Barbara Whitman Award

Last updated
Barbara Whitman Award
TypeTheatre
Awarded forUnique vision in theatre direction
Sponsored by Barbara Whitman
CountryUSA
EligibilityEarly career women and non-binary theatre directors
Established2021
First award2021
Website https://sdcfoundation.org/the-barbara-whitman-award/

The Barbara Whitman Award is an award for early career theatre directors. It was endowed by Barbara Whitman and was first awarded in 2021. [1] It is awarded annually to a female, transgender or non-binary candidate, who must have directed three plays and is nominated by another professional. [1] Selection is made by a made of people from the theatre industry and it is administered by the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation. [1] The award comprises a cash prize of $10,000 for the winner. [1] Other finalists receive $1000. [2]

Contents

Whitman was inspired to endow the award after seeing how few awards were made to directors. [1] Its aim is to support early career practitioners as well as to create greater visibility for their work. [3] Those selected for the award have "developed a clear and distinctive artistic voice and demonstrated unique vision in their theatrical work". [1]

Recipients

Barbara Whitman Award Winners and Finalists
YearWinnerFinalists
2021 Sharifa Yazmeen [4] Ty Defoe, Miranda Haymon, Tara Moses, Aya Ogawa, Tatiana Pandiani, Mei Ann Teo [5] [6]
2022 NJ Agwuna [7] Sanaz Ghajar, Kimille Howard, Bianca Laverne Jones, Hannah Wolf [8]
2023 Elena Velasco [2] Carlton V. Bell, Kimille Howard, Sarah Hughes, SB Tennent, Emma Rosa Went [2]
2024 Rebecca Aparicio [3] Jo Cattell, Bo Frazier, Cara Hinh, Lanise Antoine Shelley, Benita de Wit [3]
2025 Autumn Angelettie [9] Dmitri Victor Barcomi, Fran de Leon, Emily Lyon, Caitlin Ryan O’Connell [9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Alumna Barbara Whitman '05 Establishes Barbara Whitman Award Through Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation | School of the Arts". arts.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  2. 1 2 3 "Elena Velasco Receives 2023 Barbara Whitman Award". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2025-10-16. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  3. 1 2 3 "Rebecca Aparicio Wins SDCF's 2024 Barbara Whitman Award". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2025-11-13. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  4. ↑ "Sharifa Yasmin Awarded SDCF's Inaugural Barbara Whitman Award". AMERICAN THEATRE. 2021-04-28. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  5. ↑ "Nominations Open for 2022 Barbara Whitman Award". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2025-09-15. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  6. ↑ "2021 Recipient and Finalists – Barbara Whitman Award | SDC Foundation" . Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  7. ↑ "NJ Agwuna Receives SDCF Barbara Whitman Award". AMERICAN THEATRE. 2022-04-26. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  8. ↑ "NJ Agwuna Named 2022 Barbara Whitman Award Winner". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2025-09-15. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  9. 1 2 Abourizk, and Michael (2025-04-24). "'John Proctor' associate director Autumn Angelettie named winner of SDCF Barbara Whitman Award". Broadway News. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
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