PASADENA, CALIF.: Directors Lab West has announced that its 2019 conference will be hosted by Pasadena Playhouse and Boston Court Pasadena. The annual event, which was established to create a space for early and mid-career stage directors and choreographers to learn from each other and guest artists, will take place May 25-June 1.

“We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with Directors Lab West,” Pasadena Playhouse producing artistic director Danny Feldman said in a statement. “The annual gathering of directors creates a strong sense of community and professional development opportunities for theatre artists, two things we are very passionate about here at the Playhouse.”

Each year between 25 and 50 artists—selected from a pool of hundreds of applicants—attend the Lab. Since its establishment in 2000, over 600 directors and choreographers have partake in the conference. The week-long series includes lectures, panel discussions, and collaborative artistic exploration for the selected artists. As many participants do not live in Los Angeles, the Lab includes attendance at numerous performances by L.A. area performing arts organizations.

“We were so excited that first year when all the attending directors showed up the first day of the Lab,” founding steering committee member Ernest Figueroa said in a statement. “And 20 years later that excitement is still there and has never diminished.”