Laura Penn, SDC Executive Director Contract Renewed Through 2024

President Pam MacKinnon and the Executive Board of Stage Directors and Choreographers (SDC) are pleased to announce that Executive Director Laura Penn's contract has been renewed through 2024.

Ms. Penn joined Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) in 2008, after a 25-year management career in the League of Resident Theatres (LORT). Under her leadership SDC Membership has grown 35%, a result of successful expansion of jurisdiction nationally and negotiations for SDC including Broadway, LORT, and Off-Broadway while supporting Members in complex, high-profile positions.

In her role, Laura keeps a keen eye on the challenges currently facing directors and choreographers while forging partnerships with constituents and expanding the Union's reach and scope within the industry. She spearheads challenge-specific initiatives to educate and empower SDC Members and partners, with particular attention to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Political Engagement. In 2016, SDC joined the Department of Professional Employees, AFI-CIO (DPE). Laura is Co-Chair of the Coalition of Broadway Unions and Guilds (COBUG), a founder and Co-Chair of Broadway Salutes, an annual event celebrating Broadway artists, serves on the Tony Awards Administration Committee, and is a Tony Voter.

"The vote to renew Ms. Penn's position as Executive Director of SDC was unanimous and the support overwhelming. Laura has continued to be an inspired leader over this past decade and an important voice in the industry for more than 30 years," states Pam MacKinnon. "I continue to be impressed with the work she has done, the success she has had in serving our Members, and her goals for the future. She is a dedicated leader and I am honored to have the opportunity to continue to work together for a greater future for our Members."

"Over this past decade we have done great work as a Union and have made tremendous strides to unite, empower, and protect our Members," states Laura Penn. "I look forward to continuing to navigate the challenges and opportunities for live theatre in the 21st Century. I'm honored to support our outstanding Members, who are leaders in this vibrant industry."

SDC is the theatrical union that unites, empowers, and protects professional stage directors and choreographers throughout the United States. Our mission is to foster a national community of professional stage directors and choreographers by protecting the rights, health and livelihoods of all our Members; to facilitate the exchange of ideas, information and opportunities, while educating the current and future generations about the role of directors and choreographers; and to provide effective administrative, negotiating and contractual support. SDC has jurisdiction over the employment of directors and choreographers working in the following areas: Broadway and National tours, Off-Broadway, Association of Non-Profit Theatre Companies, New York City (ANTC), Resident Theatre/League of Resident Theatres (LORT), Resident Summer Stock Companies/Council of Resident Stock Theatres (CORST/TSS), Dinner Theatre/Dinner Theatre Agreement (DTA), Regional Musical Theatre (RMT), Outdoor Musical Stock (OMS). SDC also provides Tier, Regional Commercial, and Special contracts to protect Members who wish to work for theatres not covered or referenced in one of the above mentioned Collectively Bargained Agreements.