André Barsacq (24 January 1909 – 8 July 1973) was a French theatre director, producer, scenic designer, and playwright. From 1940 to 1973 he was the director of the Théâtre de l'Atelier. He was the brother of Russian production designer Léon Barsacq and the uncle of film actor Yves Barsacq.

Life and career

Barsacq was born in the city of Feodosiya in Crimea. His father was French and his mother was Russian.Premier Cinema: Andre Barsacq
/ref> At the age of 15 he traveled to Paris to study at the School of Decorative Arts and lived in France from then on. In 1928 he was at the Théâtre de l'Atelier working with its director, Charles Dullin on productions which included Jules Romains's 1923 play ''Knock (play), Knock''. As director of the Théâtre de l'Atelier he introduced Parisian audiences to the plays of Ugo Betti, Félicien Marceau, Marcel Ayme (''The Moon Birds''), Françoise Sagan, René de Obaldia, and Friedrich Dürrenmatt. He successfully adapted the works of Chekhov, Dostoevsky, and Turgenev for the French stage.Oxford Companions, Oxford Companion to the Theatre: André Barsacq During his career he worked with Antonin Artaud, Jean-Louis Barrault, and Jacques Copeau.Jacques Copeau: biography of André Barsacq
/ref> Barsacq was a great admirer of Jean Anouilh and beginning with ''Thieves' Carnival, Le Bal des voleurs'' at Théâtre Hébertot, Théâtre des Arts in 1938 produced almost all his plays, including, at some personal risk, the subversive ''Antigone (Anouilh), Antigone'' in 1944 during the Military Administration in France (Nazi Germany), Nazi occupation. André Barsacq also worked with many major filmmakers including Marcel L'Herbier, Pierre Chenal, Jean Grémillon, Max Ophüls, and Pierre Billon (director), Pierre Billon.

Broadway shows

* 1963: ''Bérénice'' (director) Brooks Atkinson Theatre * 1960: ''The Good Soup'' (writer, director) Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, Plymouth Theatre * 1957: ''Volpone'' (scenic design, costume design) Winter Garden Theatre

Filmography

; Director and screenwriter * 1952: ''Crimson Curtain (1952 film), Crimson Curtain'' (director and screenwriter) * 1960: ''The Players'' (TV movie) (screenplay and adaptation) * 1964: ''Castle in Sweden'' (TV movie) (director) * 1966: ''A Month in the Country'' (TV movie) (director) * 1967: ''King Stag'' (TV movie) (director) * 1968: ''The Idiot'' (TV movie) (adaptation) * 1969: ''The Government Inspector'' (TV movie) (director) * 1972: ''The Birds of the Moon'' (TV movie) (director) * 1972: ''David'' (the night falls (TV movie) (director) * 1972: ''The Babur'' (TV movie) (director) * 1972: ''The Villains'' (TV movie) (director) ; Production designer * 1928: ''L'argent'' [dir: Marcel L'Herbier] (artistic director) * 1928: ''Maldone'' [dir: Jean Grémillon] (scenic designer) * 1929: ''The Lighthouse Keepers'' [dir: Jean Grémillon] (designer and assistant director) * 1934: ''La dolorosa'' [dir: Jean Grémillon] (assistant director) * 1936: ''Southern Mail (film), Southern Mail'' [dir: Pierre Billon] (scenic designer) * 1937: ''Yoshiwara'' [dir: Max Ophüls] (artistic director) * 1940: ''Volpone'' [dir: Maurice Tourneur] (scenic designer) * 1942: ''The Honorable Catherine'' [dir: Marcel L'Herbier] (artistic director) * 1942: ''Summer Light (film), Summer Light'' [dir: Jean Grémillon] (artistic director)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Barsacq, Andre 1909 births 1973 deaths People from Feodosia People from Feodosiysky Uyezd French people of Russian descent French theatre directors 20th-century French dramatists and playwrights French scenic designers French film directors Burials at Batignolles Cemetery Soviet emigrants to France