Directors Gathering

(DG) is a nonprofit org offering theatre directors ongoing community, skill-sharing, and peer advocacy. We are deeply grateful for their time and work.

03/17/2026

This month, Directors Gathering celebrates 12 years of building community for theatre directors.

It also happens to be Women’s History Month, which feels especially meaningful for us. (DG) was founded by Jill Harrison, and today the organization is led by Executive Director Sisi Wright.

While every leader brings their own style, what connects these two chapters of (DG)’s history is a shared commitment to centering care: for the directors we exist to support and for the collaborators, partners, and communities we work alongside.

Care, attentiveness, and responsibility to community are not soft leadership qualities. They are essential leadership practices, in any era.

As we mark 12 years of (DG), we are grateful for the women whose leadership continues to shape how this work is done and grateful to the community who continues to rock with us.

02/03/2026

From the (DG) Network:

Obvious Agency - Navigating Conflict in Artistic
Collaboration 📅 2/15⏰ 10 AM–4 PM 📍 The Wilma
Theater, Philadelphia Conflict is inevitable, but it
doesn’t have to derail the work. This full-day workshop
offers practical tools for navigating conflict in ways that
strengthen trust, collaboration, & creative outcomes.
Designed for frequent collaborators, collective leaders,
& arts educators committed to healthier artistic
ecosystems.
🔗obvious-agency.com/workshops-2026

Celebrating Black Theatre: The Vinyl Archive Podcast
🎶🎭 Hosted by Jerrell L. Henderson & Courtney
Murray, this podcast spins records as a launchpad into
the artists, movements, and moments that shaped
Black theatre and musical theatre. Joyful, rigorous, &
deeply communal listening for culturally curious theatre
nerds. 🎧Listen on
Spotify

LeadLab - Courage isn’t just a trait, it’s a skill. As a
proud promotional partner of LeadLab, we’re sharing a
leadership experience rooted in emotional intelligence,
values-aligned decision-making, & practical courage.
Participants actively practice boundary-setting,
compassionate communication, & risk-aware
leadership, leaving with clarity & momentum. 📅 4/25-4
/26 💻 Virtual follow-up 5/28 Apply: https://lnkd.in/ex8
yA7Qq

RISE Theatre Directory is a free, national personnel
directory amplifying backstage & behind-the-scenes
theatre professionals across 150+ job categories.
Directors Gathering is a proud member of the RISE
Theatre network. Created to increase visibility,
especially for those historically overlooked—RISE
helps producers, theatres, & employers discover talent
working in direction, design, management,
administration, & more. Membership is free with one
production credit.🔗risetheatre.org

2025 (DG) Convening Playlist - The full playlist from
the 2025 (DG) Convening is now available on YouTube.
These sessions capture honest dialogue, shared
learning, & collective imagining around directing as a
long-term, values-aligned practice rooted in community
& care. View on the Directors Gathering YouTube
channel.

01/06/2026

What happens after the show closes? For theatre directors, the work continues long after support disappears.

Directors Gathering exists to change that.

Based in Philadelphia and connected to communities beyond it, we are building lasting infrastructure, community, and learning pathways for directors.

Take a look at a snapshot of what we are building, why it matters now, and how sustained support helps make it possible.

If this work resonates with you, we invite you to stay connected, share this message, or support the commitment that doesn’t end when the show does.

🔗 Learn more or support at directorsgathering.org

Accessible Alt Text--
1: “What remains when the show ends. A commitment to theatre directors.”
2: “Theatre directors hold whole rooms together. When the show ends, support often disappears. Directors Gathering (DG) exists to change that.”
3: “Where (DG) is right now: Our leadership transition is complete. Long-term infrastructure is being built. New program structures are being piloted. 2026 is a foundation-building year.”
4: “What your support makes possible: Access and Resources: Free access to (DG)’s curated Resource Hub. Practice and Learning: Workshops, rehearsal observations, labs, seminars, and educational and workforce development programs.”
5: “What your support makes possible: Community and Field-Building: Summer Salon Series, and (DG) Convening. Advocacy and Field Memory: Founders Town, a documentary project on the civic role of theatre directors, and Research and director field reports that make directors’ labor and pathways visible.”
6: “What your support makes possible: People and Infrastructure. Establishing a director-centered training and artistic development hub in the Greater Philadelphia region. Artist and contractor pay, professional development and support. Administrative capacity to coordinate this work responsibly.”
7: “Why this support matters now: Allow for more time to serve directors. Less time chasing short-term funding. Greater stability and planning for the years ahead. The ability to offer more programming that supports artist training and increases professional opportunities for directors.”

11/22/2025

Be part of an inspiring evening of speakers, performances, and connection at ’s Showcase on Thursday, December 4. Hear from 2026 Guest Facilitator and LeadLab alum Chaya Scott, alums and .rx__, with performances by and . Enjoy light appetizers, drinks, and a welcoming reception with the LeadLab community at Studio.

Space is limited! Register now → https://tinyurl.com/mr2spvjs

So what is LeadLab?

LeadLab is an intensive leadership program designed for creatives, emphasizing a peer learning exchange across sectors. By bringing together professionals from diverse fields, the program fosters a dynamic cohort where participants learn from one another, engage with innovative frameworks, and navigate curated learning spaces. This cross-sector exchange sparks fresh perspectives, unexpected solutions, and meaningful connections that enrich leadership growth.

11/13/2025

🎭 What an incredible two weekends!
Thank you to everyone who joined us—online and at CultureWorks—for the 2025 (DG) Convening.

✨ Together, we celebrated:
• The art, craft, and profession of directing
• The power of community
• The next chapter of (DG)’s story

💡 Highlights included:
• A keynote by James Ijames and recognition of founder Jill Harrison
• Our energizing “Meet the Producers” discussion
• A live demo of our new Directors Consulting Service

🎥 Missed it?
Watch the livestream on HowlRound featuring James Ijames & Jill Harrison (Nov 8). Full session recordings coming soon!

🌱 What’s next for (DG):
• A refreshed membership program
• Our new (DG) educational initiative
• A documentary on theatre directors’ civic and cultural impact

With Deep Gratitude
Presenting Partner: Department of Commerce, City of Philadelphia
Marketing Sponsor: Gateway Set Rentals
Venue & Fiscal Sponsor: CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia
Promotional Partner: LeadLab
Photography: M. Asli Dukan
In-Kind Support: Costco Wholesale • Fireball Printing • Yards Brewing Company
Catering: Korea Taqueria • Miles Table • The Famous 4th Street Cookie Company
Livestream Partners: HowlRound Theatre Commons • PhillyCAM
Accessibility Partners: Hands Up Productions (ASL Interpretation) • NCI (Live Captioning)
Keynote & Honoree Plaques: Philly DIY

(DG) Board of Advisors
Tamara Della Anderson • Brey Ann Barrett • Cheyenne Barboza • Nataki Garrett • Steve Gaissert • Jill Harrison • Kyle Metzger • Brishen Miller • Emily Moylan • Megan Schumacher • Tony Tambasco

Session Facilitators, Panelists & Participants
Kadeem Alston-Román • Mark Armstrong • Carly L. Bodnar • Sammi Cannold • Suzanne Delle • Tamara Della Anderson • Arnaldo Galban Rivero • Jerrell L. Henderson • James Ijames • Ji Won Jeon • Carrie Klewin Lawrence • Cat Ramirez (Obvious Agency) • Jonald Reyes • Steve Seyfried • Paige Price • Tai Verley

With Special Thanks
Bloomberg Philanthropies 2025–2026 Student Intern: Nina Chen
Convening Volunteers: Zach Albuck • Alex Nieves

11/08/2025

STREAMING LIVE - Join us today, Saturday, November 8 for the (DG) Convening. Stream it on .

We begin at:
2:30 p.m. PDT (San Francisco, UTC -8) /
4:30 p.m. CDT (Chicago, UTC -6) /
5:30 p.m. EDT (Philadelphia, UTC -5)

Go to the link in bio on Instagram or visit directorsgathering.org/convening to stream the Convening.

URL to HowlRound: https://howlround.com/happenings/2025-directors-gathering-dg-convening-honoree-presentation-and-keynote

10/29/2025

COUNTDOWN TO THE CONVENING
Let's talk about what to expect on Day 2! We’re talking comedy, equity, and community care — and you can be part of it.

Is cost a barrier for attending? DM us or email Sisi at [email protected] and we'll get you registered.

💬 Sign up for Director Roll Call by registering today
💛 Give to our $1,000 donor match challenge - directorsgathering.org/donate
🎟️ Register or Pay It Forward → directorsgathering.org/convening

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#WeGather

Our Story

What We Do:
Directors Gathering (DG) serves directors to serve the theatre. We offer regional emerging, early-career, and mid-career member directors consistent resources of community, development, and elevation to hone their art.

As part of Directors Gathering (DG), member directors can:

Stretch their artistic muscles without the pressures of production;

Connect with an inclusive community of peer directors through gatherings + (DG) Digital online resources;

Create in an annual daylong workshop, (DG) JAM, culminating in a public sharing of their works-in-progress;

Engage in (DG) Studio that offers graduate-level seminars with theatrical legends like Bartlett Sher, Liz Diamond, Robert Woodruff, and Ruben Santiago-Hudson and pick-up classes with regionally established directors;

Receive opportunities for projects, collaborations, and continuing education through (DG) members database.

Directors Gathering is the only organization in the country that provides an all-inclusive home for regional directors to consistently examine their process, take risks, and render projects that they would not otherwise do in their individual careers or companies. We encourage these directors to be in perpetual process, challenging them to reexamine how and why they work on projects, and give them the reinvigorating chance to return to their craft with new eyes.

Need to be Met:
Over the past fifty years, the American theater has offered playwrights valuable resources to incubate new works. On a national level, organizations like the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center and New Dramatists offer playwrights vital resources; while in Philadelphia, PlayPenn and The Foundry develop the work of local established and emerging playwrights. In this national trend towards new play development, one key artistic collaborator has been overlooked: directors. Directors Gathering seeks to remedy this imbalance by fostering its member directors year-round at multiple stages of professional development. We offer a variety of continuous programming, encouraging regional directors to engage deeply with our regionally-rooted organization to consistently hone their craft. (DG) also diversifies directorial voices that are developed and elevated on regional stages through connecting our members, many from marginalized communities, to producers and opportunities in the region.

Partnerships and Supporters:
Directors Gathering has forged collaborative partnerships with regional theaters, universities, and peer theatrical service organizations. We have host director-centric events with The Drama League, Stage Directors + Choreographers Society and Foundation, Theatre Philadelphia, The Wilma Theater, and Theatre Exile. We partner with Temple University and
Swarthmore College to host classes and introduce students to directors at the forefront of their field.

Our organization is currently overseen by fiscal sponsor, Fractured Atlas, a Board of Directors, and is supported through the generosity of foundations, donors, and grassroots crowd-funding. (DG) will file for 501c3 status in June 2020. We are grateful to The Wyncote Foundation, the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, and SDC for their confidence in our mission.

Organization’s History:
Directors Gathering (DG) was incorporated in March 2014, and has since served regional directors for over five consecutive years. In that time, we have provided more than 150 regional directors with resources to expand their skill set, receive honest feedback and mentorship from established artists, and connect with one another.

The idea for Directors Gathering goes back to 2008, when our founder, Jill Harrison, participated in Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab alongside 60 other emerging directors from around the world. Inspired by the community she gained from the Lab, Jill came to Philadelphia to deepen her training at graduate school, and left it eager to found an organization for directors that was regionally rooted, community focused, and could offer continuous programming year round. In 2011, Jill gathered some colleagues for a casual conversation about local opportunities for directors. Together,
they realized that Philadelphia lacked an organization that would listen and respond to the needs of directors, and that would recognize their value them as the drivers of theatrical art. Thus, the launch of Directors Gathering(DG).

Membership Model:
In March 2019, (DG) launched a 3-tier membership platform that offers access to a community of directors and collaborators that fuel development, encourage meaningful connections and value the process-based work of directing. (DG) operations, programming, and fundraising have been streamlined to connect and elevate (DG) members + sponsors.

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Directors Gathering

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