I'm Rose Freeman
I strive to consistently create holy space as theatrical practice.
I believe in the pragmatism of communal storytelling. I believe in joyful celebration of each other.
I believe in honest and kind exploration and action, which can be achieved through storytelling and spectacle.
I believe in cherishing all of our available resources through utilization to push our fellow humans to question, celebrate, and ultimately love the world around us through the prayer we call communal experience.
"Live truthfully in imaginary circumstances"
~the tattoo on my ribs
Rose Freeman teaches, stage directs, writes, and produces theatrical performance in multiple performance mediums. Recent projects include development for a book on Acting Methods for Opera, writing a musical about an aligator in Chicago, directing the studio artist scenes program at Wolf Trap Opera, Stage Directing Strauss' Die Liebe Der Danae at Pittsburgh Festival Opera, and directing She Kills Monsters (2021), Chance the Snapper (2020), and Men on Boats (2019) through Temple University.
A recent recipient of an MFA in Directing at Temple University through the inaugural Music Theatre Collaboration program, Freeman has created national fine art shows for M Gallery of Fine Art, served as managing producing director for Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, and production managed a national tour for Feld Entertainment’s Monster Jam Monster Truck Show.
Freeman stage directs space generated theater, burlesque, and opera. Previous operatic productions include Juliet Palmer's Stitch, Daniel Crozier's With Blood With Ink, Nico Muhly’s Dark Sisters, Mohammed Fairouz’s Sumeida’s Song, Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Medium (all with Third Eye), Eric McDonnell's Cosmic Ray and the Amazing Chris with Thompson Street and Forest Fantasies with Lingerie Lyrique. Notable non-operatic productions include Caroline Shaul’s The Shaulshank Redemption, Po’Chop’s Black As Eye Wanna Be, Hannah Ii Epstein’s Punk Punk, Pippi’s Lost Stockings: a Burlesque Satire, Michael Wise’s Alice, and Vic Mensa’s 2016 Lollapalooza homecoming concert. Favorite burlesque collaborations include Siren Jinx, Po’Chop, and Mia Divine. Rose is a recovering stage manager with a decade of experience.
Hailing from Columbia College Chicago, Freeman has been a teaching artist with the Chicago Vocal Arts Consortium, Columbia College Chicago, and University of the Arts. Zie has recently served as an Associate Director for Sherri Eden Barber on TL;DR Dyke Remix by Ella Rose Chary and Brandon James Gwinn at both Rhinebeck and Polyphone, Associate Director for Sam Pinkleton on Maggie Kate Coleman and Erato Kremmyda's Marie in Tomorrow Land at the Polyphone Music Festival, and for Brandon McShaffrey on Monteveri's Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria. Zie is a Founding Ensemble Member of Third Eye Theatre Ensemble, Nothing Without a Company, and Member Emeritus for the DirectorsLabChicago Steering Committee. Freeman has spoken at the National Opera Association in 2021, participated on the emerging artists panel during the 2011 Chicago Theatre Symposium, participated in the 2012 DirectorsLabChicago, and 2017 La MaMa Umbria Intl. Symposium for Directors. Zie is a recipient of the National Opera Association's 2020 JoElyn Wakefield-Wright Stage Director Fellowship. Rose Freeman is a Directing Fellow for Wolf Trap Opera's 2020 season.