Drama League of New York

The Drama League of New York originated as a national organization begun in Chicago in 1910. The organization had two primary objectives: to influence the professional production of the best plays by alerting members to performances that warranted their support; and to ensure the continuity of professional theater by education the audiences of the future.

In 1934, the League decided to recognize theatrical achievement in a different way. A committee consisting of Broadway producers and other theater professionals created the first - and still the only - audience-selected award for distinguished performance in a theatrical production (later to be known as The Drama League Awards).

In the 1980s, The Drama League experienced major transformation. It now also focused its efforts on providing a training program for directors, and a developmental and support program for playwrights. In 1984 the League initiated a program for young directors that combined training with intensive professional experience for entry-level or early career directors.

The Program has three phases:

In 1988, the Directors' Project was expanded to include a summer directing program to run in conjunction with the Hangar Theatre in Ithaca, New York. Participants in this program travel to the Hangar, where they each direct a children's show and at least two short plays, and serve as assistant director on a main stage production.

The Directors' Project also includes two other programs, the New Directors/New Works program, and the Assistant Directors Program.

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