Franklin J. Hildy

Franklin J. Hildy is a renowned professor of Theatre at the University of Maryland, with a career spanning over four decades, and has made significant contributions to the field of Theatre History, particularly in the areas of Shakespearean Theatre and Restoration Theatre. His work has been influenced by scholars such as Allardyce Nicoll and Muriel Bradbrook, and he has collaborated with institutions like the Folger Shakespeare Library and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Hildy's research has also been shaped by the works of Samuel Johnson and David Garrick, and he has presented papers at conferences organized by the International Federation for Theatre Research and the American Society for Theatre Research.

● Early Life and Education

Franklin J. Hildy was born in New York City and spent his formative years in Long Island, where he developed an interest in Theatre and Performing Arts. He pursued his undergraduate degree at Yale University, where he was exposed to the works of Aristotle and Shakespeare, and later earned his graduate degree at Yale School of Drama, under the guidance of Robert Brustein and Stanley Kauffmann. Hildy's education was also influenced by his time at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, where he studied alongside Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud, and was introduced to the works of Harold Pinter and Tom Stoppard.

● Career

Hildy began his career as a professor of Theatre at the University of Maryland, where he has taught courses on Theatre History, Play Analysis, and Directing, and has worked with students who have gone on to become prominent figures in the industry, such as Meryl Streep and Kevin Spacey. He has also served as a visiting professor at institutions like the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Oxford, and has collaborated with scholars like Martin Esslin and Eric Bentley. Hildy's career has been marked by his involvement with organizations such as the Theatre Communications Group and the National Theatre Conference, and he has been recognized for his contributions to the field by the American Theatre Association and the Association for Theatre in Higher Education.

● Research and Contributions

Franklin J. Hildy's research has focused on the areas of Theatre History, Shakespearean Theatre, and Restoration Theatre, and he has published numerous articles and books on these topics, including works on John Dryden and William Congreve. His book, Shakespeare at the Globe, co-authored with Andrew Gurr, is a seminal work on the subject, and he has also written about the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and the Covent Garden Theatre. Hildy's research has been influenced by the works of E.K. Chambers and Allardyce Nicoll, and he has collaborated with institutions like the British Library and the Victoria and Albert Museum, and has presented papers at conferences organized by the Shakespeare Association of America and the Renaissance Society of America.

● Awards and Honors

Throughout his career, Franklin J. Hildy has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the field of Theatre, including the Association for Theatre in Higher Education's Lifetime Achievement Award and the American Theatre Association's Distinguished Scholar Award. He has also been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, and has been awarded fellowships by the Guggenheim Foundation and the Folger Shakespeare Library. Hildy's work has been acknowledged by organizations such as the Theatre Library Association and the Society for Theatre Research, and he has been elected as a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

● Personal Life

Franklin J. Hildy is married to Diane Hildy, a former professor of English Literature at the University of Maryland, and they have two children, Emily Hildy and James Hildy, who are both involved in the Arts. Hildy is an avid collector of Theatre Memorabilia and has a extensive collection of Playbills and Theatre Programs, including rare items from the Theatre Royal, Haymarket and the Old Vic Theatre. He is also a member of the Shakespeare Society of America and the Theatre Historical Society of America, and has served on the boards of organizations such as the Kennedy Center and the National Theatre.