DIRECTION OF A SCENE FOR THE STAGE DIRECTORS AND CHOREOGRAPHERS SOCIETY (SDC) SCHOLARSHIP.
SDC Event At-A-Glance
In both the preliminary and final rounds, student directors will present a rehearsed, nationally selected scene. The scene will include bona fide student actors, and will be rehearsed at the student director’s home institution for presentation at the regional festival. Directors may not act or be otherwise involved in the production of other SDC scenes from their institution. Directors are encouraged to make every effort to observe all of the SDC presentations.
In the preliminary round, students present a short scene utilizing a cast of bona fide student actors, along with a prepared statement on their vision for the scene.
Those selected to advance from the preliminary round will participate in an interview with the respondents, during which their director’s book, statement, and approach will be discussed.
Up to six scenes will be selected for presentation in the final round, which will occur at least two days following the preliminary round to allow the director and actors to work on the scene based on feedback from the preliminary round. A response session will follow the final round.
For more information, please visit : www.kennedy-center.org/education/opportunities-for-artists/pre-professional-artist-training/kcactf/directing/
In the preliminary round, students present a short scene utilizing a cast of bona fide student actors, along with a prepared statement on their vision for the scene.
Those selected to advance from the preliminary round will participate in an interview with the respondents, during which their director’s book, statement, and approach will be discussed.
Up to six scenes will be selected for presentation in the final round, which will occur at least two days following the preliminary round to allow the director and actors to work on the scene based on feedback from the preliminary round. A response session will follow the final round.
For more information, please visit : www.kennedy-center.org/education/opportunities-for-artists/pre-professional-artist-training/kcactf/directing/
Eligibility
The SDC event is intended for experienced students who have directed several scenes OR a fully mounted production. Students in this program will receive feedback on the final product from one or more professional directors and/or educators during the Festival. During the regional festival one individual will be selected by one or more SDC member(s) to receive a one-year membership in SDC.
To be eligible, students must be:
To be eligible, students must be:
- Nominated by a faculty member from the student’s institution, having demonstrated excellence in direction;
- Attending an institution that has entered either an associate or participating production during the year in which the nomination occurs; and
- A bona fide student at the time of the Regional Festival.
SDC Entry/Submission Process
STEP 1
Visit the KCACTF National Website SDC page and select your scene from the list of approved scenes. Scenes may not be cut or edited in any way.
STEP 2
Prepare your scene. Prior to the festival, students will work with student actors at their home institution to prepare their selected scene for the Region 5 Festival. Please remember, all student participants must be registered for the festival.
The Region 5 Festival will provide one table and two chairs. All properties and costumes must be provided by the director. However, please note that props and costumes are not mandatory. There will be no lighting or sound support.
A more detailed letter with all pertinent information will be emailed to SDC participants before the festival.
STEP 3
Students will submit all director materials by December 15, 2023.
Please note that all written material should be submitted as a PDF. Your video will be shared with SDC respondents and, possibly, other SDC candidates at the Region 5 Festival.
Students will submit the following:
Please note: Do not include any information that identifies your school on the following information.
Each participant for SDC will prepare a 10 Minute video concept presentation based on one of the plays/scenes from the current list. Videos should be posted to YouTube. Be sure to publish videos as "unlisted" not "private".
The First 5 Minutes of the Video
The Second 5 Minutes of the Video
Present a 5 minute emotional and visceral response to the play using images, music, collage, vision boards, short film, other persons, things - anything which will help you express your connection to the play. This is for you to use all of your creativity to reflect the heart and would of the piece and to further support and reflect your deep analysis of the whole play.
Director’s Book
Include your director's book as a single PDF file. Your director's book should include your analysis of your play/scene, director’s statement, and all evidence of concept work and research.
A Guideline:
Director’s book: A written statement that reflects analysis of the scene, visual materials (ground plan, blocking diagrams, etc.); critical materials (dramaturgical research, text, language, character analysis, etc.); and the working script for the scene with notes, edits, etc.
Director’s statement: The director’s written statement provides the personal, analytical and intuitive framework for the scene. It is a combination of script analysis, research, creativity and personal connection to the text. The statement should address the themes, images and specific lines of text that guide the director’s work, including the context of the scene; where/how the scene fits into the play.
STEP 4
Region 5 Festival Presentation
A more detailed letter with all pertinent information will be emailed to SDC participants before the festival.
Remember the deadline for all director materials is December 15, 2023 at 5 pm!
To ask about the process, contact Jamie Bullins, Region 5 Directing Initiatives Coordinator at [email protected]
Visit the KCACTF National Website SDC page and select your scene from the list of approved scenes. Scenes may not be cut or edited in any way.
STEP 2
Prepare your scene. Prior to the festival, students will work with student actors at their home institution to prepare their selected scene for the Region 5 Festival. Please remember, all student participants must be registered for the festival.
The Region 5 Festival will provide one table and two chairs. All properties and costumes must be provided by the director. However, please note that props and costumes are not mandatory. There will be no lighting or sound support.
A more detailed letter with all pertinent information will be emailed to SDC participants before the festival.
STEP 3
Students will submit all director materials by December 15, 2023.
Please note that all written material should be submitted as a PDF. Your video will be shared with SDC respondents and, possibly, other SDC candidates at the Region 5 Festival.
Students will submit the following:
Please note: Do not include any information that identifies your school on the following information.
- Resume
- Statement of Interest in the SDC Initiative and what you hope to learn from participating in the process
- Video Pitch
Each participant for SDC will prepare a 10 Minute video concept presentation based on one of the plays/scenes from the current list. Videos should be posted to YouTube. Be sure to publish videos as "unlisted" not "private".
The First 5 Minutes of the Video
- You have 5 minutes to present the vision of your ideal production of the ENTIRE script of your chosen play (from the SDC 2024 list here). The respondents will be familiar with your play. Within the five minutes answer the following:
- Who are you? (Please make sure NOT to include the name of your school)
- What play did you choose?
- Why does this play need to be done RIGHT NOW?
- Why are you the artist to do this play, and what will you, specifically, bring to the production?
- What does your ideal production look/feel/sound like?
- Additional questions you may wish to address (if time allows):
- What space do you want to do the play in?
- What is your big wish for the production?
- What impact do you want your production to have?
- How can you succinctly tell the story of this play?
The Second 5 Minutes of the Video
Present a 5 minute emotional and visceral response to the play using images, music, collage, vision boards, short film, other persons, things - anything which will help you express your connection to the play. This is for you to use all of your creativity to reflect the heart and would of the piece and to further support and reflect your deep analysis of the whole play.
Director’s Book
Include your director's book as a single PDF file. Your director's book should include your analysis of your play/scene, director’s statement, and all evidence of concept work and research.
A Guideline:
Director’s book: A written statement that reflects analysis of the scene, visual materials (ground plan, blocking diagrams, etc.); critical materials (dramaturgical research, text, language, character analysis, etc.); and the working script for the scene with notes, edits, etc.
Director’s statement: The director’s written statement provides the personal, analytical and intuitive framework for the scene. It is a combination of script analysis, research, creativity and personal connection to the text. The statement should address the themes, images and specific lines of text that guide the director’s work, including the context of the scene; where/how the scene fits into the play.
STEP 4
Region 5 Festival Presentation
A more detailed letter with all pertinent information will be emailed to SDC participants before the festival.
Remember the deadline for all director materials is December 15, 2023 at 5 pm!
To ask about the process, contact Jamie Bullins, Region 5 Directing Initiatives Coordinator at [email protected]
Entry for this Event Has Closed
In order to participate in this event, you must also register for the festival