage Directors and Choreographers throughout the United States, applauds the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

Stage Directors and Choreographers Society and Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation have announced the release of On the Edge: The Lives and Livelihoods of Stage Directors and Choreographers...A Next Stage Report.

American Guild of Musical Artists and Stage Directors and Choreographers Society have announced the wide release of the AGMA/SDC Return to Stage and Performing Arts Playbook.

Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation has named Seret Scott the 3rd annual Gordon Davidson Award recipient.

Stage Directors and Choreographers Society has announced that the Union is endorsing Joe Biden in his 2020 bid for the presidency. This is the first time in the Union's 60-year history that it has endorsed a presidential candidate.

With discussions on reopening beginning around the country across various industries, the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) and Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) announced that they have engaged the services of medical experts to assist with COVID-19 safety planning and ensure that their members are protected.

Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), the theatrical union that unites, empowers, and protects professional stage directors and choreographers throughout the United States, today announced a newly created position on its senior staff team as well as the merging of its existing Member Services and Communications departments.

The Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF), the not-for-profit foundation affiliated with Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, presented the third annual SDCF Awards including the Gordon Davidson Award, Zelda Fichandler Award, Joe A. Callaway Awards, and Breakout Award. The event took place on Tuesday, November 12, 2019 at the Laurie Beechman Theatre.

The Broadway League and The Coalition of Broadway Unions and Guilds (COBUG) just presented the 11th annual Broadway Salutes ceremony at Sardi's Restaurant (234 West 44th St). 

The Broadway League and The Coalition of Broadway Unions and Guilds (COBUG) have announced that Sarah Bockel, who recently starred as Carole King in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical will perform a?oeYou've Got A Frienda?? at the 11th annual Broadway Salutes ceremony. Ms. Bockel will be accompanied by Rick Hip-Flores.

The Broadway League and The Coalition of Broadway Unions and Guilds (COBUG) announce that the eleventh annual Broadway Salutes ceremony will take place on Tuesday, November 5, 2019 at Sardi's Restaurant (234 West 44th St). The event will begin at 3:30 p.m. with arrivals and pinning, and the reception begins at 4:00 p.m.

Deadline reports that Tony winner Laura Benanti has joined the cast of Billy Crystal's 'Here Today,' also starring Tiffany Haddish, actress/playwright Anna Deavere Smith, and Nyambi Nyambi. 'Gossip Girl' actor Penn Badgley also joined the cast today.

As BroadwayWorld sadly reported last week, legendary Broadway director and producer Hal Prince passed away at 91 years of age after a brief illness, in Reykjavik, Iceland.