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Actor Kevin Kline Reflects On Legendary Director And UNCSA Mentor Gerald Freedman

"The School of Doing" author Isaac Klein (left) and actor Kevin Kline attended the book release at the Drama Book Shop in Manhattan in early December. (Photo credit: Austin Donohue)

In June, American film and stage actor Kevin Kline won a Tony Award for his role in the Broadway revival of Noël Coward's "Present Laughter." It was his third Tony—he's also won Academy and Drama Desk Awards—but much more important to Kline is the artistic process behind great acting.

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Kevin Kline and Patti LuPone in the musical "The Robber Bridegroom," directed by Gerald Freedman. (Photo credit: Richard M. Lightfoot III)

For that, Kline credits University of North Carolina School of the Arts Dean Emeritus Gerald Freedman. He first studied with Freedman as a promising young acting student at Julliard, and in a new book by UNCSA alumnus Isaac Klein titled "The School of Doing," Kline, along with dozens of other actors, shares some of the ways in which Freedman shaped his approach to acting.

Kline spoke with WFDD's David Ford about his long career, from leading man in films like "Sophie's Choice" and "The Big Chill," to Shakespeare in Central Park, and the important guidance he received along the way from his mentor Gerald Freedman.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before his arrival in the Triad, David had already established himself as a fixture in the Austin, Texas arts scene as a radio host for Classical 89.5 KMFA. During his tenure there, he produced and hosted hundreds of programs including Mind Your Music, The Basics and T.G.I.F. Thank Goodness, It's Familiar, which each won international awards in the Fine Arts Radio Competition. As a radio journalist with 88.5 WFDD, his features have been recognized by the Associated Press, Public Radio News Directors Inc., Catholic Academy of Communication Professionals, and Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas. David has written and produced national stories for NPR, KUSC and CPRN in Los Angeles and conducted interviews for Minnesota Public Radio's Weekend America.

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