Howard Sherman, the theatre executive and vigilant arts advocate who has held leadership roles at the American Theatre Wing, the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, and Goodspeed Musicals, among others, will take on a new role as Director of Communications and Education for the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society—the theatrical union that represents over 4,000 professional directors and choreographers across the U.S.
Sherman is the first to hold the position in the history of the 58-year-old union.
“I have been committed to collaborating with, supporting and celebrating the work of all of the artists who work in theatre,” he said in a statement announcing his appointment. “This new position gives me the opportunity to delve deeper into the work of directors and choreographers and to make their contributions to theatre and the work of their Union known better known at both the professional and training levels, while at the same time developing new initiatives to reach out to aspiring professionals to enhance their education.”
SDC Executive Director Laura Penn added, “As the union has grown both its programming and its services to members over the past few years, it has become increasingly clear that our senior staff was missing an essential element, namely clear communications within the field and the education community. Having known Howard as a colleague for many years, I know he’ll be an extraordinary asset to both the staff and the field and I’m delighted to have him with us.”
Sherman has served as Executive Director of the American Theatre Wing and Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, General Manager of Goodspeed Musicals, Interim Director of the Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts, Managing Director of Geva Theatre, and Public Relations Director of Hartford Stage.
Sherman is also a prominent advocate for social justice and anti-censorship within the performing arts. He founded the Arts Integrity Initiative at The New School of Drama in 2015, and will continue to operate that program, including artsintegrity.org, an internet watchdog that documents instances of artistic censorship and unethical practices affecting the arts community.
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