The Gordon Davidson Award Acceptance Remarks

BY SERET SCOTT

It’s an honor to be the recipient of the Gordon Davidson Award for Lifetime Achievement Directing Regional Theatre, and that this honor comes from my peers at the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation—my peers— makes it even sweeter.

I’ve had a single passion in my life—theatre— and so to be recognized for doing what I dearly love is beyond…words.

Over the years, I’ve had the support of many, many people, and they made a huge difference in my artistic growth.

Melany Bell, Audra Alise Polk + JoAnna Rhinehart in CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE OF JOY at Old Globe Theatre, directed by Seret Scott

PHOTO Craig Schwartz

As an actress at the Free Southern Theater, Gilbert Moses and John O’Neil represented to me the essence of regional theatre as we performed in rural communities in 1969 during the Civil Rights Movement. Paul Weidner directed me in my first regional play as well as the first play that went from a regional Hartford Stage to Broadway with me in it, MY SISTER, MY SISTER. And later, working with Oz Scott in FOR COLORED GIRLS.... The Negro Ensemble Company, New Federal Theater, and New Heritage Theater were exceptional Off-Broadway stops along the way.

As a director, playwright Nancy Fales Garrett and Arvin Brown offered me my first regional directing job at Long Wharf Theatre. Not long after that, director and friend Sheldon Epps saw something in my early work and recommended me for a directing job in San Diego, where I was to meet Jack O’Brien, the Artistic Director. Eleven Old Globe shows later, I’d say it worked out pretty well. The opportunities! Nothing to say but “Thanks, Jack…just thanks.”

Lizbeth Mackay in FAITH HEALER at the Old Globe, directed by Seret Scott

PHOTO Craig Schwartz

The late Steve Albert, then Managing Director at Chicago’s Court Theatre, suggested to Charles Newell, Artistic Director, that they meet me… Several productions later, Charlie, the staff, and I are still having a fine time at it.

Seret Scott + Charles Newell in rehearsal for FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE / WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF at the Court Theatre PHOTO Joe Mazza

Along with those artistic directors, three extraordinary women inspired me greatly. Filmmaker and best buddy Kathleen Collins, visual artist and mentor Sara Penn, and the most phenomenal woman I know, my mother, Della Beidleman Scott. Her story will be told.

FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE / WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF at the Court Theatre, directed by Seret Scott PHOTO Michael Brosilow Lizbeth Mackay in Faith Healer at the Old Globe, directed by Seret Scott

PHOTO Craig Schwartz

And lastly, but really firstly, the warmest, most loving, heartfelt thanks I can give would be to my amazing, thoughtful husband, Amos, and my kind, smart son, Scotty. None of the directing work that I’ve done over the past 30 years would have been possible without their support, faith, and belief in me. I love you both so much.

And to my colleagues…it’s changing out there, but we’re ready.

Seret Scott

PHOTO Amanda Crommett

SERET SCOTT has directed a dozen productions at the Old Globe as an Associate Artist. Off-Broadway, she premiered MUJERES Y HOMBRES at New Victory Theatre, and directed BIRDIE BLUE and ZOOMAN AND THE SIGN for Second Stage Theatre, YOHEN for Pan Asian Rep. Regional credits: Arena Stage, Woolly Mammoth, Studio Theatre, Ford’s Theatre, South Coast Rep, Tribute Productions, Court Theatre, Studio Arena, A.C.T., Long Wharf, Hartford Stage, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Denver Theatre Center, PlayMakers Rep, Crossroads, Alliance, Indiana Rep, Alley, Philadelphia Theatre Company, National Black Theatre, New Mexico Rep, Tisch-NYU, and Juilliard, among others. She directed workshops for Roundabout Theatre, Pacific Playwrights, O’Neill Theatre Center, New York Stage and Film, Sundance, New Harmony, and she is a former Director in Residence at New Dramatists. Seret authored SECOND LINE, produced by Passage Theatre, NJ, and Atlas Theatre, Washington.