DirectorFest
Featuring Cell by Cassandra Medley, directed by Nadia Guevara and Poof! by Lynn Nottage, directed by Ibi Owolabi
May 3—11, 2024
Keen Company is thrilled to bring DirectorFest to the Off-Broadway stage, presented in collaboration with the Drama League! Featuring Drama League Directing Fellows, DirectorFest showcases rising talent in the industry through an evening of contemporary theater. See each director’s unique creativity and perspective, and experience a first look at the future of the field.
When a jaded guard arranges jobs for her sister and her niece, Gwen, at an immigrant detention center, the family erupts into a battle over home and homeland security. As time ticks down for Gwen to save a detained child, Cell paints a searing picture of the secrets we keep in order to survive.
In Poof!, a housewife comes to the end of her rope with her abusive husband, but she doesn't expect him to spontaneously combust. Now she has a pile of ashes on the floor, and a life to reclaim. (Keen produced the first New York revival of Lynn Nottage’s Crumbs from the Table of Joy in the spring of 2023, so we are thrilled to welcome her back to our stage!)
DirectorFest Run Time: One hour, no intermission. Content Warning: DirectorFest plays include offstage mentions of domestic abuse and other violent scenarios.
Cell is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service imprint (www.dramatists.com). Poof! is produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc. (www.playscripts.com).
Performance Venue
Theater Two in Theatre Row
410 West 42nd Street
New York, NY 10036
Between 9th & 10th Ave
Show Schedule
Tuesdays at 7pm
Wednesdays at 7pm
Thursdays at 7pm
Fridays at 7pm
Saturdays at 2pm & 7pm
Sundays at 2pm
Accessibility
ASL Interpretation:
Tuesday, May 7 at 7pm
Audio Description:
Friday, May 10 at 7pm
Keen Conversations
Our series of free post-show talkbacks! Additional dates and specific topics and guests will be announced at a later date.
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Celebrate Black Theater Night with us! After the performance, stick around for a Q&A with directors Nadia Guevara and Ibi Owolabi, moderated by Nilan, Associate Artistic Director of The Drama League.
Meet the Artists
Cassandra Medley (Playwright, "Cell")
Lynn Nottage (Playwright, "Poof!")
Nadia Guevara (Director, "Cell")
Ibi Owolabi (Director, "Poof!")
Lynnette R. Freeman (Cerise, "Cell")
Nicole Michelle Haskins (Rene, "Cell")
Abigail C. Onwunali (Loureen, "Poof!")
Taji Senior (Gwen, "Cell")
Omolade Wey (Florence, "Poof!")
Scenic Design: Yi-Hsuan (Ant) Ma
Costume Design: Dan Wang
Lighting Design: Alexandra Vasquez Dheming
Sound Design: Eden Segbefia
Props Design: Caitlyn Murphy
Wig Design: Courtney Horry
Cell Production Stage Manager: Michal V. Mendelson
Poof! Production Stage Manager: “Curly” Karen Schleifer
Casting: Stephanie Yankwitt, CSA and Nia Smith, tbd casting co.
Press Representative: Everyman Agency
Audience Development Consultant: Marcia Pendelton, Walk Tall Girl Productions
Associate Scenic Designer: Yun Yen
Cell Assistant Stage Manager: Mary Garrigan
Poof! Assistant Stage Manager: Caroline Ragland
General Manager: Reed Ridgley
Production Manager: Eric Nightengale
Master Electrician: Paul Jones
Electrics Crew: Wavetek Productions
Technical Director: Parker Krey
Wardrobe Supervisor: Theona White
House Manager: Juni Li
House Manager: Josie Harding
House Manager: Melody Munitz
ASL Interpretation and Audio Description: Inclusive Communication Services
Audio Description Equipment: Theatre Breaking Through Barriers
Production Photographer: Valerie Terranova
Press Photographer: Gabriella Spiegel
Graphic Design: Alan Buttar, Muse Graphic Design
Accountants: Kudisch, Oster & Company, LLC
View the DirectorFest Digital Program
Produced by Keen Company (Jonathan Silverstein, Artistic Director) and presented in collaboration by The Drama League of New York, Inc. (Gabriel Stelian-Shanks, Artistic Director; Bevin Ross, Executive Director), DirectorFest is a component of The Drama League Stage Directing Fellowship, an educational partnership between The Drama League of New York, Inc., Keen Company, Manhattan Theatre Club (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer), McCarter Theatre Center (Sarah Rasmussen, Artistic Director; Nicole A. Watson, Associate Artistic Director), Dallas Theater Center (Kevin Moriarty, Executive Director); New York Stage & Film (Liz Carlson, Artistic Director); Red Bull Theater (Jesse Berger, Artistic Director); Theatre Communications Group (Theresa Eyring, Executive Director/CEO).
The Drama League advances the American theater by providing lifelong artistic resources for directors and a platform for dialogue with audiences. Founded in 1916, we are one of the longest-running arts service organizations in the country. We enable directors to make the most powerful, impactful work possible across multiple mediums reaching ever-wider audiences, and build sustainable careers. Uplifting directors of all economic classes, races, abilities, genders, and identities is a cornerstone of this mission. We provide support to directors throughout their artistic life, and our work in education offers both continued learning to professionals and introduces the skills of directing to young people. Underpinning our work is the support of our members, a community of ardent theater fans and industry professionals whose commitment to advancing the art form helps develop the careers of the talented directors we champion. More information about The Drama League’s programs, alumni, and the Awards history can be found at www.dramaleague.org.
