Michael Kahn

Michael Kahn is an American theater director and drama educator. Kahn was born in Brooklyn, New York. He attended the High School for the Performing Arts and received a Bachelor of Arts from the Columbia College of Columbia University. He was the artistic director of the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C. from 1986 until his retirement in 2019. He held the position of Richard Rodgers Director of the Drama Division of the Juilliard School from 1992 to 2006. After beginning his career off-off-Broadway in 1964, directing experimental theater and other works, including Shakespeare, Kahn had both notable failures and successes with Broadway projects, winning acclaim especially for productions of The Royal Family (1975–76) and Show Boat (1983). He joined the Juilliard School's faculty in 1968, becoming the head of its drama school. During his long tenure as artistic director of the Shakespeare Theatre Company, Kahn has overseen its growth, including initiating its Free For All productions. He has also acted as artistic director for several other companies, continued to direct regional theater and opera, and received various awards and honors, including being inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame on January 28, 2013, and being honored by Queen Elizabeth II as a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. The award was presented by British Ambassador Peter Westmacott at a ceremony at the Ambassador's Residence on April 23, 2013, Shakespeare's birthday. Source: [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Kahn_(theatre_director))