PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE DENHAM FELLOWSHIP!

APPLICATIONS FOR 2010-2011 ARE NOW AVAILABLE
Final submission deadline OCTOBER 1, 2010
Submissions are being accepted on a rolling basis, so applying now will give you access to the most opportunities. 

  2010-2011 Observership Overview
2010-2011 Observership Application

The Observership program of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) was established to offer early-career directors and choreographers the opportunity to observe the work of master directors and choreographers as they create new productions on Broadway, off-Broadway and at leading regional theatres across the country. SDCF Observers have access to the entire rehearsal process, from first rehearsal to opening night.

The exact nature of each Observership will vary depending on the style and need of the production's Director or Choreographer. It must be remembered that these are Observerships, not assistantships. However, you will be guaranteed the invaluable opportunity to observe, first-hand, the techniques, disciplines, approaches and insights of master artists as they create new and revive classic productions. Anything more is up to the Director or Choreographer and the circumstances of the rehearsal. By making yourself available to the Director or Choreographer, your role may potentially develop into something more.

Each Observer is paid a weekly stipend and a small travel stipend. In addition, any Observer who is not already a Member of SDC will be awarded a free one-year Associate Membership upon completion of his/her Observership.

The SDCF Observership program is supported, in part, by public funds from the National Endowment of the Arts, New York State Council on the arts, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council.

APPLICATIONS FOR 2010-2011 ARE NOW AVAILABLE
Submission deadline SEPTEMBER 1, 2010

2010-2011 Denham Guidelines

2010-2011 Denham Application

In October of 2006 Mary Orr Denham established the Denham Fellowship through a bequest to SDCF in honor of her late husband, Reginald H.F. Denham. The Denham Fellowship is “an annual award to aspiring young directors, and particularly women directors, to further develop their directing skills”. Candidates may apply to the Denham Fellowship under one of two criteria: fee enhancement and self producing. The Denham Fellowship under fee enhancement would serve to augment a fee offered to the Director be a theatre or producer.When the recipient is a self-producing director, the Denham fellowship will serve to cover/augment the Director’s fee. Application to the Denham Fellowship is open to SDC Members and Associates only.Both men and women may apply.

Joanie Schultz: Ring Cycle for the Building Stage in Chicago, IL

Jessi D. Hill: Angel Eaters for Flux Theatre Ensemble in New York, NY

May Adrales: Faith, Hope and Charity at PURE Theatre in Charleston, SC

In 1996 this Fellowship originated from a generous contribution from Sir John Gielgud to provide opportunities for early career directors to study the artistic processes of master directors of classical plays.A Gielgud Fellowship Advisory Committee composed of leading directors of classical plays and other established theatre artists select the show, the mentor and the Fellow each year.There is no general application process for this fellowship as potential candidates are invited to apply by committee members.Recommendations of established theatre professionals on the behalf of potential candidates are accepted and considered by the Advisory committee. The Gielgud Fellow receives a monetary award as well as a free one-year Associate Membership.

Saheem Ali: Angels in America at Signature Theatre in New York, NY

Michole Biancosino: Coriolanus at Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, OR

The recipient of the 2010-2011 Mike Ockrent Fellowship will observe George C. Wolfe on A Free Man of Color at Lincoln Center in Fall 2010.

Nominations for the 2010-2011 Mike Ockrent Fellowship are closed.

Modeled on our prestigious Sir John Gielgud Fellowship in Classical Theatre, the goal of the Mike Ockrent Fellowship is to help early-career directors of promise develop their skills in directing theatre by allowing them to assist a master director on the creation of a big-budget Broadway musical or play. In doing so, the fellowship will present a new generation of gifted artists with a remarkable education in - and unique understanding of - the directorial skills necessary to create theatre on a Broadway scale. One Mike Ockrent Fellowship will be awarded each year. Each fellow will be mentored by a leading director in the field who will share information, insights and resources. The fellow shall have the opportunity to participate in the entire production process, from conceptual meetings, design discussions, casting sessions, rehearsals, previews, etc. The mentor is responsible for including the fellow in the production process. To provide financial assistance to the fellow, SDCF will offer a monetary stipend to the fellow during the rehearsal period. Prospective candidates are invited to apply based on recommendations from an advisory committee of distinguished artists.

Gregg Wiggans: Promises, Promises in New York, NY

Elissa Weinzimmer: Minsky’s in Los Angeles, CA

In 1999 the Shepard and Mildred Traube Fellowship was established in celebration of the 40^th anniversary of SDC and to honor the legacy of Shepard and Mildred Traube.Shepard Traube was one of SDC’s founders and Mildred Traube served for many years as the SDC’s Executive Secretary.The Traube Fellowship supports the development of future Broadway artists by providing early-career directors and choreographers with the opportunity to assist or observer a master director of choreographers at work on a Broadway production.The Traube Fellowship is administered through and operates as a component of the SDCFoundation’s Observership Program

David Alpert: Guys and Dolls in New York, NY

Kevin Hill: Guys and Dolls in New York, NY

 Inaugural Hauptman Fellow 

In November of 2007 the Barbara Hauptman Fellowship was established by the Boards of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers and the SDCF to honor the former Executive Director’s twelve years of service and dedication to the SSDC and in recognition of her commitment to the art and craft of stage direction and choreography.This fellowship is designed to provide one undergraduate or graduate level student, with an academic concentration in arts administration, with the opportunity to participate in the daily workings of the SDC and aid in the preparation and research for a nation theatric labor negotiation.