The School of Drama at UNC School of the Arts will soon start looking for a new dean.
Gerald Freedman said he will resign that position at the end of the current school year, ending a tenure that began in 1991.
Freedman, 84, is also an esteemed stage director. He suffered a stroke last February but recovered sufficiently to resume some of his duties at UNCSA this past fall. He called the change "the right thing to do and the right time to do it."
After Freedman steps down as dean, he'll become dean emeritus. He said he is not retiring and plans to stay active in the drama school.
"I … will hopefully continue to teach directing, acting and direct productions as well," he said.
A committee will start searching for Freedman's successor at the beginning of next year. David Nelson, the school's provost, said he hopes to have a new drama dean at the school in July.
John Mauceri, UNCSA's chancellor, said the school has begun planning a way to honor Freedman, whose legacy at UNCSA includes several enhancements to the drama curriculum as well as an endowed drama professorship named for him.
Freedman directed 35 productions at UNCSA, including productions of "Brigadoon" and "West Side Story" that engaged students from each of UNCSA's schools.
"Dean Freedman's impact on UNCSA is enormous and there are not enough words to convey our deep gratitude to him," Mauceri said.
Jacqueline Robinson, a college drama senior at UNCSA, said Freedman is greatly respected.
"His unbelievably keen eye for truth and honest behavior that originates from the text is as sharp as ever," she said. "He's a remarkable man, director, teacher, and artist (that) students will continue to love and admire forever."
During Freedman's tenure as dean, UNCSA's School of Drama arguably became one of the best acting conservatories in the country. Freedman had a lot to do with that. Students could tap the expertise he acquired from directing professionals in numerous classic dramas, musicals, operas and new plays.
Freedman was the first American to direct at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London. He has numerous Broadway and off-Broadway credits, including the off-Broadway premiere of "Hair," the landmark rock musical, and the Broadway revival of "West Side Story" in 1980.
Freedman's work as an artistic director or co-artistic director includes stints at the New York Shakespeare Festival, the John Houseman Acting Company and the American Shakespeare Theatre. He served as the artistic director of the Great Lakes Theater Festival in Cleveland for 13 years before coming to UNCSA. He has also taught at Yale University and the Juilliard School.
Drama alumnus Neal Bledsoe is shooting the new NBC/Steven Spielberg series "SMASH." He said he now realizes the training he got from Freedman didn't end when he received his diploma in 2005.
"Like little time bombs, his training seems to explode into my life when I need it most," Bledsoe said. "His words still work upon me, helping me solve whatever daily riddles that might stand between me and what I want."
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