Franz Schafranek

Franz Schafranek ( born February 6, 1930 in Gratzen, today Novohradský, Czechoslovakia, † June 4, 1991 in Vienna ) was an Austrian man of the theater and, with his wife Ruth Brinkmann, 1963 founder of the Vienna's English Theatre.

Life

Schafranek came up with 15 years from Austria, studied in Stockholm theater studies and was an assistant director with Ingmar Bergman and 1955-56 in Bertolt Brecht at the Theater am Schiffbauerdamm. In 1959 he returned to Austria, was assistant director at the Burgtheater and 1961-65 playwright, 1965-67, he worked as program adviser to the Austrian television. As a director of Vienna's English Theatre, he was responsible for more than 40 productions at this and at other theaters in Vienna. Vienna's English Theatre was not only " audience -friendly " but also sophisticated pieces. Schafranek staged premieres of Tennessee Williams, William Saroyan, and Edward Albee. He also managed to attract international stars for the small theater. In 1978, Schafranek also Théâtre Français de Vienne and 1985 Teatro Italiano di Vienna.

Franz Schafranek died suddenly in the night after a successful premiere with Larry Hagman and Linda Gray.