TA(L)KING DIRECTION

HowWeWorkNow Directing In 2020: Pandemic Edition

Recorded on August 4, 2020
How the American Theatre returns is a burning question in debate across the nation. We are joined by an esteemed virologist, Dr. Matthew Frieman, PhD, to discuss his work on a COVID-19 vaccine. Ali Skye Bennet, Artistic Producer leads an important discussion with Dr. Frieman and our current directing fellows (Cristina Angeles, Signe V. Harriday, Taylor Haven Holt, Cait Robinson, and Emma Rosa Went). What happens next is a glimpse into the future of the work we all need to do to ensure we come back safe and strong.
HOWWEWORKNOW, The Drama League’s acclaimed series of discussions that shape, distill, and share best practices about how the industry and craft of directing allies with active change on the ground. The artists in this video have donated their time and fees to help provide much-needed aid, relief, and programs for stage directors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you're a director needing assistance, visit our COVID-19 resources and emergency relief programs here:dramaleague.org/covidresources/covid19resources
Novavax’s Phase 1 data: https://cnb.cx/3ibQhmT
Editing services donated by:catalinmedia.com/

In Conversation with Mei Ann Teo

Recorded on July 17, 2020
 
The skillfully compassionate director and visionary arts leader Mei Ann Teo joins the series from her native country of Singapore. Nilan, Associate Artistic Director, moderates the discussion from Teo's thoughts on consciously decreasing harm in the workplace, the work of the auteur, her work as Producing Artistic Director of Musical Theatre Factory, and so much more. 
 
IN CONVERSATION, The Drama League's acclaimed series of discussions with the directors changing the face of theater, television, and film, is now online! The process of creating art is revealed in these intimate, surprising, and wide-ranging conversations with award-winning creators from around the world.
 
The artists in this video have donated their time and fees to help provide much-needed aid, relief, and programs for stage directors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. You can help! Donate here:
dramaleague.org/ghostlight
If you're a director needing assistance, visit our COVID-19 resources and emergency relief programs here:dramaleague.org/covidresources/covid19resources
Learn more about Mei Ann Teo:
https://meiannteo.squarespace.com/ 
 
Watch Teo's film Let Me Kill My Mother First:https://www.viddsee.com/video/let-me-kill-my-mother-first/in32i?locale=id  
 
Learn more about Musical Theatre Factory:
https://mtf.nyc/
 
Editing services donated by:
https://catalinmedia.com/

#Collaboration with Girl from the North Country

This conversation was recorded in early June 2020, in wake of the murders of George Floyd, Tony McDade, Rayshard Brooks, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and far too many others. We hold their families in our thoughts and wish for swift justice. We’ve attached links in this video and in its description to point you towards just a few of the many ways you can support Black lives, Indigenous lives, and people of color. We hope to not distract from the important work happening in our world, but ally it with light from artists, and to spread leadership and hope.
We recognize and stand with the following organizations:
 
Black Lives Matter, blacklivesmatter.com
Black Visions Collective, blackvisionsmn.org
NAACP Legal Defense Fund, naacpldf.org
American Civil Liberties Union, action.aclu.org/give/now
National Resource List, linktr.ee/NationalResourcesList
Recorded on June 12, 2020
 
We sat down with Conor McPherson (Director/Writer) and Simon Hale (Orchestration, Arrangements, and Music Direction) from Broadway's Girl From North Country to ask how McPherson blew up the traditional musical form (with the help of Hale) to create this Bob Dylan music inspired force of nature of production.
 
#COLLABORATION, The Drama League's new series of conversations that provide a window into the partnership process between a director and a playwright, designer, producer, or actor. In each episode, artists will discuss their journey together on a project and their relationship as collaborators. The process of creating art is revealed in these intimate, surprising, and wide-ranging conversations with award-winning collaborators from around the world.
The artists in this video have donated their time and fees to help provide much-needed aid, relief, and programs for stage directors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
You can help! Donate here: dramaleague.org/ghostlight
If you're a director needing assistance, visit our COVID-19 resources and emergency relief programs here: dramaleague.org/covidresources/covid19resources
Learn more about Girl From North Country: https://northcountryonbroadway.com/
 
Learn more about Conor McPherson: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0574217/
 
Learn more about Simon Hale: https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/simon-hale-454222
 
Editing services donated by:
https://catalinmedia.com/
 

#Collaboration with Gaye Taylor Upchurch & Lauren Gunderson

This conversation was recorded in late May 2020, prior to the murders of George Floyd, Tony McDade, and Rayshard Brooks, and in the wake of the murders of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and far too many others. We hold their families in our thoughts and wish for swift justice. We’ve attached links in this video and in its description to point you towards just a few of the many ways you can support Black lives, Indigenous lives, and people of color. We hope to not distract from the important work happening in our world, but ally it with light from artists, and to spread leadership and hope.
We recognize and stand with the following organizations:
Black Lives Matter, blacklivesmatter.com
Black Visions Collective, blackvisionsmn.org
NAACP Legal Defense Fund, naacpldf.org
American Civil Liberties Union, action.aclu.org/give/now
National Resource List, linktr.ee/NationalResourcesList
Recorded on May 11, 2020
The lead creatives of Audible's The Half-Life of Marie Curie look back on what it takes to create theatre for the ear and eye. Director Gaye Taylor Upchurch (The Blameless, The Last Match, Animal) and playwright Lauren Gunderson (I and You, The Book of Will, Natural Shocks) walks us from play commission to production.
#COLLABORATION, The Drama League's new series of conversations that provide a window into the partnership process between a director and a playwright, designer, producer, or actor. In each episode, artists will discuss their journey together on a project and their relationship as collaborators. The process of creating art is revealed in these intimate, surprising, and wide-ranging conversations with award-winning collaborators from around the world.
The artists in this video have donated their time and fees to help provide much-needed aid, relief, and programs for stage directors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
You can help! Donate here: dramaleague.org/ghostlight
If you're a director needing assistance, visit our COVID-19 resources and emergency relief programs here: dramaleague.org/covidresources/covid19resources
Listen to The Half-Life of Marie Curie on Audible: https://adbl.co/2Cc3I6I
Learn more about Gaye Taylor Upchurch: https://www.gtupchurch.com/
Learn more about Lauren Gunderson: http://laurengunderson.com/
Editing services donated by:https://catalinmedia.com/ --

In Conversation with Sheryl Kaller

This conversation was recorded in late May 2020, prior to the murders of George Floyd, Tony McDade, and Rayshard Brooks, and in the wake of the murders of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and far too many others. We hold their families in our thoughts and wish for swift justice. We’ve attached links in this video and in its description to point you towards just a few of the many ways you can support Black lives, Indigenous lives, and people of color. We hope to not distract from the important work happening in our world, but ally it with light from artists, and to spread leadership and hope.
We recognize and stand with the following organizations:
Black Lives Matter, blacklivesmatter.com
Black Visions Collective, blackvisionsmn.org
NAACP Legal Defense Fund, naacpldf.org
American Civil Liberties Union, action.aclu.org/give/now
National Resource List, linktr.ee/NationalResourcesList
Recorded on May 13, 2020
The incomparable director Sheryl Kaller shares her remarkable career with us on this week's episode. Gabriel Stelian-Shanks, Artistic Director, moderates the discussion from Kaller's thoughts on the evolution of women in the field, being a working parent in the theatre, and her work with Terrence McNally, Billy Porter, and Christopher Durang.
IN CONVERSATION, The Drama League's acclaimed series of discussions with the directors changing the face of theater, television, and film, is now online! The process of creating art is revealed in these intimate, surprising, and wide-ranging conversations with award-winning creators from around the world.
The artists in this video have donated their time and fees to help provide much-needed aid, relief, and programs for stage directors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. You can help! Donate here:dramaleague.org/ghostlight
If you're a director needing assistance, visit our COVID-19 resources and emergency relief programs here:dramaleague.org/covidresources/covid19resources
Learn more about Sheryl Kaller:https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Sheryl-Kaller/
Editing services donated by:https://catalinmedia.com/

#Collaboration - Associate Artistic Women Leaders of Color

This conversation was recorded in late May 2020, prior to the murders of George Floyd, Tony McDade, and Rayshard Brooks, and in the wake of the murders of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and far too many others. We hold their families in our thoughts and wish for swift justice. We’ve attached links in this video and in its description to point you towards just a few of the many ways you can support Black lives, Indigenous lives, and people of color. We hope to not distract from the important work happening in our world, but ally it with light from artists, and to spread leadership and hope.
We recognize and stand with the following organizations:
Black Lives Matter, blacklivesmatter.com
Black Visions Collective, blackvisionsmn.org
NAACP Legal Defense Fund, naacpldf.org
American Civil Liberties Union, action.aclu.org/give/now
National Resource List, linktr.ee/NationalResourcesList
Recorded on May 20, 2020
We gathered three rising stars of the field who serve our industry as both director and associate artistic director to debunk what exactly is the role of an associate artistic director? We also deep-dived into the experience of being a woman of color on the job at a historically White institution. Drama League alums Nicole A. Watson (Round House Theatre), Dawn Monique Williams (Aurora Theatre Company), and Pirronne Yousefzadeh (Geva Theatre Center) sit down with our Artistic Director Gabriel Stelian-Shanks.
IN CONVERSATION, The Drama League's acclaimed series of discussions with the directors changing the face of theater, television, and film, is now online! The process of creating art is revealed in these intimate, surprising, and wide-ranging conversations with award-winning creators from around the world.The artists in this video have donated their time and fees to help provide much-needed aid, relief, and programs for stage directors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
You can help! Donate here:dramaleague.org/ghostlight
If you're a director needing assistance, visit our COVID-19 resources and emergency relief programs here:dramaleague.org/covidresources/covid19resources
Watch the interview on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/434185313/2ec2932dfa 
Learn more about Nicole A. Watson:nicoleawatson.com/
Learn more about Dawn Monique Williams:dawnmoniquewilliams.com/
Learn more about Pirronne Yousefzadeh:pirronne.com/
A list of artistic leaders of color to know:
Meila BensussenArtistic DirectorHartford Stage
Chanel BraggAssociate Artistic DirectorArizona Theatre Company
Snehal DesaiArtistic DirectorEast West Players
Barry FlemingArtistic DirectorActors Theatre of Louisville
Nataki GarrettArtistic DirectorOregon Shakespeare Festival
Maria Manuela GoyanesArtistic DirectorWoolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Rebecca MartinezAssociate Artistic DirectorWP Theater
Jonathan McCroryArtistic DirectorNational Black Theatre
Muriel MiguelArtistic DirectorSpiderwoman Theater
Raelle Myrick-HodgesCreative Director651 ARTS
Evren OdcikinInterim Associate Artistic DirectorOregon Shakespeare Festival
Jacob G. PadronArtistic DirectorLong Wharf Theatre
Ralph B. PeñaProducing Artistic DirectorMa-Yi Theater Company
Michael A. SheppardArtistic DirectorCelebration Theatre
Hana S. SherifArtistic DirectorThe Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Harold StewardProducing Co-Executive DirectorThe Theater Offensive
Stephanie YbarraArtistic DirectorBaltimore Center Stage
and many more.

Queering The Theater

This conversation was recorded in late May 2020, in the wake of the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and Tony McDade. We hold their families in our thoughts and wish for swift justice. We’ve attached links in this video and in its description to point you towards just a few of the many ways you can support Black lives, Indigenous lives, and people of color. We hope to not distract from the important work happening in our world, but ally it with light from artists, and to spread leadership and hope.
We recognize and stand with the following organizations:
Black Lives Matter, blacklivesmatter.comBlack Visions Collective, blackvisionsmn.org/NAACP Legal Defense Fund, naacpldf.org/American Civil Liberties Union, action.aclu.org/give/now
Recorded on May 28, 2020
The Drama League gathered the leaders of our nation’s top LGBTQIA+ theatre companies. The conversation that unfolded investigated why queer specific space is important in the American Theatre? How do we honor voices of the past, present, and future? Who is overlooked in our communities? How do we lead our communities and its allies towards a more equitable, authentic, diverse, and inclusive practice? And so much more! The Drama League’s Artistic Director Gabriel Stelian-Shanks is joined by Megan Carney (About Face Theatre), Paul Conroy (Out Front Theatre Company), Philip Crosby (Richmond Triangle Players), John Fisher (Theatre Rhinoceros), Adam Odsess-Rubin (National Queer Theater), Michael A. Sheppard (Celebration Theatre), Harold Steward (The Theater Offensive), and Zak Stowe (Stage Q) in an unprecedented conversation about queering the American theatre. 
IN CONVERSATION, The Drama League's acclaimed series of discussions with the directors changing the face of theater, television, and film, is now online! The process of creating art is revealed in these intimate, surprising, and wide-ranging conversations with award-winning creators from around the world.
The artists in this video have donated their time and fees to help provide much-needed aid, relief, and programs for stage directors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
You can help! Donate here: dramaleague.org/ghostlight 
If you're a director needing assistance, visit our COVID-19 resources and emergency relief programs here: dramaleague.org/covidresources/covid19resources
Learn more about Megan Carney and About Face Theatre:aboutfacetheatre.com/
Learn more about Paul Conroy and Out Front Theatre Company:outfronttheatre.com/
Learn more about Philip Crosby and Richmond Triangle Players:rtriangle.org/
Learn more about John Fisher and Theatre Rhinoceros:therhino.org/Learn more about Adam Odsess-Rubin and National Queer Theater:nationalqueertheater.org/
Learn more about Michael A. Sheppard and Celebration Theatre:celebrationtheatre.com/Learn more about Harold Steward and The Theater Offensive:thetheateroffensive.org/
Learn more about Zak Stowe and Stage Q:stageq.org/
Watch the interview on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/431895548/65fcc1d27e
Learn more about The Drama League:dramaleague.org/
Video Editing Services provided by @catalinmedia

In Conversation with Lileana Blain-Cruz

The conversation that you are about to witness was recorded on May 8, 2020, before the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmad Arbery, and Tony McDade. We hold their families in our thoughts and wish for swift justice. We've attached links in this video and in the description to point you towards ways to support Black lives. We hope to not distract from the work on the ground but ally it with light from Black artists. We feel it is important to share this conversation to spread light, leadership, and hope from one of the field's most exceptional Black voices. We hope you enjoy In Conversation with Lileana Blain-Cruz.
We recognize and stand with the following organizations: 
Black Lives Matter, https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019
Black Visions Collective, https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/
NAACP Legal Defense Fund, https://www.naacpldf.org/
American Civil Liberties Union, https://action.aclu.org/give/now
In this episode, the incredible visionary director Lileana Blain-Cruz joins artistic director Gabriel Stelian-Shanks, to discuss her love of language, her wish to collaborate with Rihanna, and the steps she takes in keeping her work active.  
IN CONVERSATION, The Drama League's acclaimed series of discussions with the directors changing the face of theater, television, and film, is now online! The process of creating art is revealed in these intimate, surprising, and wide-ranging conversations with award-winning creators from around the world.
The artists in this video have donated their time and fees to help provide much-needed aid, relief, and programs for stage directors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
You can help! Donate here: dramaleague.org/ghostlight
If you're a director needing assistance, visit our COVID-19 resources and emergency relief programs here: dramaleague.org/covidresources/covid19resources
Learn more about Lileana Blain-Cruz:http://www.lileanablaincruz.com/  
Watch the interview on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/425512714
Learn more about The Drama League:http://www.dramaleague.org/  
Video Editing Services provided by @catalinmedia

#Collaboration with Michael Mayer, Christian Borle, and Jonathan Groff

In this episode, the artists of Westside Theatre's revival of Little Shop of Horrors look back on their eventful creative journey together. Director Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening, Thoroughly Modern Millie, A View from the Bridge), actor Christian Borle (Peter and the Starcatcher, Smash, Something Rotten!), and actor Jonathan Groff (Hamilton, Frozen, Looking) deep dive into their long history of working with each other across theater and film.
#COLLABORATION, The Drama League's new series of conversations that provide a window into the partnership process between a director and a playwright, designer, producer, or actor. In each episode, artists will discuss their journey together on a project and their relationship as collaborators. The process of creating art is revealed in these intimate, surprising, and wide-ranging conversations with award-winning collaborators from around the world.
The artists in this video have donated their time and fees to help provide much-needed aid, relief, and programs for stage directors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
You can help! Donate here: dramaleague.org/ghostlight
If you're a director needing assistance, visit our COVID-19 resources and emergency relief programs here: dramaleague.org/covidresources/covid19resources
Learn more about Little Shop of Horrors: https://www.littleshopnyc.com/
Learn more about Michael Mayer: https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/michael-mayer-15595
Learn more about Christian Borle:https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Christian-Borle/
Learn more about Jonathan Groff:https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Jonathan-Groff/
Watch the interview on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/422921385/b10b4d1cbf
Learn more about The Drama League: dramaleague.org/
Video Editing Services provided by @catalinmedia

In Conversation with Desdemona Chiang

In this episode, Artistic Director Gabriel Stelian-Shanks sits down with director Desdemona Chiang, to discuss her tremendous national directing career, her work to further Asian American stories on stage, and how she's developed a reputation for directing across all genres.IN CONVERSATION, The Drama League's acclaimed series of discussions with the directors changing the face of theater, television, and film, is now online! The process of creating art is revealed in these intimate, surprising, and wide-ranging conversations with award-winning creators from around the world.The artists in this video have donated their time and fees to help provide much-needed aid, relief, and programs for stage directors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.You can help! Donate here: dramaleague.org/ghostlightIf you're a director needing assistance, visit our COVID-19 resources and emergency relief programs here: dramaleague.org/covidresources/covid19resourcesLearn more about Desdemona Chiang:https://www.desdemona.org/blog/
 
Watch the interview on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/420517347 Learn more about The Drama League: dramaleague.org/Video Editing Services provided by @catalinmedia