Pictured: Christina Casano, Aliza Feder, Jeremy Ohringer, Lanise Antoine Shelley, and Alexander (Lex) Turner.

Victory Gardens Theater has announced the 19/20 Directors Inclusion Initiative appointees.

The Directors Inclusion Initiative aims to encourage and develop talented and emerging Chicago stage directors identifying as disabled, women, transgender, gender non-conforming and people of color. Each will serve as assistant director on one of Victory Gardens’ main stage production.

The artists include, Alexander (Lex) Turner (“Tiny Beautiful Things”), Lanise Antoine Shelley (“The First Deep Breath”), Christina Casano (“How To Defend Yourself”), Jeremy Ohringer (“Dhaba On Devon Ave”) and Aliza Feder (“The Right To Be Forgotten”).

“We’re very excited to continue the mentorship of emerging female and LGBTQIA directors, directors of color and of disability through Victory Gardens’ Directors Inclusion Initiative now in its fourth year,” comments Artistic Director Chay Yew. “Many directors of color and I would have welcomed such an opportunity when we first started out in the field. I’m glad to be in a position to open this door to our next generation of directors.”