Photo Coverage: Patti LuPone, Kevin Kline, Jeremy Jordan & More Lead Sonnet Rep. Benefit

Gerald Freedman is an Obie Award-winning director and holds the distinction as the first American invited to direct at London's Globe Theatre. He is regarded nationally for productions of classic drama, musicals, operas, new plays and television. Freedman has staged 26 of Shakespeare's plays, along with dozens of other world classics. He served as leading director of Joseph Papp's New York Shakespeare Festival from 1960 through 1971, and artistic director from 1968 through 1971. He was also co-artistic director of John Houseman's The Acting Company from 1974 through 1977, artistic director of the American Shakespeare Theatre from 1978 through 1979, and artistic director of the Great Lakes Theater Festival from 1985 through 1997.

Freedman has directed celebrated actors such as Olympia Dukakis, James Earl Jones, Stacy Keach,Julie Harris, Charles Durning, Sam Waterston, Patti LuPone, Mandy Patinkin, Jean Stapleton, William Hurt, Carroll O'Connor and Kevin Kline. He made theatre history with the off-Broadway premiere of the landmark rock musical Hair, which opened The Public Theatre in 1967. Other Broadway work includes: The Robber Bridegroom, The Grand Tour with Joel Grey, the revival of West Side Story, co-directed with Jerome Robbins, the premiere of Arthur Miller's The Creation of the World and Other Business, and Shaw's Mrs. Warren's Profession with Lynn Redgrave and Edward Herrmann. Productions for the Great Lakes Theater Festival include King Lear with HAl Holbrook, which went on to the Roundabout Theatre.

Photo by Walter McBride / Retna Ltd. 

As a 14 year old youth, Walter was transfixed by his first Broadway Show, the original production of 'GREASE'. His Journey to celebrity photojournalism began that fateful night. Meeting, photographing and getting to know the cast inspired him to spend his professional life doing what he loved. Walter moved to Manhattan and for a leading role as a Photographer & Photo Researcher. Currently headlining in New Jersey with his partner Richard and family members Dali (Jack Russell) & Gala (Schnoodle). Recently he made his Broadway debut sharing the stage with Hugh Jackman in 'Hugh Jackman on Broadway' as well as receiving the Actors' Equity Association Gypsy Spirit Award. Walter McBride Photography is syndicated worldwide by Corbis/AP.

More Articles by This Author...