Rose Freeman is an award winning stage director, teacher, writer, and producer of theatre and opera. Freeman’s direction has been lauded as “virtually flawless” (Chicago Classical Review) and Operatic stage direction credits include the 2023 revival of Spears’ Jason and the Argonauts for Lyric Opera of Chicago, Puccini’s La Boheme with LOON, Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor and Elisir d'amore at Gulfshore Opera, (Johann) Strauss’ Fledermaus with Opera Mississippi, Mozart’s Magic Flute with Harrower Opera, Viardot’s Cendrillon with City Lyric Opera, (Richard) Strauss' Die Liebe Der Danae at Pittsburgh Festival Opera, Hildegarde’s Ordo with Chicago City Opera, Fizz and Ginger  at Chicago Fringe Opera, Stravinsky’s L'Historie Du Soldat at Temple University, and Weber’s Der Freischütz. Zie co-founded Third Eye Theatre Ensemble,which was called “one of the greats” by the Chicago Tribune. At Third Eye, direction credits include Han Lash’s Beowulf, Kamala Sankaram’s The Infinite Energy of Ada Lovelace, Juliet Palmer's Stitch, Daniel Crozier's With Blood With Ink, Nico Muhly’s Dark Sisters, Mohammed Fairouz’s Sumeida’s Song, as well as Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Medium and The Consul.  A Wolftrap Opera Directing Fellow 2020-2022, Freeman had the honor of working on Floyd’s Susannah, Verdi’s Traviata, Bologne de Saint-George’s L’Amant Anonyme and Holst’s Savitri and Viardot’s Cendrillon while also directing the studio artist scenes program in 2020. World premieres include Four Lost Santas with Opera Orlando (of which zie is co-librettist), Elisabeth Rudolph’s Petticoats and Sliderules, Alexandra Enyart’s Witness, Evan Kassof’s Ganymede 5, and Eric McDonnell's Cosmic Ray and the Amazing Chris. 

Freeman has spoken on panels and led seminars for Opera America, National Opera Association, and the Chicago Theatre Symposium, participated in the 2012 DirectorsLabChicago, and 2017 La MaMa Umbria Intl. Symposium for Directors. Freeman’s production of Stitch was named Best New Opera Production, and Third Eye Theatre Ensemble was nominated for Best Opera Company by the Chicago Reader in 2019, The Medium (2014) and Sumeida’s Song (2015) were both named top 5 operas by NewCity. Zie is a recipient of the National Opera Association's 2024 First Place Opera Competition (Temple University, Producer) and 2020 JoElyn Wakefield-Wright Stage Director Fellowship and the city of Philadelphia’s 2022 Illuminate the Arts Grant.

Freeman received an MFA in Directing at Temple University through the inaugural Music Theatre Collaboration program, where zie collaborated with Spicer Carr to write the musical, Chance the Snapper. Four Lost Santas, was hailed by the Orlando Sentinel as deserving to become “a festive new holiday tradition.” Freeman’s poem, Bad Sailor Poetry was featured at Whyy Collective’s MIXT: A Living Gallery in Spring 2025. 

Freeman brings great innovation and diverse artistic background to zir work having created national fine art shows for M Gallery of Fine Art, served as managing producing director for Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, worked as a stage manager for 10 years, and production managed a national tour for Feld Entertainment’s Monster Jam Monster Truck Show. Zie regularly tours Italy performing with Teatro di Viti’s production of Eva.

Zie has directed many plays, space-generated theatrical events, burlesque events, nationally touring hiphop concerts, and workshops of new musicals and operas. A passionate advocate for the shepherding of new musicals, Freeman has had the honor of working on the directorial staff for Polyphone New Musical Festival for five seasons, working on Crimson Lit, TL;DR: Thelma and Louise Dyke Remix, and Marie in Tomorrow Land, among others. Freeman is on faculty at Temple University, having previously served as the Interim Head of Opera Production. Academic directing and teaching work includes Mannes School of Music, Southern California University, Columbia College Chicago, University of the Arts, and Roosevelt University. Zie is Member Emeritus for the DirectorsLabChicago Steering Committee, and a Mercury Store Lead Artist. Freeman is a Marvel Artist. www.rosefreeman.org