John Hirsch
Encyclopedia
John Stephen Hirsch, OC
(May 1, 1930 – August 1, 1989) was an Hungarian-Canadian
theater director. He was born in Siófok
, Hungary
, and escaped Hungary during World War Two as a refugee orphan. Hirsch was the adoptive son of Pauline Shack who resided in Winnipeg
who had two children of her own, Sybil Shack and Frida Shack Katz.
In 1957, Hirsch and Tom Hendry co-founded Theatre 77, which they combined with the Winnipeg Little Theatre in 1958 to form the Manitoba Theatre Centre
(with Hirsch as artistic director). MTC was destined to be the model for regional theatres across Canada. He directed many productions at MTC, the Stratford Festival, the National Arts Centre
, Toronto Arts Productions, Young People's Theatre, the Shaw Festival
. His 1976 Stratford production of Three Sisters
won great acclaim.
He was co-director at the Stratford Festival (1967–1969), head of television drama for the CBC
(1974–1978), and Artistic Director at the Stratford Festival (1981–1985).
In the United States, Hirsch won the Outer Circle Critics' Award for Saint Joan
at Lincoln Center, and an Obie Award
for AC/DC at the Chelsea Theater in New York. In 1975, he won the New York Drama Critics' Circle
Award for The Dybbuk at the Mark Taper Forum
in Los Angeles, a play he translated and adapted. In 1967, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
"for his contribution to the performing Arts".
Hirsch died after being hospitalized at Mount Sinai Hospital
in Toronto, Ontario on August 1, 1989.
In 1989, the Manitoba Foundation for the Arts established the John Hirsch Award for Most Promising Manitoba Writer. An endowment from the Hirsch estate provides a cash prize to the most promising Manitoba writer selected by a jury of senior members of the Manitoba writing and publishing community. Some of the past recipients include: David Bergen
, Miriam Toews
, and Chandra Mayor
.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(May 1, 1930 – August 1, 1989) was an Hungarian-Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
theater director. He was born in Siófok
Siófok
Siófok is a city in Hungary on the southern bank of Lake Balaton in Somogy County. The city is one of Hungary's most popular holiday destinations, famous for its beaches and nightlife. Siófok is one of the richest municipalities of Hungary due to tourism...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, and escaped Hungary during World War Two as a refugee orphan. Hirsch was the adoptive son of Pauline Shack who resided in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
who had two children of her own, Sybil Shack and Frida Shack Katz.
In 1957, Hirsch and Tom Hendry co-founded Theatre 77, which they combined with the Winnipeg Little Theatre in 1958 to form the Manitoba Theatre Centre
Manitoba Theatre Centre
Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre is Canada's oldest English-language regional theatre. Next to the Stratford and Shaw Festivals, MTC has a higher annual attendance than any other theatre in the country...
(with Hirsch as artistic director). MTC was destined to be the model for regional theatres across Canada. He directed many productions at MTC, the Stratford Festival, the National Arts Centre
National Arts Centre
The National Arts Centre is a centre for the performing arts located in Ottawa, Ontario, between Elgin Street and the Rideau Canal...
, Toronto Arts Productions, Young People's Theatre, the Shaw Festival
Shaw Festival
The Shaw Festival is a major Canadian theatre festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, the second largest repertory theatre company in North America...
. His 1976 Stratford production of Three Sisters
Three Sisters (play)
Three Sisters is a play by Russian author and playwright Anton Chekhov, perhaps partially inspired by the situation of the three Brontë sisters, but most probably by the three Zimmermann sisters in Perm...
won great acclaim.
He was co-director at the Stratford Festival (1967–1969), head of television drama for the CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
(1974–1978), and Artistic Director at the Stratford Festival (1981–1985).
In the United States, Hirsch won the Outer Circle Critics' Award for Saint Joan
Saint Joan (play)
Saint Joan is a play by George Bernard Shaw, based on the life and trial of Joan of Arc. Published not long after the canonization of Joan of Arc by the Roman Catholic Church, the play dramatises what is known of her life based on the substantial records of her trial. Shaw studied the transcripts...
at Lincoln Center, and an Obie Award
Obie Award
The Obie Awards or Off-Broadway Theater Awards are annual awards given by The Village Voice newspaper to theatre artists and groups in New York City...
for AC/DC at the Chelsea Theater in New York. In 1975, he won the New York Drama Critics' Circle
New York Drama Critics' Circle
The New York Drama Critics' Circle is made up of 24 drama critics from daily newspapers, magazines and wire services based in the New York City metropolitan area. The organization was founded in 1935 at the Algonquin Hotel by a group that included Brooks Atkinson, Walter Winchell, and Robert Benchley...
Award for The Dybbuk at the Mark Taper Forum
Mark Taper Forum
The Mark Taper Forum is a 739 seat thrust stage at the Los Angeles Music Center built by Welton Becket and Associates on the Bunker Hill section of downtown Los Angeles...
in Los Angeles, a play he translated and adapted. In 1967, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
"for his contribution to the performing Arts".
Hirsch died after being hospitalized at Mount Sinai Hospital
Mount Sinai Hospital (Toronto)
Mount Sinai Hospital is a hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Although it is physically linked by bridges and tunnels to two University Health Network hospitals , Mount Sinai is an independently operated facility...
in Toronto, Ontario on August 1, 1989.
In 1989, the Manitoba Foundation for the Arts established the John Hirsch Award for Most Promising Manitoba Writer. An endowment from the Hirsch estate provides a cash prize to the most promising Manitoba writer selected by a jury of senior members of the Manitoba writing and publishing community. Some of the past recipients include: David Bergen
David Bergen
David Bergen is a Canadian novelist from Winnipeg, Manitoba. He has published six novels and one collection of short stories since 1993...
, Miriam Toews
Miriam Toews
Miriam Toews is a Canadian writer of Mennonite descent. She grew up in Steinbach, Manitoba and has lived in Montreal and London, before settling in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She moved to Toronto in 2009....
, and Chandra Mayor
Chandra Mayor
Chandra Mayor , is a Canadian poet and novelist whose writings, among other topics, dive into worlds of urban and alternative cultures. She resides in Winnipeg, Manitoba.- Publishing career :...
.
External links
- Manitoba Writers' Guild Inc. profile
- John Stephen Hirsch at The Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian Encyclopedia is a source of information on Canada. It is available online, at no cost. The Canadian Encyclopedia is available in both English and French and includes some 14,000 articles in each language on a wide variety of subjects including history, popular culture, events, people,...