Career Paths of African American Directors

Saundra McClain is a theatre professional with more than fifty years of experience. She has performed in plays and musicals, many of them world premieres, on and off-Broadway, and at many notable theatres including The Kennedy Center, New York Shakespeare Festival, McCarter Theatre, A Noise Within, New Federal Theatre, Spoleto Festival, Alliance Theatre, and the Negro Ensemble Company. She also created many recurring and guest-starring roles in films and on television and acted in numerous commercials. A recipient of Ovation, LA Drama Critics, and NAACP Theatre nominations, amongst other awards, Ms. McClain is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, Screen Actors Guild-American Federation Television and Radio Artists, and Actors Equity Association. Clinton Turner Davis is a director, playwright, dramaturge, arts consultant, educator, literary manager, board member, casting director, production supervisor, actor, dancer, singer, and puppeteer who has collaborated with world-renowned artists in the United States and abroad. A recipient of the Lloyd Richards Directing Award from the National Black Theatre Festival and numerous national and international awards, Mr. Davis is a noted interpreter of the August Wilson canon. He has mentored many young and mid-career artists and has held residencies and guest-lectured at universities in the United States and Taiwan. A member of the Negro Ensemble Company for 16 seasons, and associate professor at Colorado College for 17 years, Mr. Davis is co-founder of one of the first organizations addressing diversity and inclusion issues in the performing arts.