Actors Susan Gwinn and Russ Davison have left us for Missouri.
Director Fred Hartman now resides in Palm Springs.
We wish them all the best, and miss them already.

Fred Hartman

Fred discovered theatre in Buffalo. He later moved to Boston, where he hosted a classical radio show, appeared in TV commercials and attended Tufts University (BFA) and the School of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Fred worked the “Straw Hat” circuit in New England. In 1976 he moved to San Francisco, where he worked in commercial and Equity waiver theatres.

A member of Actors Equity, Fred has also worked as an associate director, resident designer, acting coach. He co-wrote, co-directed and performed in a nightclub review.

In 1978 Fred became affiliated with the San Francisco Repertory, where his work brought critical praise for design, acting and direction. He was a recipient of the SF Theatre Critics Circle Award for the Entire Production, and for Direction, with Michelle Truffaut, of The Blood Knot. His designs for Ballad of the Sad Café and Machinal were also nominated. His directing and design were also recognized by Dramalogue and other west coast reviewers.

Fred collaborated with Michelle Truffaut on the writing and direction of Animal Farm: A Fable with Music, an adaptation of Orwells novel, and LULU, based on Wedekind’s Lulu plays. Both plays featured music by Frank Schrader with Lyrics by Lorraine Durocher. A critically acclaimed production of Lulu was presented at the Moguls Theatre in Hollywood, which received awards from Dramalogue, The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle and The Hollywood Reporter.

After a 20 year absence from theatre, Fred became a member of The Monday Night Group, where he has found a collaborative environment that has reignited his interest in writing, revived his love of directing and given substance to The Monday Night Group’s Tuesday Nights.

Fred’s short play, Leave a Message was recently produced by The Bus Barn Stage Company in Los Altos, CA.