Yes. The Drama League Directors Project advances career opportunities and development for directors working in the creative sector and related fields. We believe it is important to offer this opportunity to as wide a range of voices as possible, and encourage directors who identify as members of underinvested communities, including those who have historically been underrecognized in leadership, and/or those whose paths to direction may have been nonlinear or nontraditional, to apply. This includes, but is not limited to, Black, Indigenous, Latino/Latina, Asian-American/Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern/North African, South Asian, Southeast Asian, biracial, mixed-race, Global Majority, LGBTQIAA2+, women, non-binary, and disabled directors, as well as directors from rural or non-urban localities. This includes directors both nationally and internationally.

Yes. Our programs require that applicants will have served as the director of record — that is, the lead director of a project — for a minimum of three professional, semi-professional, or community theatre productions before applying. These can be productions of any size or scale that opened for live performance to a public audience. 

Let’s break that down:

• What work fits the eligibility requirement? Any theatrical production where you were paid to direct (in any amount), OR directing work you produced yourself, OR directing work with a company or institution where you agreed to forego a salary or stipend (as one might at a community theater). These can be any theatrical projects where you directed performers in a live setting, where the project “opened” in front of an audience. 
• What work does NOT fit the eligibility requirement: readings, workshops, or private events not open to the public; productions where the applicant was the Assistant or Associate director; and productions directed as part of one’s academic study (i.e., when obtaining a degree at a college or university). 
• What does The Drama League consider a “production”? We mean events that were performed for a live audience. These could be single performance events, or longer runs…doesn’t matter to us! Outdoor, site-specific, promenade, and other hybrid productions are welcome. Virtual/Streaming theatre productions may be included, but should not constitute all of the required productions. 
• What about other kinds of directing credits, beyond being the lead director? While we deeply value your experience in assistant direction, associate direction, choreography, intimacy direction, stage management, acting, etc., they should not be counted towards the eligibility minimum of directing credits. For this purpose, you should only include projects where you were listed as the lead director or co-director of the project. 
• What about films or videos that I’ve directed? Do those count? Well, they can, but Directors Project programs are intended for artists who have at least some experience in live theater, so film/video projects should not constitute the majority of your eligibility. For filmed projects, eligible productions would be those that were offered to an audience in a cinema, on television, or in a streaming environment (including YouTube).
• I’ve been paid to direct productions at colleges and universities. Does that count? Yes! The only work in academic settings that will not meet the eligibility requirements would be projects directed when you were a student. (We value student work as a learning opportunity, but for our programs, we want to make sure applicants are already in the journey in making work outside of their school experience.)
• I’m a student now. Can I still apply? Due to the time commitments of the various programs, recipients cannot be enrolled in any undergraduate or graduate degree program during the program’s period of support. Please check the program’s time requirements, as each are different.
• Why so strict? The Directors Project’s programmatic intention is to accelerate careers already in motion…to draw attention and amplify artists working in the field. And to do that, your journey has to have already begun. Put another way, our programs work best when the recipient has a basic knowledge and experience of the creative experience of directing, which we can build upon together.
• I’m not sure if I fit the requirements. Who can I talk to? We understand that the path to a directing career varies widely, and that the idea of ‘productions’ may not fully encompass the wide variety of experiences directors have. Email The Drama League Artistic Team at artistic@dramaleague.org. We’ll be happy to discuss it with you!

No. We understand that directors come to their profession from a variety of paths and experiences.

The answer is (a qualified) yes. Our programs are available to any director who feels they are right for them. However, any applicant who is not a U.S. citizen will need to obtain all documents and permissions (visas or otherwise) to spend the right amount of time in the United States…which ranges from two separate weeks (residencies) to two years (certain fellowships). AND, even though our programs are educational in nature and not considered employment, they come with a monetary scholarship prize that some nations (including the United States) consider taxable. Please check with your own country’s embassy, ministry, or municipality to ensure you understand the responsibilities you undertake when applying. One other thing: The Drama League offers air travel for some of its programs, but these are only for domestic (U.S. originating) flights. For those living outside of the United States, program participations means you will have to fly to/from the continental United States first on your own, and then The Drama League will coordinate travel inside the country.

To be fair to all applicants, there will be no deadline extension. We suggest finishing your application and submitting it at least 72 hours before the deadline, to ensure you don’t encounter any internet outages or software difficulties.

In very loose, general terms, we think of an Early-Career Director as someone who is at the beginning of their professional journey…beginning to work beyond the completion of any educational path they have taken. A Mid-Career Director, then, might be someone who has been working in the field for 4-5 years or more, and an Established Director would be anyone who has done more than that. 🙂 HOWEVER, we understand these categories, even as general as they are, are not incredibly effective when elucidating the career paths of artists. They are not important or discussed in our selection panel’s deliberations. Why not? Well, just because you’ve worked consistently for ten years does not mean, for instance, that opportunity has come your way; similarly, directors who have only been working a few years may have moved quickly to big opportunities, and not need the same things their peers need. In truth, every individual comes to directing on their own individual path; to speak with Drama League staff about your specific experience and its appropriateness for any specific opportunity, please email artistic@dramaleague.org with your questions.

Of course! It is hoped, however, that they will note this in their application narratives, and address the reasons they feel they are the ideal candidate for the opportunity.