On February 8, the SDC Foundation, in a remote celebration, honored the recipients of this year’s awards for excellence in directing and choreography: the Joe A. Callaway Awards, Danya Taymor and Travis Wall, and finalists Knud Adams and Les Waters; the Gordon Davidson Award, Seret Scott; the Zelda Fichandler Award, Kamilah Forbes, and finalists Carol Dunne, Seema Sueko, and Pirronne Yousefzadeh; and the Breakout Award, Jenn Rose. (A full account of the celebration appears on p. 71.)
It was an exciting and moving evening including video clips of live theatre as it existed a year—and what seems like a lifetime—ago. To see and recall and hear about the exemplary work of these directors and choreographers was inspiring, as was the wisdom and gratitude they expressed in their remarks. Each recipient spoke of at least one director or choreographer who helped light the way for them. And we saw direct lineages from presenters to recipients.
Jack O’Brien, who hosted the evening, spoke of his mentor, Ellis Rabb. (Jack has also contributed a marvelous piece for the Journal about learning from other directors, which you can read on p. 7 of this issue.) Person after person spoke of fellow directors and choreographers whose early and continuing support have made a difference in their artistic lives and in the opportunities they’ve been afforded. Joe A. Callaway, Gordon Davidson, and Zelda Fichandler themselves inspired and created opportunities for so many directors and choreographers, and their legacies, too, were honored through these awards. Of course, the awardees, in addition to inspiring us through their work, are also generously mentoring others.
The Oxford online dictionary defines “to inspire” as 1) to breathe in air, and 2) to fill someone with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially something creative. We have been living in an unprecedented period where the simple act of taking breath has been imperiled. As we enter a new season of hope for racial justice, for progress against the coronavirus, and for our return to in-person work, it is affirming to seek and acknowledge sources of inspiration wherever we find them. This spring’s SDC Journal focuses on the many forms of artistic inspiration and the invaluable role of mentorship in our field.
Some of us take inspiration from nature; others from the vibrant energy of the city. Some in solitude; others from the bustle of crowded streets. Many of us have taken inspiration in this time from family and friends, from those who work for social justice, from front-line workers in our hospitals and grocery stores, and, of course, from the work of other artists: fellow theatremakers as well as painters, poets, novelists, musicians. We remember productions that made us say: I want to do that. I want to make people feel/think/be moved to action like that production made me feel/think/seek to do. We are indebted to the artists who made that possible for us, and we are called upon to offer our work, pass on our knowledge, and give purposeful support to the next generation and especially to those who may have been heretofore marginalized so that they too may find a place for their visions and their voices in our field and community.
Today, I am inspired by the generosity of those who have contributed to our Emergency Relief Fund, administered through the SDC Foundation. And by the resilience of our Members and Associates who have availed themselves of it. By those who, finding themselves robbed of their livelihood by the pandemic, have found a way to maintain faith that the theatre will return and to keep the artistic flame within them alive while caring for sick loved ones or working a seemingly endless series of part-time jobs. By those who have created theatre without a theatre space.
It remains an honor to serve this Membership alongside my fellow Executive Board Members. I have been inspired every day by my work with Executive Director Laura Penn and the dedicated and exemplary SDC staff. And I am excited to share the inspiring stories of our extraordinary Members in this issue of the Journal.
In Solidarity,
Evan Yionoulis
Executive Board President