Piscator Award. The Lahr von Leitis Academy & Archive

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Piscator Award

In 1985 Gregorij H. von Leitis founded the Erwin Piscator Award Society which has been presenting the Annual Erwin Piscator Award in honor of Piscator’s tremendous contribution to the theatre and his lasting influence on stage-direction on both sides of the Atlantic ocean. Like Leo Tolstoi, whose epic novel “War and Peace” Piscator adapted for the stage, Erwin Piscator was convinced that “art only achieves its purpose, when it contributes to the improvement of man.” Since the first award ceremony the Annual Erwin Piscator Award has been presented to artists, who – like Piscator – use the arts to contribute to the improvement of man.

The Honorary Erwin Piscator Award in memory of Maria Ley Piscator was instituted in 1996 to recognize the extraordinary support of the arts and culture by individuals and institutions.

Recipient of the first Erwin Piscator Award in 1986 was the Oscar-winning actress Lee Grant.

Until today more than 40 recipients have followed:

2019	Ayad Akhtar Katherine and Clifford Goldsmith (Honorary Award) Helga Rabl-Stadler (Life Achievement Award)
2018	J.T. Rogers Jolana Blau ( Honorary Award)
2017	James C. Nicola Marina Kellen French (Honorary Award)
2016	Bartlett Sher Sachi Liebergesell (Honorary Award) Prof. Dr. Erika Fischer-Lichte (Life Achievement Award)
2015	John Guare Cesare L. Santeramo and Robert J. Campbell (Honorary Award)
2014	Harold Prince Vartan Gregorian (Honorary Award)
2013	André Bishop Barbara Goldsmith (Honorary Award)
2012	Thomas Hampson Louise Hirschfeld Cullman and Lewis B. Cullman (Honorary Award)
2011	E.L. Doctorow Peter Gelb (Honorary Award)
2010	Martina Arroyo Carol Kahn Strauss (Honorary Award) Luise Rainer (Life Achievement Award) Christine Ostermayer (Erwin Piscator Jubilee Award)
2009	Marian Seldes Max Kade Foundation - Lya Friedrich Pfeifer (Honorary Award)
2008	Edward Albee Meera T. Gandhi (Honorary Award)
2007	Deborah Voigt Alexandra Kauka (Honorary Award) Marta Eggerth (Life Achievement Award)
2006	Elaine Stritch Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation (Honorary Award)
2005	Ben Gazzara Donald M. Kendall (Honorary Award)
2004	Kitty Carlisle Hart Dr. Johann Georg Prince of Hohenzollern (Honorary Award)
2003	Anna Moffo Kurt F. Viermetz (Honorary Award)
2002	Kurt Masur Dr. Bernd-A. von Maltzan (Honorary Award)
2001	2001 Anne Jackson and Eli Wallach Drs. Ellen Hedda and Peter Landesmann (Honorary Award)
2000	Ellen Burstyn Anna-Maria and Stephen M. Kellen (Honorary Award)
1999	Tony Randall Mary Sharp Cronson (Honorary Award)
1998	Uta Hagen Martha W. Coigney (Honorary Award)
1997	Lanford Wilson Prof. Gabriele Henkel (Honorary Award)
1996	Marshall W. Mason Lucille Lortel (Honorary Award)
1995	Prof. Dr. Margret Herzfeld-Sander Prof. Dr. Volkmar Sander
1994	William M. Hoffman
1993	Klaus Dieter Wilke
1990	Robert Wilson
1989	Peter Zadek
1988	Judith Malina
1987	Giorgio Strehler
1986	Lee Grant

Gregorij H. von Leitis still serves as the Chairperson of the Piscator Award. Michael Lahr is the Vice Chairman.

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Elysium in 2013, Michael Lahr published the book

"The Erwin Piscator Award".

Photo at the top: Erwin Piscator, Raffaello Bencini at the Teatro Communale di Firenze in1964

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