He was involved in the foundation of the progressive Die Freie Bühne (English: Free Stage) company, of which he became president and producer.

From Heinz Herald's memoir of Max Reinhardt entitled Bildnis eines Theater-Mannes, regarding the birth of modern theatre: In Germany, the explosion came in 1889, embodied by Otto Brahm.

[citation needed]The confirmation of this victory occurred when Brahm shortly afterwards took over the direction of the Deutsches Theater, which at that time was still considered to be the leader in Berlin and the Reich.

Here were the best Rittner, Sauer, Hermann Muller, Bassermann and Else Lehmann: performers who met exactly the Brahmian style of the naturalness, truthfulness, sober behavior.

Through hotly controversial Hauptmann's first performances and many pieces of the naturalistic period, Brahm and his cast rose to what they undoubtedly considered to be the pinnacle of their achievement: the peculiar and pompous cycle of Ibsen.

He was in close contact with his authors, selected the pieces for his playing schedule, occupied them, found and hired new ensemble members.

A young actor of his theater, who had noticed him on a short visit to Salzburg and stayed with him for almost a decade, was called Max Reinhardt.” 12-14