Ellen Rusconi News

The Carbonell Awards adds four new judges to its panel, bringing the total number to 42. These judges will evaluate productions at professional theaters across South Florida.

Gary Schweikhart, board president of the Carbonell Awards, South Florida's most highly coveted recognition of theatrical and performance excellence, today announced that Elizabeth Dashiell has joined the nonprofit organization as Carbonell Coordinator for the 2023-2024 season.

Gary Schweikhart, president of the Carbonell Awards, South Florida's most highly coveted recognition of theatrical and performance excellence, has announced the nonprofit organization's expanded team of judges for the 2022-2023 theater season, including seven new judges.

Jeff Kiltie, president of the Carbonell Awards, South Florida's most highly coveted recognition of theatrical and performance excellence, today announced the nonprofit organization's new team of judges for the 2021-2022 theater season.

The 2014 Zelda Fichandler award offers an unrestricted grant of $5000 to an outstanding director or choreographer who is making an exceptional contribution to the arts landscape through theatre work in the Eastern U.S. Directors living and working in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia are eligible.

The Zelda Fichandler award presents an unrestricted grant of $5,000 to an outstanding director or choreographer making an exceptional contribution to the national arts landscape through theatre work in a region.

Laura Penn, Executive Director of Stage Directors and Choreographers Workshop Foundation (SDCF), announced today that Megan E. Carter will be its new Director as of June 30. Founded in 1965, SDCF is the nation's only organization dedicated to training, nurturing, and supporting theatre directors and choreographers and advancing the crafts of stage direction and choreography.

Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) opens the nomination process for The Zelda Fichandler Award on May 14, 2014. This award presents an unrestricted grant of $5000 to an outstanding director or choreographer making an exceptional contribution to the national arts landscape through theatre work in a region. In 2014, the award will honor achievement in the Eastern region, comprised of Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia.

The Stage Directors and Choreographers Workshop Foundation, Inc. (SDCF) announces a call for proposals for the SDCF Guest Artist Initiative Program, a grant program for American colleges and universities to fund and facilitate the hiring of professional stage directors and choreographers as Guest Artists. Through this program, SDCF has already funded eight productions across the country and has facilitated several additional productions.

The Drama League, and Tony Award winning-director and Drama League Alumnus, Michael Mayer (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), announced the establishment of the new Drama League Beatrice Terry Fellowship, named in honor of the late director Beatrice Terry, an alumna of The Drama League Directors Project, during last night's 30th Annual Musical Celebration of Broadway Honoring Neil Patrick Harris, held at the famed Pierre Hotel (2 East 61st Street).

Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) is now accepting nominations for The Zelda Fichandler Award. This award presents an unrestricted grant of $5,000 to an outstanding director or choreographer making an exceptional contribution to the national arts landscape through theatre work in a region. In 2013, the award will honor achievement in the Central region, comprised of Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.

The Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) announces the selection of Morehead State University and University of Nevada Las Vegas as co-winners of the 2010-2011 Guest Artist Initiative Program grants. Each school will receive SDCF funding of $3000 to hire a professional director or choreographer for a mainstage production in early 2011.

Producers Randall L. Wreghitt, Chris Presley and Ellen Rusconi announced today that Warren Carlyle, the director/choreographer of the current acclaimed Broadway revival of Finian's Rainbow, has joined the creative team of the Broadway-bound musical PURE COUNTRY. Carlyle will handle Musical Staging and Choreography. Based on the hit movie of the same name, PURE COUNTRY is on track to have its Broadway premiere as part of the 2010/2011 Season.

Multi-platinum Country music star Lorrie Morgan has been cast in the Broadway-bound production of the hit movie PURE COUNTRY, producers Randall L. Wreghitt, Chris Presley and Ellen Rusconi announced today. Morgan joins fellow Country music star Joe Nichols to headline the new musical that is expected to open on Broadway in early 2010. As previously announced, Nichols takes on the role of ?Rusty' [?Dusty' in the movie], which was made famous in the film by George Strait. Morgan now joins him to play the role of ?Lula,' Rusty's ruthless manager, which was created on film by Lesley Anne Warren.

Country music star, CMA Winner, ACM Winner and four-time Grammy Nominee Joe Nichols has been offered the role made famous by George Strait in the Broadway production of the hit movie, Pure Country. According to producer Randall L. Wreghitt, the musical is in the process of securing the remainder of its financing and casting, and plans to open in early 2010.

Casting announced for workshop of Broadway bound musical 'Pure Country.'

Producers Randall L. Wreghitt, Chris Presley and Ellen Rusconi announced today that PURE COUNTRY, a brand-new original musical, will have its World Premiere as part of the 2008-2009 Broadway Season.

Will Chase will join Carlin Glynn, Cady Huffman, James Moye and Danny Rutigliano for a staged reading of the new musical, Pure Country.

Tony Award-winners Carlin Glynn and Cady Huffman will appear in two readings of Pure Country, a new musical, which will be presented September 25th and 26th