Five Selected for the O'Neill's 2015 National Directors Fellowship

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, National New Play Network, The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, and Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation jointly announce selections for the National Directors Fellowship:

Lavina Jadhwani - Chicago, IL (bio)
Portia Krieger - Brooklyn, NY (bio)
Larissa Lury - Las Cruces, NM (bio)
Evren Odcikin - San Francisco, CA (bio)
Martin Wilkins - Charlotte, NC (bio)

The five directors were selected from a nationwide pool of more than 350 applicants, ranging broadly across all levels of experience and backgrounds.

Says Wendy C. Goldberg, Program Director, "We were humbled and overwhelmed by the national reponse for this program. The makeup of this group is impressive, incredibly diverse, and representative of those working in the industry today. They are a supremely talented, passionate, and intelligent group. This type of program has been a dream of mine, and we're truly excited to help nurture and support the next generation of new play directors."

In addition to Goldberg, the selection committee included David Auburn (director/playwright), Deb Zoe Laufer (playwright), Robert O'Hara (director/playwright), Freddie Ashley (Artistic Diretor, Actors Express), Nan Barnett (Executive Director, National New Play Network), Gregg Henry (Director, The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival), and Preston Whiteway (Executive Director, Eugene O'Neill Theater Center).

Fellowships begin at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in July, with workshops and professional development opportunities throughout the year, culminating with a professional directing post within the wide-ranging network of National New Play Network Member Theaters.

Applications for 2016 Fellows will be accepted in January 2016. For more information, visit www.theoneill.org/professional-development-and-education/ndf/.

About the National Directors Fellowship (NDF): NDF is 18 months of practical, hands-on training, mentorship, and -- most importantly -- concludes with a professional directing opportunity. It connects directors to a vast network of playwrights and theaters, expands access to professional support services, and provides laboratory-like settings for observation and experimentation, equipping tomorrow's stage directors with the skills, knowledge, and network to advance new play development and production around the country.

Under the leadership of National Playwrights Conference Artistic Director Wendy C. Goldberg, Fellows begin in July of each year, observing and participating in the National Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center. Fellows then travel to the MFA Playwrights' Workshop and Directing Intensive in August, led by NNPN and the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, and the NNPN National Showcase of New Plays in December. In January, they reconvene for an intense two-week Directing Symposium at the O'Neill, and the fellowship concludes with a professional directing opportunity at an NNPN Core Member theater.

**Funding for the National Directors Fellowship provided by Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.