Professional Development Program

3/14/24: An update about the Professional Development Program will be shared in the beginning of May.

What is the SDCF Professional Development Program?

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. The program’s primary focus will be emerging and early-career artists, though there may be opportunities for mid-career artists during a season as well. Each opportunity will be determined around individual applications and the specific circumstances of the opportunity. Applicants do not need to be Members of SDC for most opportunities; any opportunities that are only for SDC Members and Associate Members will be clearly labeled. Any applicant currently enrolled in a collegiate level institution must have completed their program by the start date of any opportunity they are applying for.

The goals of this program are to:

• provide access to 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
• provide mentorship from experienced directors and choreographers to newer directors and choreographers

Opportunities available throughout each season: 

Shadows – Short-term opportunity to watch one specific aspect of a production process (such as pre-pro for choreographers, the design process, table work, first two weeks on your feet, tech and/or previews).

Observers – Production-long opportunity to watch the production process from first rehearsal to opening night. Well suited for directors and/or choreographers who have not had access to a professional theatrical experience before, an experience of the type of production being worked on, or who are specifically interested in watching the Mentor on the production.

Fellows – Supports a director and/or choreographer during a production process as part of the artistic team. This is ideal for someone who has already had some directing and/or choreography experience and is looking to further develop their craft through more active participation.

Named Fellowships: Rehearsal-based named Fellowships (e.g. Charles Abbott Fellowship, Mike Ockrent Fellowship) will become part of the Professional Development program cycles whereas non rehearsal based Fellowships will open as the opportunities are available.

To learn more about each of the Named Fellowships, please click here.

All opportunities include one on one meeting(s) with the Mentor (experienced director and/or choreographer) throughout the process depending on the length of the opportunity. Also included is networking with other participants in the program, introductory meetings and exit meetings with a member of SDCF’s staff; during these meetings, goals for the opportunity will be set, along with career guidance at the conclusion of the opportunity.  Non-SDC Members who complete the opportunity will be eligible to become an SDC Associate Member; SDC will waive the initiation fee and first year of dues for an Associate Membership.

Stipend & Award Amount:

Shadows and Observers will receive a $600/week stipend; the total amount will depend on the length of the opportunity. Fellows are awarded an amount between $3000 – $6000 typically though final award amount will depend on the length of the opportunity.

Please note: Some applicants might be familiar with other professional development opportunities–fellowships, residencies, or awards—that are available at the Foundation and are not specific to the opportunities listed above (such as the Denham Fellowship or Lloyd Richards New Futures Residency). These will be announced and executed separately from the Professional Development Program processes.

Professional Development Program Application Process

Three times a year, 4-6 opportunities on average will be made available for artists to apply to via SlideRoom. Typically, applications will be available in January, May, and September though actual timing will be updated online throughout the year. Applications will be evaluated by the SDCF staff as well as a panel of directors and choreographers. If you are a finalist for an opportunity, you will be contacted by SDCF staff. The cost to apply will be $5 each time opportunities are made available. (If you apply for 3 of the 5 opportunities available in the first cycle, that would still only be $5;  if you apply for opportunities for every cycle in a season that will be $15 total.) The fees cover the administrative cost of processing all applications. If you need support covering the application fee, please reach out to SDCF Program Associate Hannah Kutten at hkutten@sdcfoundation.org.

Applications will be evaluated on the following three categories: 

Clarity: The applicant’s ability to articulate interest, with specificity, in the theatrical art form and in their own work as a director and/or choreographer. Their response has clarity of thought, understanding, and focus.                                                                  

Timing: The applicant speaks to why this is the specific right moment in their career to participate in the given opportunity.   

Access & Impact: The applicant articulates why this production opportunity would give them access to knowledge and/or a type of educational theatrical experience they do not currently have.

For a note about the evolution of the SDCF Professional Development Program from SDC Foundation Director Dani Barlow, please click here

To hear more about the program from Foundation Director Dani Barlow, you can listen to an interview with her and SDCF Trustee Seema Sueko on Libsyn, Apple podcasts, or Spotify.

To read FAQs about the Professional Development Program, please click here

Support for SDC Foundation’s Professional Development Program is made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Arts; the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature; the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council; Stage Directors and Choreographers Society; A3 Artists Agency; APA; Michael Moore Agency; and many other generous individuals.