Freedman, drama dean at UNCSA, suffers stroke

By: Ken Keuffel | Winston-Salem Journal
Published: March 01, 2011

Gerald Freedman, the drama dean at UNC School of the Arts since 1991, has suffered a stroke, school officials said Monday.

Friends and family members said that Freedman is improving but that it is too early to make a prognosis.

"We are grateful that he is now in rehabilitation, and we are encouraged by his progress," John Mauceri, UNCSA's chancellor, said in an e-mail to the school's alumni.

Robert Beseda, an assistant drama dean, has been visiting Freedman often. He said that while there is "still a lot to do" in the rehabilitation, there are many reasons to feel encouraged about Freedman's progress over the last week: He is motivated to recover, recognizes everyone and can swallow food. He has asked several questions about production and class matters.

"He has trouble articulating words," Beseda said. "But the more he talks the better he gets at it."

Mauceri stressed that all drama productions at UNCSA will go ahead as planned — including "Oklahoma!," which will open April 28 in the Stevens Center. Before his stroke last week, Freedman had been directing rehearsals of "Oklahoma!," the school's first all-school musical since 2007. Mauceri is the show's conductor.

Mauceri also said that Beseda and Bob Francesconi, another assistant dean at UNCSA, will be carrying out the plans that Freedman has devised for the School of Drama this year. Other instructors and guest artists will also assist.

Freedman, 83, is highly regarded internationally for his direction of classic dramas, musicals, operas and new plays. He 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. He directed the all-school production of "West Side Story" at UNCSA in 2007.

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.

School officials say the School of Drama has been getting many calls about Freedman. They ask that e-mails be sent to freedmang@uncsa.edu and that letters and cards be sent to School of Drama, UNC School of the Arts, 1533 S. Main St., Winston-Salem, NC 27127.

kkeuffel@wsjournal.com

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