The Drama League is the preeminent creative development home in North America for directors — the artists who stand at the center of live performance in theater, film, television, streaming, immersive experiences, and creative industries.. With over a century of experience in artist support, we offer resources, guidance, access, and opportunity to directors and their collaborators, as they inspire audiences across the world. 

As architects of storytelling, directors fulfill two essential needs for humanity: to deepen our understanding of the world, and to imagine new possibilities. Despite the critical role directors play in our society’s well-being, their work is often invisible to audiences; their profession is deeply under-supported and misunderstood, even inside the field. Since 1982, The Drama League’s programs, collectively called The Directors Project, have offered award-winning fellowships, residencies, assistantships, productions, services, and international exchanges. 

As of 2026, Directors Project Alumni have received 10 Tony Awards, 30 Tony Award Nominations, 28 Obie Awards, 7 Lortel Awards, and dozens of Oscar, Emmy, Golden Globe, Peabody, Drama Desk, Outer Critics, Jefferson, Drama-Logue, Helen Hayes, NAACP, GLAAD and Princess Grace nominations and awards, among other honors. Over 100 of them are artistic leaders of theaters and production companies across the United States, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia; together, they direct approximately 1,100 productions each season on five continents. dramaleague.org