The Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) has announced that director Rebecca Aparicio will receive the 2024 Barbara Whitman Award. Established by producer Whitman in 2021, the award recognizes a female, trans, or non-binary director who has developed a clear and distinctive artistic voice and demonstrated unique vision in their theatrical work.

The Barbara Whitman Award is meant to heighten visibility for a director and their work. Aparicio will also receive an unrestricted award of $10,000. 

“Thank you to SDCF, Barbara Whitman, the committee, and my nominator for this incredible recognition and honor," Aparicio said in a statement. "As the child of two Cuban immigrants, I am 'ni de aqui, ni de alla/neither from here, nor from there,' informing the work I create. My mission is to amplify stories of resilience, power, and joy from the Latinx and global majority community, and to give voice to our collectively underrepresented communities. This award comes at a pivotal crossroads in my career, reaffirming the need to continue amplifying these stories despite the challenges I may face on the road ahead.”

Finalists for the award included directors Jo Cattell, Bo Frazier, Cara Hinh, Lanise Antoine Shelley, and Benita de Wit. Each will receive an unrestricted award of $1,000. 

Aparicio was selected after multiple rounds of committee consideration. The first round committee included Chris Burney, Elizabeth Carter, Luis Castro, Victoria Collado, and Kendra Ware. The second round committee included Marya Sea Kaminksi, Elena Velasco, Kendra Ware, and Barbara Whitman.

Founded in 1965, SDCF is a not-for-profit foundation intended to celebrate and support directors and choreographers throughout their careers.

Visit SDCFoundation.org for more information.