SDC Announces 2011 Exec. Board

Karen Azenberg elected to serve second three-year term as SDC president. Tony-winner Melvin Bernhardt ("Da") awarded President's Award for Extraordinary Service.

Barbara Wolkoff appointed Director of Member Services.

Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), the national labor union representing professional stage directors and choreographers, proudly announces the results of its Executive Board elections as determined at their recent annual meeting, attended by nearly 100 directors and choreographers.

Director/Choreographer Karen Azenberg has been elected to serve a second three-year term as Union president. "It is an honor simply to serve with such an extraordinary group of directors and
choreographers," says Ms. Azenberg. "I am proud of all SDC does to serve its members and to participate in the larger theatrical community. I look forward to the next three years."

Joining Ms. Azenberg on the Board are incumbents including Julie Arenal, Walter Bobbie, Larry Carpenter, Marcia Milgrom Dodge, Richard Hamburger, Paul Lazarus, Susan H. Schulman, Amy Morton and Sharon Ott. Ms. Morton will also serve as the Midwest Regional Representative; and
Ms. Ott will also serve as the Southeast Regional Representative. Newly elected to the Board are Moisès Kaufman and Seret Scott.

SDC Executive Director Laura Penn also announces the appointment of Barbara Wolkoff to the newly established position of Director of Member Services. "Providing service to our membership is our top priority," proclaims Ms. Penn. "Ms. Wolkoff's thirteen-year history with SDC uniquely qualifies her to advance this work for the Union."

The SDC annual meeting opened with the presentation of the President's Award for Extraordinary Service to Melvin Bernhardt, and as previously announced, Joe A. Callaway Awards to director Ciarán O'Reilly (Irish Repertory Theatre's THE EMPEROR JONES) and choreographer Byron Easley
(Urban Stages' LANGSTON IN HARLEM). Mr. Bernhardt, Tony Award-winner for his direction of DA, served many years on the SDC Executive Board and the Tony Administration Committee and has long been a champion of the SDC Foundation and its programs.

SDC is a national theatrical labor union whose mission is to foster a national community of professional stage Directors and Choreographers by protecting the rights, health and livelihoods of all of its 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 providing effective administration, negotiations and contractual support.

For additional information, visit SDC online at SDCweb.org.