Joseph Haj Receives SDC Foundation's Zelda Fichandler Award

Joseph Haj, Producing Artistic Director of PlayMakers Repertory Company in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is the 2014 recipient of The Zelda Fichandler Award, an award to recognize an outstanding director or choreographer who is transforming the regional arts landscape through imaginative, brave work in theatre. The $5,000 award, given by Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation, heralds both accomplishment to date and promise for the future, and lauds deep commitment to a community.

Since 2006 Joseph Haj has been Producing Artistic Director of PlayMakers Repertory Company in Chapel Hill and has a long history working in regional theatre, from the Guthrie to Actors Theatre of Louisville to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. As one of the few Arab-American artistic directors in the country, Mr. Haj has worked to transform the stage at PlayMakers into a place of diversity and inclusion. In addition to his tremendous output in professional theatre environments, he has also made work with non-professionals in maximum security prisons, in the West Bank in Gaza, and in rural South Carolina. In his time at PlayMakers, Mr. Haj has dedicated himself to communicating with his community, giving them tools to engage with the diverse programming of the theatre and educating audiences with outreach initiatives. He has defined the community of PlayMakers as a series of concentric circles from the artists and staff, widening to the larger university community, then the Chapel Hill region, and then the nation.

A review committee selected Mr. Haj from nominees living and working in the Eastern region of the United States. Selection Committee Chairperson Sharon Ott states, "This year the selection committee reviewed a record 63 nominations for the Zelda Fichandler Award, and I think it is a statement to the growing understanding in the field about how significant it is for artists to have deep, meaningful relationships with their communities. We were impressed and deeply moved by the strong commitments these artists have made to their regions. In this stellar group, Joseph Haj's exemplary artistry, diverse and exciting programming choices, and deep commitment to the arts in North Carolina made him the unanimous choice for this prestigious award."

Upon hearing of his receiving this award, Mr. Haj stated, "I am deeply touched and honored to be selected for this award by my peers. To be given an award bearing Zelda Fichandler's name is more than an accolade, it's a call to excellence; and I will strive to live up to its charge."

This year's Fichandler Selection Committee included Karen Azenberg, Dorothy Holland, Mara Isaacs, Mark Lamos, Michael Maso, Robert O'Hara, Sharon Ott (Chair), and KJ Sanchez. The Committee chose to honor five finalists in addition to Mr. Haj. Ott notes, "The Eastern region is rich with theatre and we were pleased to be able to acknowledge five significant directors as finalists: Tracy Brigden in Pittsburgh, Steven Cosson in New York City, Kwame Kwei-Armah in Baltimore, Preston Lane in Greensboro, NC, and Bonnie J. Monte in Madison, NJ. The committee considered each to be a strong candidate for this award for different reasons: Ms. Brigden for her transformation of the Pittsburgh theatre scene; Mr. Cosson for his passion in engaging deeply with the New York community on issues of social change; Mr. Kwei-Armah for his groundbreaking and adventuresome programming in Baltimore; Mr. Lane for his profound commitment to the regional stories of North Carolina; and Ms. Monte for her sustained and forward-thinking dedication to classical theatre and education in New Jersey.

In establishing this award named after Zelda Fichandler, a founder of the American regional theatre movement, SDCF recognizes the profound impact of the founders of regional theatre and honors their legacy. This award is given annually within rotating regions of the U.S. The Fichandler Award serves as a complement to the "Mr. Abbott" Award presented in recognition of lifetime achievement in theatre and the Joe A. Callaway Award for excellence in direction and choreography in New York City. The Zelda Fichandler Award will be presented alongside the Joe A. Callaway Awards this year on November 3 in New York City.