Kazimierz Braun

Kazimierz Braun (born June 29, 1936, Mokrsko Dolne, Poland) – Polish director, writer, scholar^[1]

Biography

Kazimierz Braun earned his Master in Polish Literature at Poznań University, Poland (1958), and Master in Directing, at Warsaw School of Drama (1962). He earned Ph.D. in Letters at Poznań University (1971), Ph. D. in Theatre (in Poland: habilitacja) at Wrocław University, and Ph. D. in Directing (in Poland: habilitacja) at Warsaw School of Drama (1988). He became Full Professor with Tenure at University at Buffalo, USA (1989), and Professor, Polish State Title (1992).

He made his debut as a professional theatre director in 1961, and as a professional television director in 1962. He directed in Teatr Polski, Warsaw, Teatr Wybrzeże, Gdańsk, Teatr Słowackiego, Kraków, Teatr Solskiego, Tarnów, as well as in Canada, Germany, Ireland, and the USA. He was Artistic Director of Teatr Osterwy, Lublin (1967-1971), and General and Artistic Director of the same (1971-1974). He was General and Artistic Director of Teatr Współczesny (Contemporary Theatre) in Wrocław (1975-1984). He was fired by the Communist authorities because of his oppositional activities. Since 1985, he worked and lived in the USA. He directed at The Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis, Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles, Chicago Actors Ensemble, Kavinoky Theatre in Buffalo, and academically. To his most outstanding works cycles of shows were being ranked according to. of pieces C. Norwid (13 shows),^[2] T. Różewicz (19 shows),^[3] Shakespeare'a (12 shows in Polish and English),^[4] and Grandfathers A. Mickiewicz (twice) and Plague according to. A. Camus and Anna Livia according to. J. Joyce'a and other. He taught at Wrocław University, New York University, Swarthmore College, University of California Santa Cruz, and University at Buffalo. He had workshops for directors in Great Britain, Ireland, Poland, and the United States. He cooperated with Polish companies in Canada and the USA.

In his theatre works Kazimierz Braun calls upon the traditions of Appia, Craig, Wyspiański, and Osterwa. He creates productions based on his own idea of „Theatre of Communion”^[5] which strives for transformation of both actors and spectators into one creative group. He achieves that by setting special inter-human relations during the action, and building the performance’s space unifying all present. As prose and drama writer, he uses the style and means of “Historical Fiction”, with real events and characters of real persons as a foundation for a complex symbolic and spiritual edifice. In his theatre history books he focuses on the relationships between aesthetic and both social and political conditions and circumstances of theatre life.

He translated from English, French, and Italian into Polish, and from Polish, French, and Russian into English.

Family life

His father, Juliusz Braun, was Doctor of Law, Professor of Ecology, Catholic Activist, and Stalinist’s political prisoner. His mother was Elżbieta Korwin-Szymanowska. Both died in 1990. He married Zofia Reklewska, writer and theatre historian.Their children are: dr. Monika Braun, writer and academic, Grzegorz Braun, filmmaker and writer, and dr. Justyna Braun, academic. Their grand daughters are: Anna, Joanna, Aniela, Zofia and Elżbieta.

Theatre and academic career

^[6]

• Assistant to the Director, Teatr Współczesny, Warszawa, 1958-1961
• Director, Teatr Wybrzeże, Gdańsk, 1961-1964
• Director, Teatr Polski, Warszawa, 1962-1964
• Director, Teatr Horzycy, Toruń, 1965-1967
• Artistic Director, Teatr Osterwy, Lublin, 1967-1972
• General Manager & Artistic Director, Teatr Osterwy, Lublin, 1972-1974
• General Manager & Artistic Director, Teatr Współczesny, Wrocław, 1975-1984
• Associate Professor, Wrocław University, 1975-1985
• Associate Professor, Kraków/Wrocław School of Drama, 1977-1985
• Visiting Professor, New York University, 1985
• Visiting Professor, Swarthmore College, 1985-1986
• Regents Professor, University of California, 1986
• Associate Professor, University at Buffalo, 1987-1989
• Professor, University at Buffalo, 1989-2015
• Professor, Polish State Title, 1992

Directing

^[7]

• 1961, Karol, On the Sea, Strip-tease, Mrożek, Gdańsk
• 1962, The Ring of a Great Lady, Norwid, Warsaw (also Television Theatre, 1963)
• 1962, Two Theatres, Szaniawski, Warsaw (also Television Theatre, 1972)
• 1963, Caucasian Chock Circle, Brecht, Gdańsk
• 1963, Romeo and Julia, Shakespeare, Warszawa
• 1965, The Wedding, Wyspiański, Toruń
• 1967, November’s Night, Wyspiański, Gdańsk
• 1968, Hamlet, Shakespeare, Lublin (also Wrocław, 1985)
• 1968, Kleopatra and Cezar, Norwid, Lublin (also Television Theatre, 1968)
• 1970, Interrupted Act, Różewicz, Lublin, (also Television Theatre, 1970)
• 1970, Behind the Wings, Norwid, Kraków, (also Television Theatre, 1966)
• 1971, The Ashes, Żeromski, directors’ adaptation, Television Theatre
• 1972, Card Index, Różewicz (also Sofia, Bulgaria, 1978; South Bend, Indiana,1982)
• 1972, The Deliverance, Wyspiański, Lublin
• 1973, The Old Woman, Różewicz, Lublin (also Television Theatre, 1976; Dublin, Ireland, 1983)
• 1976, Anna Livia, Joyce, Wrocław
• 1977, Operetta, Gombrowicz, Wrocław
• 1978, The Forefathers’ Eve, Mickiewicz (full text), Wrocław
• 1979, Birth Rate, Różewicz, directors’ adaptation, Wrocław, (also Chicago, 1989)
• 1982, The Forefathers’ Eve, Mickiewicz, director’s adaptation, Wrocław
• 1982, Twelfth Night, Shakespeare, Wrocław (also Esslingen, Germany, 1982)
• 1983, The Plague, Camus, director’s adaptation, Wrocław (also Chicago, 1988)
• 1984, The Trap, Różewicz, Wrocław
• 1986, Rhinoceros, Ionesco, Minneapolis
• 1987, The Hunger Artist, Różewicz, Buffalo
• 1988, The Shoemakers, Witkacy, Los Angeles
• 1989, King Lear, Shakespeare, Buffalo
• 1990, Immigrant Queen, Braun, Toronto
• 1991, As You Like It, Shakespeare, Buffalo
• 1995, Tango, Mrożek, Knoxville, Tennessee
• 1996, A Man for All Seasons, Bolt, Buffalo
• 1999, Richard III, Shakespeare, Buffalo
• 2003, Europe, Jerzy Braun, Tarnów
• 2004, Paderewski’s Children, Braun, Buffalo
• 2006, The Fall of a Stone House, Brandstaetter, Tarnów
• 2006, Card Index Scattered, Różewicz, Buffalo
• 2008, The Tales of Pola Negri, Braun, Toronto
• 2010, The Book of Christopher Columbus, Claudel, Steubenville, Ohio
• 2011, Father Maximilian’s Cell, Braun, Tarnów
• 2012, Ordonka’s Mysteries, Braun, Toronto
• 2012, The Power and the Glory, Greene, director’s adaptation, Buffalo
• 2013, The Tempest, Shakespeare, Buffalo

In 1961-2014, 154 plays directed

Scholarly books

^[8]

• 1967, Teofil Trzciński, with z Zofia Reklewska-Braun, PIW, Warszawa
• 1971, Cyprian Norwid’s Theatre Without Theatre, PIW, Warszawa
• 1972, Theatre of Communion, Wyd. Literackie, Kraków
• 1975, New Theatre in the World, WaiF, Warszawa
• 1979, The Second Reform of Theatre, Ossolienum, Wrocław
• 1982, Theatre Space, PWN, Warszawa
• 1984, The Great Reform of Theatre, Wrocław, Ossolineum
• 1994, Polish Theatre 1939-1989, Semper, Warszawa
• 1996, A History of Polish Theatre 1939-1989, Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut
• 2000, Theatre Directing, Mellen Press, Lewiston, New York
• 2003, A Concise History of Polish Theatre, Mellen Press, Lewiston, New York
• 2005, A Concise History of American Theatre, Wyd. UAM, Poznań
• 2010, Lady Designer. Jadwiga Pożakowska, Muzeum Narodowe, Gdańsk
• 2011, Brothers Adamowicz,with z Zofia Reklewska-Braun, Wyd. Uniw. Rzeszowskiego
• 2013, My Różewicz’s Theatre, Wyd. Uniw. Rzeszowskiego
• 2014, My Norwid’s Theatre, Wyd. Uniw. Rzeszowskiego

In 1967-2014, 21 scholarly books

Literary books

• 1989, The Monument, A Novel, Instytut Literacki, Paryż
• 1993, Helena, the Story of Modjeska, A One-woman Drama, High Park Press, Toronto
• 1996, Farewell to Alaska, A Novel, PAX, Warszawa
• 1996, The Story of Norwid, A One-man Drama, Bernardinum, Pelplin
• 1999, Day of Witness, A Novel, Wyd. 4K, Bytom
• 2003, A Bird on Stilts, Short Stories, Wyd. A. Marszałek, Toruń
• 2005, Day of Witness, A Novel, (enlarged version), Wyd. Św. Wojciecha, Poznań
• 2006, Radiation, A Play, Archiwum Emigracji, Toruń
• 2008, Ten Days in Peoples’ Poland, Memoires, Norbertinum, Lublin
• 2011, Maximilianus, A Play, Wyd. Bratni Zew, Kraków
• 2011, Tarnów’s Wind of Freedom, A Play, Wyd. Biblioteka Publiczna, Tarnów
• 2013, Good Priests, with Zofia Reklewska-Braun, Bernardinum, Pelplin

In 1989-2011, 20 literary works (novels, poetry, short stories, and memoires)

Awards

• 1963, Award for Director, Caucasian Chock Circle, Brecht, Toruń Theatre Festival
• 1964, Award for Director, Enchanted Circle, Rydel, Television Theatre Festival
• 1965, Award for Director, Actor, Norwid, 1965, Television Theatre Festival
• 1965, Award for Director, Actor, Norwid, Kalisz Theatre Festival
• 1966, Award for Director, The Wedding, Wyspiański, Toruń Theatre Festival
• 1970, Award for Director, Interrupted Act, Różewicz, Kalisz Theatre Festival
• 1979, Award for the Mise-en-Scène, Operetta, Gombrowicz, International Theatre Festival, Sitges, Spain
• 1980, „Golden Fredro”, Award for Director, Birth Rate, Różewicz, Wrocław
• 1980, Japanese Foundation Award
• 1984, „Golden Fredro” Award for Director, The Plague, Camus, Wrocław
• 1985, Independent Culture Award, Poland
• 1990, The Guggenheim Foundation Award, USA
• 1996, Award for Director, Best Production in Buffalo, A Man for All Seasons, Bolt
• 2000, Aurum Literary Award, Toronto, Canada
• 2001, The Fulbright Foundation Award, USA
• 2003, The Turzański Foundation Award, Canada
• 2004, Minister of Education Award, Poland
• 2005, Polish-American Congress Annual Award
• 2011, „Golden Awl”, Wien, Austria

Decorations

• 1971, National Culture Badge of Merits
• 1976, Medal for Educational Theatre
• 1978, Golden Cross of Merits
• 1997, Chivalry Cross of the Polish Order of Merits
• 2005, Polish Culture Medal of Merits
• 2005, Officer’s Cross of the Polish Order of Merits
• 2007, „Gloria Artis” Golden Medal
• 2011, Commander’s Cross of the Polish Order of Merits

Bibliography

• 1978, Witkowska-Lis Hanna, ed. Contemporary Theatre Wrocław 1948-1978, Teatr Współczesny, Wrocław
• 1983, Kelera Józef, Wrocław’s Theatre 1945-1980, Ossolineum, Wrocław.
• 1984, Żmudzki Andrzej (Jarosław Szymkiewicz), The Oproblem of the Contemporary Theatre, „Obecność”, 1984 nr. 7.
• 1988, Roman Andrzej, Sabat Marian, ed. The Thespians. The Story of the Boycott. Editions Spotkania, Paryż, 1988.
• 1989,Braun Kazimierz & Różewicz Tadeusz, Languages of Theatre, Wyd. Dolnośląskie, Wrocław
• 1989, Schlatter Jim, Kazimierz Braun, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• 1993, Bereś Stanisław & Braun Kazimierz, A Torn Curtain, Aneks, London
• 1994, Tyszka Juliusz, New York’s Shows, Ars Nova, Poznań, 1994.
• 1995, Grünberg Sławomir, Between Cultures (film), Telewizja Polska
• 2000, The Underground Theatre. Oprac. i red. Joanna Krakowska-Narożniak, Marek Waszkiel. Wyd. Errata, Warszawa
• 2004, Horizons of Theatre. Essays on Kazimierz Braun, Edited by Elżbieta Kossarzecka, Wyd. A. Marszałek, Toruń
• 2006, Horizons of Theater II. Kazimierz Braun’s Way, Edited by Justyna Brylewska, Wyd. A. Marszałek, Toruń
• 2005, Przastek Daniel, Theatre Milieu Facing Martial Law, Instytut Nauk Politycznych Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego, Warszawa
• 2006, Mieszkowska Anna, Ferword to: Kazimierz Braun, Radiation. The Story of Maria Skłodowska-Curie. Archiwum Emigracji, Toruń
• 2007, Braun Kazimierz, Letters to Babylon. Wyd. Kontekst, Poznań ─ Tarnów 2007.
• 2008, Ten Days in People’s Poland. Wyd. Norberinum, Lublin
• 2009, Reklewska-Braun Zofia, I Was Born in Between. Wyd. Norbertinum, Lublin
• 2013, Trygar Barbara, „I” On the Way Towards Freedom, Truth, and Beauty. Aksjological Aspects of Kazimierz Braun’s Prose. Uniwersytet Rzeszowski, Rzeszów 2013
• 2013, Kaczorowska Teresa, The Twelve for the Thirteenth. The Emigrants of the Time of the Martial Law. Związek Literatów na Mazowszu, Ciechanów
• 2014, Horizons of Theatre III. Kazimierz Braun’s Bibliography, Edited by Barbara Bułat, Wyd. A. Marszałek, Toruń
• 2013, Braun Kazimierz, My Rożewicz’s Theatre, Wyd. Uniwersytetu Rzeszowskiego, Rzeszów
• 2014, Braun Kazimierz, My Norwid Theatre’s, Wyd. Uniwersytetu Rzeszowskiego, Rzeszów
• 2014, Horyzonty teatru III. Bibliografia Kazimierza Brauna, Compiled Barbara Bułat, Wyd. A. Marszałek, Toruń

External links

• Webpage: Kazimierz Braun: http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~kaz/ (includes several photographs)

References

1. Kto jest kim w Polsce, Edycja 1, Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Interpress, 1984, p. 88-89. Edycja 2, 1989, p.127. Edycja 3, 1993, p. 75. Edycja 4, Warszawa: Wydawnictwo PAI, 2001, s. 81-82; Kto jest kim we Wrocławiu, Wrocław: Wydawnictwo FOX, 1999, p. 43-44. Marta Fik, Trzydzieści pięć sezonów, Warszawa: WAiF, 1981. p. 291; Informator Nauki Polskiej. Uczeni polscy za granicą,vol. 5, Warszawa: Ośrodek Przetwarzania Informacji, 2006, p. 35-36. Małgorzata Semil, Elżbieta Wysińska, Słownik Teatru Współczesnego, Warszawa: WAi F,1990, p. 38-39, drugie wydanie: Warszawa: PAN, Instytut Sztuki, 1980, p. 45-46; Złota Księga Nauk Humanistycznych, Gliwice: Mastermedia, 2013, p. 32; Theatrical Directors, Westport – London: Greenwood Press, 1994, p. 52-53; Who is Who in Polish America, New York: Bicentennial Publishing Corporation, 1996; Kazimierz Braun, International Artistic Advisor, Ambassador Theatre International Center, zoom.info, 2015; Five Thousand Personalities of the World, Raleigh, North Carolina: The American Biographical Institute, 1992, p. 50; International Who’s Who of Intellectuals, Cambridge, England: International Biographical Centre, 1992, p. 84-85; Men and Women of Distinction, Cambridge, England: International Biographical Centre, 1984, p. 56; Two Thousand Notable American Men, Raleigh, North Carolina: The American Biographical Institute, 1992, p. 36; Who’s Who in the World, Marquis Who’s Who, New Providence, New Jersey: A Reed Reference Publishing Company, 1994, p. 138; Kazimierz Braun, Culture.pl. [2014/05/23]; Kazimierz Braun, www.poles [2014/05/23].
2. Antoni Dunajski, Kazimierz Braun wobec Cypriana Norwida, w: Kazimierz Braun, Mój teatr Norwida. Rzeszów: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Rzeszowskiego, 2014. p.12-32.
3. Justyna Hoffman, Grand Drame – Grand Théâtre in: Kazimierz Braun, Mój teatr Różewicza. Rzeszów: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Rzeszowskiego, 2013, pp. 15-62.
4. Kazimierz Braun, Z szekspirowskiego archiwum reżysera, in: Andrzej Żurowski, Szekspiromania, Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego, 2013, pp. 103-121.
5. Justyna Hoffman, Wielki teatr wspólnoty we Wrocławiu, in: Droga Kazimierza Brauna, pod red. Justyny Brylewskiej, Toruń: Wyd. A. Marszałek 2006, pp. 107-178; Krzysztof Sielicki, Podążać za sensem słowa, in: Horyzonty teatru. Szkice o twórczości Kazimierza Brauna, pod red. Elżbiety Kosarzeckiej, Toruń: Wyd. A. Marszałek, 2004, pp. 129-140; Kazimierz Braun, Teatr Wspólnoty, Kraków: Wydawnictwo Literackie, 1972.
6. Horyzonty teatru III. Bibliografia Kazimierza Brauna, oprac. Barbara Bułat, Toruń: Wyd. A. Marszałek, 2014, pp. 5-8.
7. Horyzonty teatru III. Bibliografia Kazimierza Brauna, oprac. Barbara Bułat, Toruń: Wyd. A. Marszałek, 2014, pp. 278-294.
8. Wojciech Kaczmarek, Kazimierza Brauna historia teatru, in: Szkice o twórczości Kazimierza Brauna, pod red. Elżbiety Kosarzeckiej, Toruń: Wyd. A. Marszałek, 2004, pp. 55-77.