Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation Unveils 23-24 Professional Development Program Cycle 1 Recipients

Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF), the not-for-profit foundation of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), has revealed the recipients of the 2023-2024 Professional Development Program Cycle 1. Previously called the SDCF Observership Program, SDCF's revitalized Professional Development Program provides opportunities for early career directors and choreographers to observe and/or support experienced directors and choreographers during the production process.

Recipients of the 2023-2024 SDCF Professional Development Program Cycle 1 include:

SDCF Shadows

• Ariana Andretta (Moulin Rouge! The Musical with Associate Choreographer Camden Gonzales on Broadway)
• Katherine Bahena-Benitez (Stereophonic by David Adjmi with Director Daniel Aukin at Playwrights Horizons in New York City)
• Youri Kim (Stereophonic by David Adjmi with Director Daniel Aukin at Playwrights Horizons in New York City)

SDCF Observers

• Phoebe Brooks (I Can Get It For You Wholesale with Director Trip Cullman at Classic Stage Company in New York City)
• Arnaldo Galban (Buena Vista Social Club with Director Saheem Ali at Atlantic Theater Company in New York City)
• Javon Q. Minter (I Can Get It For You Wholesale with Director Trip Cullman at Classic Stage Company in New York City)
• Arti Ishak (The Nacirema Society by Pearl Cleage with Director Lili-Anne Brown at Goodman Theatre in Chicago, IL)

SDCF Fellow

• Ariel Reich (How To Dance In Ohio with Director Sammi Cannold on Broadway)

The goals of this program are to provide access for directors and/or choreographers who have not seen the work of an experienced director/choreographer (Mentor) or have not previously worked on a certain type of production or at a certain level, and to provide mentorship from experienced directors and choreographers to newer directors and choreographers. The Professional Development program will provide three types of opportunities throughout the year: Shadows, Observers, and Fellows. Shadows are short-term opportunities to watch one specific aspect of a production process. Observerships are production-long opportunities to watch the production process from first rehearsal to opening night. Fellowships allow someone to support a director and/or choreographer during a production process as part of the artistic team.

To learn more about these artists, please visit: https://sdcfoundation.org/professional-development-program-2023-2024-season-cycle-1-and-fall-opportunities-recipients/