Alfredo Valente was an Italian born American photographer known for his prolific career chronicling Broadway theatre. He is also credited as a singer, painter, art collector, dealer, and cultural administrator.
Valente was born in Calabria, Italy where he trained as a fine artist and opera singer. In 1924, he immigrated to the United States where he performed opera in public. However, his singing career did not take off and he pivoted to focus on his photography.
In 1931, he became the photographer for the newly formed Group Theater, an experimental theater company based in New York co-founded by Lee Strasberg. By the mid-1930s, Valente was regularly published by magazines and newspapers, most notably Stage, a magazine dedicated to Broadway theater. Valente was lauded as one of the leading theater photographers of the day and his use of artistic camera angles and dramatic lighting became his signature. He also became known for portraying actors and dancers in costume, but not while performing. In addition to Broadway, Valente photographed American Ballet Theatre during the company's formative years during the 1940s.