Meadow's latest project is Last Dance, the new play by Marsha Norman. Meadow's recent high-profile directing job was MTC's Tony Award-nominated staging of The Tale of the Allergist's Wife.

The prestigious "Mr. Abbott" Award is the only "lifetime achievement" award "bestowed to directors and choreographers by members of their own artistic industry, and the highest honor given to the artists whose distinguished bodies of work have made an outstanding contribution to American theatre."

The award will be presented at a gala ceremony Oct. 27 at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers in New York City in an evening that will include cocktails, dinner (catered by celebrated chef Abigail Kirsch) and a star-studded performance saluting Meadow.

Lynne Meadow has been artistic director of Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC) since 1972, where she has been responsible for directing and producing over 400 New York and world premieres. Her directing credits include the Broadway production of A Small Family Business, Leslie Ayvazian's Nine Armenians (Drama Desk nomination, Best Director), Donald Margulies' The Loman Family Picnic, Alan Ayckbourn's Woman in Mind (Drama Desk nomination, Best Director) and David Rudkin's Ashes (Obie Award), as well as productions for The New York Shakespeare Festival and the O'Neill Theatre Center.

* Since 1965, SDCF has been "the only national organization dedicated exclusively to supporting the craft and artistry of theatrical directors and choreographers. Headquartered in New York City with core programs in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle, SDCF serves artists and communities throughout the country. Each year, SDCF helps thousands of directors and choreographers by offering critical career-building initiatives, such as workshops, seminars, symposia, mentoring programs, professional observerships, artistic fellowships and craft publications."