Fulbright Fellowship in playwriting and directing, 1959-1961, Bristol Old Vic Theatre (England) produced his play, “Point in the Square”; directed at Royal Court Theatre, London, Theatre National Populaire (TNP) Paris.
Television directing credits include: “Where the Heart Is”, CBS; “The Best of Everything”, directed pilot episodes, ABC; Link-Levinson Productions, Universal Television.
Artistic director of “Second Company” at the Charles Playhouse in Boston, 1964-65; inner city performance and training programs; innovative musical theater repertory for children; developed and staged first play written by Anne Sexton, “Tell Me Your Answer True”, sponsored by Ford Foundation. As a result of this work, Ms. Sexton, who was a Pulitzer Prize honoree in poetry, rewrote and realized a production of the work at The American Place Theater, New York City, under the title “Mercy Street”. While at the Charles Playhouse directed the musical “She Loves Me” with Joe Raposo, musical director; and the Jean Genet classic, “The Balcony” (1966).
Founding general and artistic director of the Pittsburgh Public Theater, 1975-82, responsible for establishing financial and artistic foundations, as well as directing a majority of productions during its first seven years. Today, Pittsburgh Public Theater remains a significant regional theater performing in a facility designed by Michael Graves.
Regional repertory theater productions at the Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles and the Old Globe Theater, San Diego.
Directed commercial productions of musical comedies including first summer touring production of “Cabaret” and “Fiddler on the Roof”. Off-Broadway productions include “The Old Ones” by Arnold Wesker; “Square in the Eye” by Jack Gelber; “Good Day” by Emanuel Peluso, multi-Obie Awards. And one Broadway-bound musical, just one: “A Joyful Noise”, by Oscar Brand and Paul Nassau, with John Raitt, Donna McKechnie, Tommy Tune, James Rado, Baayork Lee, choreographed by Michael Bennett, designed by Peter Wexler.
Regional repertory theater productions at the Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles and the Old Globe Theater, San Diego.
Directed IBM multimedia educational seminars in New York and Washington, D.C. Trained IBM systems analysts, computer engineers, project managers and leading executives in presentation, facilitation and audience interaction techniques.
Since 1983, founder and president of Shaktman Associates, an executive consulting and coaching firm, specializing in improving the way corporate executives, teachers, professors and community leaders prepare and deliver international presentations.
Education
BA, Syracuse University, Magna Cum Laude; MA, (Honors) Maxwell School of Public Affairs, Syracuse University; Fulbright Fellowship in Playwriting, 1959-61 (the first award to an American playwright,) to University of Bristol, England, University of London School of Asian and African Affairs, Royal Court Theater, London, Comedie Francaise, Paris, Berliner Ensemble, Royal Dramaten Theatre, Stockholm, Vienna State Opera.