Ralph Alswang
Encyclopedia
Ralph Alswang was an American theatre and film director, designer, and producer. He designed scenery, lighting, and costumes for nearly 100 Broadway
productions. He also designed venues such as the George Gershwin Theatre
.
, Illinois
, the son of Hyman and Florence Alswang. He studied theatre at the Goodman Theatre
, the Art Institute of Chicago
, and under Robert Edmond Jones
. He was married to Beatrice (Betty) Alswang, an interior designer. He died in February 1979. He is survived by his three children, Hope Alswang, Frances Alswang, and Ralph Alswang.
productions, more than 70 of which were original productions. Alswang's first major design work was the scenery for the 1942 production of Comes the Revelation at Jolson's 59th Street Theatre. In 1946, Alswang designed the scenery for the Broadway revival of Lysistrata
. In addition to scenery, Alswang also designed lighting and costumes. He was the lighting designer for the original Broadway productions of A Raisin in the Sun
and Beyond the Fringe
, each running for more than 500 performances. In some cases, such as the short-lived 1964 production of Fair Game For Lovers, Alswang designed all three elements for the same production.
In March 1964, co-produced and directed a production titled Is There Intelligent Life on Earth?. The production integrated live action with motion pictures, a process known as "Living Screen" designed by Alswang. His last Broadway design was the 1977 production of Piaf... A Remembrance.
, a venue that would later be known as the George Gershwin Theatre
. The following year, Alswang designed the New Orleans Civic Center Theatre and the Pine Knob Pavilion
. Alswang also designed several houses in Westport
, including the home of Paul Newman
.
and Robert Snyder, Alswang co-produced The Titan: Story of Michelangelo
(1950). The film won the 1951 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
productions. He also designed venues such as the George Gershwin Theatre
George Gershwin Theatre
The Gershwin Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 222 West 51st Street in midtown-Manhattan in the Paramount Plaza building. The theatre is named after composer George Gershwin and lyricist Ira Gershwin...
.
Biography
Alswang was born on April 12, 1979, in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, the son of Hyman and Florence Alswang. He studied theatre at the Goodman Theatre
Goodman Theatre
The Goodman Theatre is a professional theater company located in Chicago's Loop. A major part of Chicago theatre, it is the city's oldest currently active nonprofit theater organization...
, the Art Institute of Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of America's largest accredited independent schools of art and design, located in the Loop in Chicago, Illinois. It is associated with the museum of the same name, and "The Art Institute of Chicago" or "Chicago Art Institute" often refers to either...
, and under Robert Edmond Jones
Robert Edmond Jones
Robert Edmond Jones was an American scenic, lighting, and costume designer. He is credited with incorporating the new stagecraft into the American drama. His designs sought to integrate the scenic elements into the storytelling instead of having them stand separate and indifferent from the play’s...
. He was married to Beatrice (Betty) Alswang, an interior designer. He died in February 1979. He is survived by his three children, Hope Alswang, Frances Alswang, and Ralph Alswang.
Theatrical career
From 1942 to 1977, Alswang produced designs for nearly 100 BroadwayBroadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
productions, more than 70 of which were original productions. Alswang's first major design work was the scenery for the 1942 production of Comes the Revelation at Jolson's 59th Street Theatre. In 1946, Alswang designed the scenery for the Broadway revival of Lysistrata
Lysistrata
Lysistrata is one of eleven surviving plays written by Aristophanes. Originally performed in classical Athens in 411 BC, it is a comic account of one woman's extraordinary mission to end The Peloponnesian War...
. In addition to scenery, Alswang also designed lighting and costumes. He was the lighting designer for the original Broadway productions of A Raisin in the Sun
A Raisin in the Sun
A Raisin in the Sun is a play by Lorraine Hansberry that debuted on Broadway in 1959. The title comes from the poem "Harlem" by Langston Hughes...
and Beyond the Fringe
Beyond the Fringe
Beyond the Fringe was a British comedy stage revue written and performed by Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Alan Bennett, and Jonathan Miller. It played in London's West End and then on New York's Broadway in the early 1960s, and is widely regarded as seminal to the rise of satire in 1960s Britain.-The...
, each running for more than 500 performances. In some cases, such as the short-lived 1964 production of Fair Game For Lovers, Alswang designed all three elements for the same production.
In March 1964, co-produced and directed a production titled Is There Intelligent Life on Earth?. The production integrated live action with motion pictures, a process known as "Living Screen" designed by Alswang. His last Broadway design was the 1977 production of Piaf... A Remembrance.
Architectural design
In the early 1970s, Alswang designed the Uris Theatre in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, a venue that would later be known as the George Gershwin Theatre
George Gershwin Theatre
The Gershwin Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 222 West 51st Street in midtown-Manhattan in the Paramount Plaza building. The theatre is named after composer George Gershwin and lyricist Ira Gershwin...
. The following year, Alswang designed the New Orleans Civic Center Theatre and the Pine Knob Pavilion
DTE Energy Music Theatre
Originally built by the Nederlander Organization in the early 1970s, the DTE Energy Music Theatre is a 15,274-seat amphitheater located in Clarkston, Michigan. It was originally known as the Pine Knob Music Theatre, due to its proximity to the nearby Pine Knob ski area and golf course...
. Alswang also designed several houses in Westport
Westport, Connecticut
-Neighborhoods:* Saugatuck – around the Westport railroad station near the southwestern corner of the town – a built-up area with some restaurants, stores and offices....
, including the home of Paul Newman
Paul Newman
Paul Leonard Newman was an American actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian, professional racing driver and auto racing enthusiast...
.
Film
Along with Robert J. FlahertyRobert J. Flaherty
Robert Joseph Flaherty, F.R.G.S. was an American filmmaker who directed and produced the first commercially successful feature length documentary film, Nanook of the North...
and Robert Snyder, Alswang co-produced The Titan: Story of Michelangelo
The Titan: Story of Michelangelo
The Titan: Story of Michelangelo is a 1950 documentary film. It won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.The film was a re-edited version of a German/Swiss film of 1938 originally titled Michelangelo: Life of a Titan, directed by Curt Oertel. The re-edited version put a new English...
(1950). The film won the 1951 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.