Micah Lewensohn

Micah Lewensohn (מיכה לבינסון, (August 27, 1952, In Jerusalem - March 20, 2017 in Tel Aviv) was an Israeli theater director and actor.

Biography
Lewensohn was a graduate of the Israeli Music Conservatory in Tel Aviv. During his army years he was a senior editor-producer in the IDF Radio where he also hosted numerous radio programs and served as a military correspondent in the Yom Kippur War (1973) and later in the 1st Lebanon War (1982).

After completing his studies at New York University Film School (BA) and Theater Directing (MFA) – he received a National Endowment for the Arts grant, serving as the Assistant General Director at the Pittsburgh Public Theater.

Since his return to Israel in 1980, he directed over 50 productions in all theaters in Israel.

His productions won several theater prizes: best play, best musical, best revival as well as best director awards.

Directing for the Theater

 * Mourir by Sergi Belbel, Beit Zvi, School of the Performing Arts, 2012
 * West Side Story by A. Laurents, L. Berenstein & S Sondheim, Beit Zvi, School of the Performing Arts, 2011
 * The Policeman by Daniel Lapin based on Ephraim Kishon's film The Policeman, Habima Theatre. 2009
 * Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee, Cameri Theater. 2008
 * Alma and Ruth by Goren Agmon, Beit Lessin Theater. 2008
 * Mike by Gadi Inbar, Beit Lessin Theater. 2008
 * The History Boys by Alan Bennett, Beit Lessin Theater. 2007
 * Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, Cameri Theater. 2007
 * Badenheim 1939 – A special project for an Orchestra, actors and dancers. Based on
 * The Producers by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, Cameri Theater. 2006
 * Iron by Rona Munro, Beit Lessin Theater. 2005
 * The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, Cameri Theater. 2005
 * Mikveh by Hadar Galron, Beit Lessin Theater. 2004
 * Mirale Efrat by Jacob Gordin, Beit Lessin Theater. 2003
 * The Dresser by Ronald Harwood, Cameri Theater. 2003
 * My Fair Lady by Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner, The Israeli Opera. 2002
 * Rembetiko by Costas Ferris, Haifa Theater. 2002
 * Romantics by Hanoch Levin, Cameri Theater. 2002
 * Copenhagen by Michael Frayn, Cameri Theater 2001
 * Don Giovanni (Opera) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, The Israeli Opera, Tel Aviv. 2001
 * A View from the Bridge, by Arthur Miller, Habima Theatre. 1999
 * Cooper, by Yoseph Bar Yoseph, Beit Lessin Theater. 1998
 * Taking Sides by Ronald Harwood, Cameri Theater 1996
 * Bianka, by Miriam Kayni, Beit Lessin Theater. 1995
 * Shmaryahu by Ilana Luft, The Children’s Theater. 1994
 * M. Butterfly, by David Henry Hwang, Beersheba Theater.
 * Andora by Max Frisch, Haifa Theater. 1993
 * Singer by Peter Flannery, Beersheba Theate. 1992
 * The Prisoner of Second Avenue, by Neil Simon, Beit Lessin Theater Theater. 1992
 * Relatively Speaking, by Alan Ayckbourn, Beit Lessin Theater Theater. 1991
 * Guys and Dolls, by Frank Loesser, Haifa Theater & Roni Productions.1991
 * The Odd Couple (female version), by Neil Simon, Beit Lessin Theater Theater. 1990
 * Mephisto, based on Klaus Mann’s novel, Beersheba Theater. 1990
 * Lettice and Lovage by Peter Shaffer, Cameri Theater 1990
 * The Foreigner, by Larry Shue, Beit Lessin Theater Theater. 1989
 * The Comedy of Errors, by William Shakespeare, Beersheba Theater. 1989
 * Breaking the Code by Hugh Whitemore, Cameri Theater 1988
 * Under the Web, by Julia Kearsleye, Beersheba Theater. 1988
 * Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, Beersheba Theater. 1987
 * Hunting Scenes by Martin Sperr, Beersheba Theater. 1987
 * The Suicide by Nikolai Erdman, Beersheba Theater. 1986
 * Biboff by Yossi Hadar, Habima Theatre. 1987
 * La fille du régiment (The Daughter of the Regiment) (Opera) by Gaetano Donizetti, Opera Company of Boston. 1985
 * Himself and His Son by Isaac Dov Berkowitz, Beersheba Theater 1985
 * The Front Page by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, Beersheba Theater 1984
 * The Elephant Man by Bernard Pomerance, Beersheba Theater 1984
 * Between Bells, by Dan Almagor, Beit Lessin Theater Theater. 1984
 * City Sugar by Stephen Poliakoff, Beersheba Theater 1983
 * Drums in the Night by Bertolt Brecht, Beersheba Theater 1982
 * Hatasha - Rock Musical by Benny Hadar, Haifa Theatre 1981
 * Dance of Death by August Strindberg, Haifa Theater 1980
 * Beckett Project, Pittsburgh Public Theater. 1979

Additional Activities
Alongside his work in the theater, Lewensohn directed entertainment spectacles, musical events and commercials. Among his projects:
 * Narrator The Land Shall Not Rest - TV documentary series marking 40 years to the Yom Kippur War. (2013)
 * Director & storyteller The Chain of Generations - museological video installation, Western Wall Heritage Center, Jerusalem, (Recipient of the 2008 Thea Award, USA for outstanding achievement. (opened 2005)
 * Performer (Video installation) Hertzl Museum Visitors Center, Jerusalem (opened 2005)
 * Narrator Slaves of the Sword  - co-produced by Bellfilms-Israel, BBC-U.K, ZDF/ARTE - Germany/France. (2003)
 * Artistic Director Love in Jerusalem, Music Festival (2002)
 * Host & Interviewer of TV series recorded at the Jazz Blues & Videotape Festival (40 episodes for channel 2 Israel). (2001)
 * Artistic Director By My Spirit, A Universal Spiritual Gathering in Toledo, Spain of which the highlight was a concert of the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra with Placido Domingo, conducted By Maestro Zubin Mehta. (1992)
 * Concept & Choreography - The Lazy Bums, Israel’s representative to the Eurovision Song Contest, Brussels, Belgium. (1987)
 * BBC TV directing course under a grant from the British Council. (1990)
 * Taught acting and directing at the Tel Aviv University, Beit Zvi, Sam Spiegel Film and Television School and at Seminar Hakibbutzim.
 * Artistic Director, The Israel Festival, Jerusalem (1994-2001)
 * General Director, Beit Zvi School of the Performing Arts in Ramat Gan, (2009-2014)
 * Lewensohn played a supporting role in Joseph Cedar's 2011 film, Footnote, nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Best Foreign Film.

Translations
From English to Hebrew
 * The Gin Game by Donald L. Coburn (for Habima Theatre). 2009
 * Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee, (for the Cameri Theater). 2008
 * The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams (for the Cameri Theater). 2004
 * Iron by Rona Munro (for Beit Lessin Theater). 2003
 * The Dresser by Ronald Harwood (for the Cameri Theater). 2003
 * Talking with... by Jane Martin (for Beit Zvi, School of the Performing Arts). 1987
 * Buried Child by Sam Shepard (for the Khan Theater, Jerusalem). 1984

On the board of directors of

 * The Suzanne Dellal Centre for Dance and Theatre, Tel Aviv.
 * AICE - Australia Israel Cultural Exchange.
 * Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem.
 * Since May 2009 serves as Director of the Beit Zvi School of the Performing Arts.

Death
Micah Lewensohn died in his home on March 20, 2017. He was 64 years old. He is survived by his wife Rachel, two children, and two grandchildren.