New Generations Program
Objective#1: Future Leaders
Future Leaders: Round 7 Recipients
Center Theatre Group's (Los Angeles, CA) associate producer and director of new play production Diane Rodriguez will mentor Jesus Reyes. Mr. Reyes’ mentorship will concentrate primarily on the New Play Production Program, including overseeing the creation of a bi-annual newsletter that will inform readers of the program. He will also work with Ms Rodriguez to cultivate relationships with smaller ensembles and theatre companies, oversee the management of artist residencies and will co-produce performances of Suzan Lori-Parks’ 365 Days/365 Plays.
Childsplay’s (Tempe, AZ) artistic director David Saar will mentor Andy Alcala in artistic directing. Mr. Alcala’s responsibilities in new play development will include dramaturgy, script evaluation and planning playwright workshops that better serve the theatre’s growing Latino audience. He will also teach classes at the Childsplay Academy co-direct with Mr. Saar and will direct a touring or mainstage production during the second year of the mentorship.
Clubbed Thumb’s (New York, NY) co-directors Maria Striar and Meg MacCary will mentor Diana Konopka in artistic leadership. Ms Konopka will learn the management, administrative and artistic duties of the leader of a small theatre company, including literary management, development, programming, bookkeeping, marketing and publicity.
Cornerstone Theater Company’s (Los Angeles, CA) managing director Shay Wafer will mentor T Keaton-Woods in theatre management. Ms. Keaton-Woods will serve as the associate managing director. Her responsibilities will include serving as staff liaison to the executive committee, participating in the budgeting process and acting as assistant producer for community performances of Literature to Life education shows. She will also be in charge of front-of-house logistics for Cornerstone’s Justice Cycle productions.
Long Wharf Theatre’s (New Haven, CT) managing director Joan Channick will mentor Deeksha Gaur. Ms Gaur will serve as assistant managing director, focusing on issues of institutional planning and strategy. She will also work on audience development, a capital and endowment campaign, and planning for the theatre’s new facilities.
The Playwrights’ Center’s (Minneapolis, MN) producing artistic director Polly Carl will mentor director Hayley Finn. Ms. Finn will primarily work on the Playwrights’ Center’s development Lab and their annual PlayLabs Festival. In addition, Ms Finn will learn the duties of a producer, fundraiser and marketer.
Pregones Theater's (Bronx, NY) associate artistic director Alvan Colón Lespier will mentor Jessica Moya in the area of technical production. The mentorship offers a guided career advancement project with shared responsibilities for season planning; drafting of production calendars, budgets, and material inventories; selection and coordination of production personnel; management of production runs and theater equipment; and related evaluations. Ms Moya will also play a leadership role in the design of subsequent technical theater training workshops, and in creating a new technical manual for Pregones’ 9,000 sq. ft. theater facility.
The Public Theater’s (New York, NY) artistic director Oskar Eustis will mentor Niegel Smith. As artistic leadership associate Mr. Smith will direct in New Work Now! and other workshops, direct in the Shakespeare Lab, assistant direct on mainstage productions, produce in the theatre’s developmental production program and work with Mr. Eustis on specific development and board activities.
Roadside Theater’s (Norton, VA) artistic director Dudley Cocke will mentor Nick Szuberla in playwriting, directing, producing and advocacy. Mr. Szuberla’s mentorship will be framed by the theatre’s Thousand Kites project which employs theatre and media to examine the impact of prisons on inmates, guards and their families and communities.
Future Leaders: Round 6 Recipients
Alley Theatre's (Houston, TX) director of Education and Community Engagement Amy Steele is mentoring Autumn Knight in education and community outreach. Ms. Knight is coordinating the Alley Theatre's Education and Community Engagement programs, including a new play development program for high school students, and is assisting with teacher recruitment and training.
Black Ensemble Theater's (Chicago, IL) executive director Jackie Taylor is mentoring Reuben D. Echoles in artistic leadership. Mr. Echoles is learning the management and administrative duties of an artistic director, working as an assistant director, has directed a production and is teaching an eight-week acting workshop for beginners.
Classic Stage Company's (New York, NY) artistic director Brian Kulick is mentoring Jeff Janisheski in artistic directing. Mr. Janisheski is collaborating on the First Look Festival, the On the Verge program and the Monday Night Open Rehearsal series. He serves as an ambassador for Classic Stage Company's new education initiative, assists visiting directors and has directed his own readings and a workshop.
The Foundry Theatre's (New York, NY) producing artistic director Melanie Joseph is mentoring Sunder Ganglani in artistic producing. Mr. Ganglani participates in the development of new work, aids in the conception and execution of public dialogue events and has helped to build an advisory board of artists.
INTAR Theatre's (New York, NY) artistic director Eduardo Machado is mentoring Megan Smith in artistic producing and new play development. Ms. Smith helps with all administrative aspects of production and takes part in the selection and creative development of plays.
Jump-Start Performance Co.'s (San Antonio, TX) education director Steve Bailey is mentoring Daniel Jackson in directing and community education. Mr. Jackson assists on productions, participates as a teacher in Jump-Start's education programs and is helping with the programming of Jump-Start's guest artist series.
Mu Performing Arts' (Minneapolis, MN) artistic director Rick Shiomi is mentoring Randy Reyes in artistic directing. Mr. Reyes has taken responsibility for the New Eyes Festival and New Directions Festival. He is also participating in the organization of theatre outreach performances, organizing and leading actor and script development workshops and has directed a mainstage production.
Mum Puppettheatre's (Philadelphia, PA) artistic director Robert Smythe is mentoring Martina Plag in puppetry. Ms. Plag is conducting historical and practical research and assisting with preliminary puppet design and engineering. She is also developing projects involving community outreach, including creating collaborations between Mum Puppettheatre, individual artists and other organizations.
Youth Ensemble of Atlanta's (Atlanta, GA) executive director Deborah Frye Barber is mentoring Chiwuzo Ife Okwumabua in producing. Ms. Okwumabua assists with producing Youth Ensemble of Atlanta's productions, participates in the general operations of the company and work on tour management and fundraising.