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Matthew Freeman is a Brooklyn based playwright with a BFA from Emerson College. His plays include THE DEATH OF KING ARTHUR, REASONS FOR MOVING, THE GREAT ESCAPE, THE AMERICANS, THE WHITE SWALLOW, AN INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR, THE MOST WONDERFUL LOVE, WHEN IS A CLOCK, GLEE CLUB, THAT OLD SOFT SHOE and BRANDYWINE DISTILLERY FIRE. He served as Assistant Producer and Senior Writer for the live webcast from Times Square on New Year's Eve 2010-2012. As a freelance writer, he has contributed to Gamespy, Premiere, Complex Magazine, Maxim Online, and MTV Magazine. His plays have been published by Playscripts, Inc., New York Theatre Experience, and Samuel French.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Rocco Landesman as Chairman of NEA

Rocco Landesman, the colorful theatrical producer and race-track aficionado who brought hits like “Big River,” “Angels in America” and “The Producers” to Broadway, has been nominated as the next chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, the White House said on Tuesday.

Cool!

3 comments:

Scott Walters said...

OMG. Seriously? How is having a commercial producer as head of the NEA cool? Please explain, because I just want to kill myself.

Freeman said...

Did you just type "OMG?"

I like the boldness of the choice, I like that the head of the NEA will be from the theater world, and I like some of the productions that he's chosen to champion.

I also like that this guy has moxie. We don't need any more wallflowers heading up the NEA. I want a loud advocate in favor of the arts.

I'm optimistic.

I could see skepticism. I can't imagine why you'd want to... kill yourself.

Scott Walters said...

I've thought it through a bit, and posted to my blog. I am feeling OK about his understanding of what makes the regional theatre different from the commercial theatre, and his willingness to say it out loud (his is an interesting voice in "Act Two," published by TCG). My concern is the NY-centricity of his career. I really feel that the NEA needs to continue to focus across the country, and I hope he won't get so focused on the Usual Artistic Suspects that the rest of the country is ignored.

OK, I won't kill myself.