20th Annual Directors Lab West to be Held in Pasadena in May 2019

Directors Lab West, under the direction of steering committee members Che'Rae Adams, Ernest Figueroa, Janet Miller, and Diana Wyenn, has announced its 20th annual conference for early and mid-career stage directors and choreographers. Since its founding, over 600 directors and choreographers have participated in the Lab's week-long explorations of cutting edge thinking for the Modern Stage, including prominent artists such as Vincent Paterson, Marc Bruni, Lissa Wolpe and Gregg Daniel. Hundreds of prominent guest artists have volunteered their time over the years to speak with Lab participants including luminaries such as Jack O'Brien, Randy Newman, Tonya Pinkins and Jason Alexander. For full lists of past alumni and guest artists, please visit www.directorslabwest.com.

Each year between 25 and 50 artists attend the Lab, selected from a pool of hundreds of interested applicants. Those selected participate in lectures, panel discussions, roundtables and collaborative artistic explorations with one another and with a slate of esteemed theater makers of all kinds. As many of the Lab artists reside outside Los Angeles, the Lab includes attendance at several live performances by LA area performing arts organizations during the eight day period to bring LA's rich theatrical landscape directly into the artistic dialogues. There are no fees associated with participation in the Lab.

Pasadena Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Danny Feldman said, "We're thrilled to continue our partnership with Directors Lab West. The annual gathering of directors creates a strong sense of community and professional development opportunities for theater artists, two things we are very passionate about here at the Playhouse."

Looking back on the history of the Lab, Founding Steering Committee Member Ernest Figueroa said, "We were so excited that first year when all the attending directors showed up the first day of the Lab, and twenty years later that excitement is still there and has never diminished."