Vilna Troupe

The Vilna Troupe (a.k.a. Vilner Troupe) were one of the most famous theatrical companies in the history of Yiddish theater. Distinctly modernist, and strongly influenced by Russian literature and by the ideas of Konstantin Stanislavski, their travels in Western Europe and later to Romania played a significant role in the dissemination of a disciplined approach to acting that continues to be influential down to the present day.

Related Topics:
Yiddish theater - Russian literature - Konstantin Stanislavski - Western Europe - Romania

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Founded in Vilnius (Vilna) in 19151 in the midst of World War I, the troupe soon moved to Warsaw. Their repertoire epitomized the second golden age of Yiddish theater, with works by S.Ansky, Sholom Aleichem, and Sholem Asch, but also by Molière, Maxim Gorky, Henrik Ibsen, plus some Jewish-themed plays by non-Jews, notably Karl Gutzkow's Uriel Acosta.

Related Topics:
Vilnius - 1915 - 1 - World War I - Warsaw - S.Ansky - Sholom Aleichem - Sholem Asch - Molière - Maxim Gorky - Henrik Ibsen - Karl Gutzkow - Uriel Acosta

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They were the first to stage Ansky's The Dybbuk. The Dybbuk was originally written in Russian, but Stanislavski suggested to Ansky that for the sake of authenticity he should translate it into Yiddish. At the time of Ansky's death, November 8, 1920, the play was complete but had never been professionally produced. As a tribute to Ansky, the Vilna troupe utilised the 30-day period of mourning after his death to prepare the play, which opened December 9, 1920, at the Elyseum Theatre in Warsaw. It's unanticipated success established the play as a classic of modern Yiddish theater.

Related Topics:
The Dybbuk - Russian - Yiddish - November 8 - 1920 - December 9

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They toured extensively. In late summer 1926 they were at New York City's Liptzin Theater performing Rasputin and the Czarina. http://www.forward.com/issues/2001/01.08.31/lookingback.html Prior to that time, they had already played in London and Paris.

Related Topics:
New York City - London - Paris

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Among the members of the troupe were Joseph Green, later one of the few Yiddish-language filmmakers. http://www.forward.com/issues/2003/03.01.10/arts4.html Director Jakob Rotbaum began his professional career staging Eugene O'Neill with the troupe in 1930. http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/academic/languages/yiddish/mendele/vol3.142

Related Topics:
Joseph Green - Jakob Rotbaum - Eugene O'Neill

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