Tag Archives: Peter Weiss

Spotlight on the Author of Marat/Sade

Peter Weiss pictureCalifornia Stage’s upcoming production of Marat/Sade comes from the unflinching pen of German dramatist Peter Weiss. who spent his career shedding light on the darkest sides of human nature.

Born Lutheran with Jewish roots in 1916 Germany, Weiss and his family were forced to flee Nazi persecution in 1934. He eventually settled in Sweden where he taught art and film theory at the University of Stockholm. He is known for his experimental films and avant garde plays including The Investigation (a docudrama about the Frankfurt trials), The Viet Nam Discourse, Trotsky in Exile, and others. His Marat/Sade premiered in London in 1964 before transferring to Broadway in 1965 to win the Tony for Best Play. Weiss died in Sweden in 1982.

For More about Playwright Peter Weiss see:
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/639137/Peter-Weiss
http://www.indiana.edu/~thtr/productions/2009/WeissBio.shtml

More info on the play here. Purchase tickets online here.