Directors Gathering (DG), a national membership organization that offers theatre directors a consistent community, has announced their 2023 (DG) Convening, a series of workshops and talks aimed at an audience of professional directors. The theme this year is The Universality of Art-Making, and the keynote speaker will be artistic leader at large and former Artistic Director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Nataki Garrett. The convening will be held virtually on Saturday, September 30th and Sunday, October 1st; directors and artists from all over the world are invited to join in. 

Swarthmore is partnering with DG this year to offer some programming that will occur live on campus and will be available exclusively to our community. On Sunday October 1st, DG will offer an Engagement Salon for Swarthmore students, faculty and staff at 11 am in the Scheuer Room, where interested parties can gather for a curated conversation on the theme of the Convening, The Universality of Art-Making. Coffee, tea and light snacks will be provided. The conversation will be facilitated by the core (DG) Team; Founder and Executive Director Jill Harrison, Director of Membership and Engagement Sisi Wright, and Director of Programming Brey Ann Barrett.

At 1 pm, directly following the Engagement Salon, participants will be invited to stay in the Scheuer Room for a talk on directing from Jude Sandy, an award-winning director, movement artist and teacher, and current Visiting Assistant Professor of Theater at Swarthmore. Jude will be speaking about his life and career, and offering advice for young artists currently seeking to break into the field. This lecture will be live-streamed for virtual attendees, but those in the Swarthmore community will be invited to attend in person. 

Swarthmore students, faculty and staff are also welcome to register for the rest of the virtual offerings over the weekend, which include the keynote address and a moderated conversation with Nataki Garrett, as well as a roundtable discussion among directors working in the field. The Convening will offer many opportunities for directors to connect with each other and build community. Says Harrison in American Theatre Magazine, “I’ve always wanted to go somewhere, as a director, to be with other directors, and not necessarily have to turn out a production in two weeks together. But there’s not a lot of space or breath to reflect or to deeply connect on something that is not just a project… usually, there’s just one of us in a room, so the opportunity to have that professional community is really important to us.”

Registration for the virtual conference is now open, through September 15th, on (DG)'s website. Registration is free for (DG) members, and public registration fees are on a sliding scale for non-members. Current non-members who register for the 2023 (DG) Convening will become members for the remainder of 2023, and will be invited to (DG)'s future 2023 programming at no cost. 

Click here to register for the on-campus event featuring Jude Sandy!