Nominate A Director or Choreographer Who Is Transforming Regional Theatre!
The nomination process for the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation’s
Zelda Fichandler Award is now open through July 10 at 12pm EST.
Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) established The Zelda Fichandler Award in 2009 to recognize an outstanding director or choreographer making a unique and exceptional contribution to his or her community through extraordinary work in theatre. This Award is not for lifetime achievement; the intent is to honor an artist for both accomplishment to date and promise for the future.
Zelda Fichandler, founding Artistic Director of Arena Stage in Washington DC, stands at the forefront of the regional theatre movement, a movement of visionary artists who dedicated themselves to communities across the country more than 50 years ago. Zelda’s vision, aesthetic and rigor have brought seminal works to the stage; her influence has profoundly shaped the artistry and careers of actors, designers, writers, and fellow directors; her leadership has informed cultural policy; and her tenacity and spirit have brought strength to the eco-system that is the foundation of the American Theatre today. Zelda is a champion of firsts, perhaps most notably to helm the first theatre to be awarded the Regional Theatre Tony Award for outstanding achievement, where she cultivated an evolving resident acting company as she diligently forged a path toward a life in the regional theatre. Zelda’s courage and that of her fellow founders resulted in the establishment of theatres in communities across the United States that today illuminate our nation’s cultural life.With this award, SDCF acknowledges the profound impact the founders of regional theatres around the country have had on the field, and honors their legacy. The national arts landscape was transformed by their passion and courage. Through the Zelda Fichandler Award, SDCF recognizes extraordinary individuals who are building upon this legacy by advancing and continuing to transform the arts landscape through their unique and creative work in the American regional theatre.
Past awardees, in order of award, are Jonathan Moscone (Orinda, California), Michael Halberstam (Glencoe, Illinois), Blanka Zizka (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), Bill Rauch (Ashland, Oregon), Charles Newell (Chicago, Illinois), and Joseph Haj (Chapel Hill, North Carolina). Since 2011, finalists have been selected in each region as well.
Program Synopsis
The Zelda Fichandler Award recognizes prominent achievement in the field, deep investment in a particular place, and singular creativity and artistry. The honoree will receive an unrestricted financial award of $5,000 from SDCF. The Award is given regionally on a rotating basis. This year, it will be given to a director or choreographer who has made and who continues to make a significant contribution to his or her community through extraordinary work in theatre in the Western Region, which is comprised of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this award, the artist must:
- Have made and be continuing to make a unique and exceptional contribution to the selected region’s arts landscape through work in theatre. Institutional artists and freelance directors/choreographers are both eligible.
- Work and live primarily in this year’s selected region, the Western Region, which is comprised of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
- Be a Full SDC Member in good standing or SDC Associate Member in good standing at the date of the nomination deadline.
*Note that those formerly selected as finalists for this award are eligible.
Nominees will be evaluated based upon the following criteria:
- Influence: the nominee’s effect on the cultural landscape and the vibrancy of the region. While the emphasis will be on theatre work, the entirety of a nominee’s civic engagement in the region will be considered.
- Impact: the significance of the Zelda Fichandler Award to the nominee and the community.
- Potential: future promise.
- Artistry: vision, energy, and creativity in the nominee’s body of work.
Nominations will be accepted from all sources through July 10, 2015. Nominators need not be SDC Members. Late nominations and self-nominations will not be accepted. A selection committee of theatre professionals will select the Zelda Fichandler Award recipient from nominated artists by September. The Award will be presented in Fall 2015.
Nomination forms available here.
Please direct any questions to Alanna Coby at acoby@sdcfoundation.org.
Founded in 1965, Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation exists to foster, promote and develop the creativity and craft of stage directors and choreographers. SDCF’s goals are to provide opportunities to practice the crafts of directing and choreography; to gather and disseminate craft and career information; to promote the profession to emerging talent; to provide opportunities for exchange of knowledge among directors and choreographers; and to increase the awareness of the value of directors’ and choreographers’ work.
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