Photo Flash: Chicago's Lisa Portes Receives SDC Foundation 2016 Zelda Fichandler Award

On Sunday, October 30, 2016, Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDC Foundation), the not-for-profit foundation of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), presented the 2016 Zelda Fichandler Award to Lisa Portes of Chicago, IL. This award recognizes an outstanding director or choreographer who is transforming the regional arts landscape through singular creativity and artistry in the theatre. The award heralds accomplishment to date and promise for the future, artistic vision, and deep commitment to a region outside of New York. It carries an unrestricTed Grant of $5,000 to the individual recipient. Scroll down for photos!

In establishing this award named after Zelda Fichandler, a founder of the American regional theatre movement, SDC Foundation 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 ceremony, held at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, was introduced by David Schmitz, Managing Director of Steppenwolf Theatre Company. SDC Executive Director Laura Penn dedicated the evening to Zelda Fichandler, who passed away in July at the age of 91. Michael Halberstam, the 2010 recipient of the Zelda Fichandler Award, and Charles Newell, the 2013 recipient, introduced the 2016 Finalists Aimée Hayes of Southern Rep Theatre (New Orleans, LA), and Eric Rosen of Kansas City Repertory Theatre (Kansas City, MO). SDC Board Member Chay Yew presented the award to Portes. In his introduction, Yew stated, "Ms. Fichandler was a theatrical force who was widely regarded as the matriarch of America's regional theatre movement. It is Lisa's combination of excellence in directing and her dedication to promoting a new American narrative that reflects the world in which we are living that has made Lisa a unique director and theatrical change maker."

In her acceptance speech, Portes spoke passionately about diversity and inclusion in the American Theatre. She stated, "You've all heard the statistics: by 2050 we will be a majority of-color population. My students can't even check the boxes any more, they're so mixed â€" in terms of ethnicity, gender, sexuality, you name it. The dramaturgy of our very country is now one of intersectionality - it's not a side note, not a special project. Intersectionality and polyculturalism are the new status quo. If our theatre is to reflect its time and shape its future, we need to forward that reality not once in a personal or institutional season, but in some way on EVERY project we present."

Lisa Portes is a Chicago-based director, educator and producer dedicated to expanding the circle of Americans reflected on our stages. She heads the MFA Directing Program at The Theatre School at DePaul University and serves as Artistic Director of Chicago Playworks for Young Audiences. A co-founder of the Latina/o Theatre Commons (LTC), Lisa served as artistic producer of the LTC Carnaval 2015, a festival of new Latina/o plays. Her work has been seen in Chicago at Steppenwolf Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Victory Gardens Theatre, American Blues Theatre, Silk Road Rising, Next Theatre and Teatro Vista; regionally at Cincinnati Playhouse, Guthrie Theatre, South Coast Rep, and the Kennedy Center; and in New York at Playwrights Horizons, Soho Rep, New York Theatre Workshop, and The Public Theatre. Lisa is an alum of the inaugural SPARK Leadership program supported by American Express and the Joyce Foundation, and administered by TCG. She is a past recipient of the NEA/TCG Career Development grant for Directors, as well as an alum of the Drama League Directing Fellowship program, and a current member of the TCG Board. Recent projects include the world premieres of This Is Modern Art by Idris Goodwin and Kevin Coval (Steppenwolf Theatre) and TRANSit by Darren Canady (American Blues Theatre), as well as the Cincinnati premiere of Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar (Cincinnati Playhouse). She lives in Chicago with her husband, playwright, Carlos Murillo and their two children, Eva Rose and Carlos Alejandro.

Eric Rosen, Lisa Portes, Aimee Hayes

Michael Halberstam, Eric Rosen, Lisa Portes, Aimee Hayes and Charles Newell

Michael Halberstam, Lisa Portes and Laura Penn

Charles Newell and Sean Graney

Chay Yew and Laura Penn

Eric Rosen and Martha Lavey

Lisa Portes and family

Nathan Singh, Sun Hee Lee, Lisa Portes, Mikhail Fiksel, Charin Alvarez and Sandra Delgado

Peta Coy and Adam Levi