Dan Friedman Appointed Artistic Director of The Castillo Theatre
Fred Newman,Ph.D., Judith Malina; Mario Fratti;
(left to right second row) Ken Cerniglia;
Gabrielle L. Kurlander; Woodie King, Jr.
Jacqueline King; Diane Stiles
Dan Friedman, Ph.D. has been named artistic director of the Castillo Theatre. He was preceded by Fred Newman, who held the position from 1989 through 2005, when he retired; Newman remains artistic director emeritus.
Friedman was among the activist artists who established the Castillo Theater in 1984. Since 1989 he has served as the company’s dramaturg, directed the All Stars’ youth theatre, and been dean of the Castillo’s free theatre training program.
In addition, he is the editor of the books The Cultural Politics of Heiner Müller, Müller in America, and Still on the Corner and Other Postmodern Political Plays by Fred Newman, and co-editor, with Bruce McConachie, of Theatre for Working Class Audiences in the United States, 1830-1980. He has written for such publications as The Drama Review, Modern Drama, Communications from the International Brecht Society, and Back Stage, among others.
At the announcement of Friedman’s appointment, toasts were offered by Ken Cerniglia, dramaturg and literary manager at Disney Theatrical Productions; Mario Fratti, theatre critic and playwright; Woodie King, Jr, founder and producing director of the New Federal Theatre; and Judith Malina, artistic director of The Living Theatre.
