Biografia
Renowned stage actress Eva Le Gallienne, daughter of poet Richard Le Gallienne, began her life with equal grandeur. Inspired by her idol Sarah Bernhardt, she was brought to New York by her mother at age 18. She made her London debut in 1914 with "Monna Vanna," quickly establishing herself as a true star. Her Broadway debut came in 1921 with "Liliom," and she made her final appearance on Broadway in 1981 at the Biltmore Theatre in "To Grandmother's House We Go," earning a Tony nomination at 82. Known for her boldness and idealism, she became a director and muse for leading playwrights, a prominent translator of Henrik Ibsen, and a pioneer of the American civic repertory movement. Over six decades, Le Gallienne was a respected stage coach, director, producer, and manager, dedicating herself to the Art of the Theatre rather than Broadway's commercial show business, aiming to elevate stage quality. She led the Civic Repertory Theatre Company from 1926 to 1936, producing 37 plays. From 1926 to 1932, she managed the 1,100-seat Civic Repertory Theatre (also known as The 14th Street Theatre) at 107 14th Street, home to her company, which included actors such as J. Edward Bromberg, Paul Leyssac, Florida Friebus, and Leona Roberts. Her theatrical roles spanned from Peter Pan to Hamlet. Although she largely avoided film and television, late in her career she appeared in a 1977 televised stage production of "The Royal Family" and gave a quietly moving performance as Ellen Burstyn's grandmother in "Resurrection" (1980), earning an Oscar nomination.
