Leo Orenstein
Encyclopedia
Leo Alan Orenstein was a Canadian director, producer and writer who worked primarily in television and theatre. At CBC Television
alone, he was director or producer in over 150 works there, many of which were adaptations of works by such authors as Chekhov, Ibsen, George Bernard Shaw and Ionesco.
and moved to Toronto
in childhood. After graduating from Central Technical School
, he studied at New York City's American Artists School
on a scholarship during which time he wrote for the Columbia Workshop
radio series. During a second stint in New York, Orenstein wrote for The Skeptics, a nightclub group. Otherwise, his career was generally based in Toronto.
He wrote and produced The Big Leap, a theatre play which opened in 1952 at Toronto's Royal Alexandra Theatre
. The production was adapted for CBC Television
in 1953, and its later reprise at the Grand Dinner Theatre in Niagara Falls, Ontario
lasted four years.
In 2006, Orenstein won a the Full Length category in Theatre BC's Canadian National Playwriting Competition for Homeless Hannah.
Orenstein died in Toronto aged 89 at Mount Sinai Hospital
.
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
alone, he was director or producer in over 150 works there, many of which were adaptations of works by such authors as Chekhov, Ibsen, George Bernard Shaw and Ionesco.
Career
Orenstein was born in MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and moved to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
in childhood. After graduating from Central Technical School
Central Technical School
Central Technical School is a composite high school located at 725 Bathurst Street at Harbord Street in Toronto, Canada.C.T.S. offers a wide range of programs, including all core academic courses, as well as concentration and specialization in visual arts and technical studies. C.T.S...
, he studied at New York City's American Artists School
American Artists School
The American Artists School was a progressive independent art school in New York City associated with socialism and the American Radical movement.The school was founded in April 1936 at 131 West Fourteenth Street...
on a scholarship during which time he wrote for the Columbia Workshop
Columbia Workshop
Columbia Workshop was a radio series that aired on the Columbia Broadcasting System from 1936 to 1943, returning in 1946-47.-Irving Reis:...
radio series. During a second stint in New York, Orenstein wrote for The Skeptics, a nightclub group. Otherwise, his career was generally based in Toronto.
He wrote and produced The Big Leap, a theatre play which opened in 1952 at Toronto's Royal Alexandra Theatre
Royal Alexandra Theatre
The Royal Alexandra Theatre is a theatre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada located near King and Simcoe Streets. Built in 1907, the Royal Alex is the oldest continuously operating legitimate theatre in North America.-History:...
. The production was adapted for CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
in 1953, and its later reprise at the Grand Dinner Theatre in Niagara Falls, Ontario
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Niagara Falls is a Canadian city on the Niagara River in the Golden Horseshoe region of Southern Ontario. The municipality was incorporated on June 12, 1903...
lasted four years.
In 2006, Orenstein won a the Full Length category in Theatre BC's Canadian National Playwriting Competition for Homeless Hannah.
Orenstein died in Toronto aged 89 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...
.
Theatre
- 1950: Golden Boy, Dominion Drama Festival
- 1952: The Big Leap, Royal Alexandra Theatre (producer, writer)
- 1956: Zone, Crest Theatre
Filmography (television)
- Birthday Party (CBC TelevisionCBC TelevisionCBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
) - Murder Story (CBC Television)
- On Camera (CBC Television, producer)
- The Queen of Spades (CBC Television)
- To My Son With Love (CBC Television)
- General Motors Presents/General Motors Theatre (CBC Television, producer)
- End Of Summer (producer)
- Forever Galatea (CBC Television)
- The Vigilante
- 1955: The Big Leap (CBC Television adaptation)
- 1954: Ad and Lib (producer)
- 3 October 1956: First Performance, "Time Lock" (producer)
- 1960: The Unforeseen (director, TV series)
- 1963: Have Figure Will Travel (director)
- 1973: The StarlostThe StarlostThe Starlost is a Canadian-produced science fiction television series devised by writer Harlan Ellison and broadcast in 1973 on CTV in Canada and syndicated to local stations in the United States. The show's setting is a huge generational colony spacecraft called The Ark, which has gone off-course...
(CTVCTV television networkCTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
)- 29 September 1973: "Lazarus from the Mist" (director)
- 13 October 1973: "The Pisces" (director)