Ludwig Schajowicz
| Born: |
11-07-1910 |
| Faculty: |
Law School |
| Category: |
Expelled student |
Dr. Ludwig SCHAJOWICZ, born on November 7th, 1910 in Czernowitz/Romania [Tscherniwzi/Ukraine] (entitled residency ('heimatberechtigt') for Vienna, Citizenship: Austria), son of Dr. Salomon Schajowicz (merchant) and his wife Dora, nee Berger, lived in Vienna 2nd district, Robertgasse 1. After he had graduated from high school ('Akademisches Gymnasium') in Vienna, he started to study at the Philosophical School of the University of Vienna. During his studies he founded a theater group called 'Théâtre Bleu', studied stage direction at Max Reinhard's Seminar and directed several plays at the Schoenbrunn Theater. In 1933, he attended a series of courses on the science of theater taught by theater historian and librettist Joseph Gregor at the National Library. In 1935 he graduated at the Philosophical School at the University of Vienna in Philosophy on with the academic degree 'Dr. phil.' (dissertation: 'Mimik als Kunstwissenschaft. Die Probleme des modernen Theaters im Lichte der Ausdruckstheorie', supervisors:
Karl Buehler, Moritz Schlick').
After that he studied law at the University of Vienna and was enrolled finally in spring term 1938 at the Law School in the 1st year of his studies.
Ludwig Schajowicz was able to emigrate to Switzerland in June 1938 and a few months later received an immigrant visa for Cuba and a financial support by the 'International Committee for the Placing of Refugee Intellectuals'for his trip from Bordeaux to Santiago de Cuba, where he arrived on December 31st, 1938. He settled in Havana/Cuba, where he initially studied the language, worked as librarian for a North American Quaker organization and was a frequent collaborator of various German speaking exile organizations in Havana (e.g. Austrian League where he was a cultural delegate). Since 1939 he was instructor of technical and literary German at the Escuela Libre de La Habana and offered theatre classes at the Escuela Libre and then at the important Academia de Artes Dramáticas.
In 1941, the University of Havana invited him to stage 'Antigone' which brought him the reputation as an outstanding stage director. Immediately after he founded the Teatro Universitario de La Habana and the Seminario de Artes Dramáticas in order to prepare students for the university theater group. Besides, he also taught Psychology and Techniques of Drama, History of Theater and Dramatic Literature, and Modern Performing Arts at the University of Havana.
In 1942 Schajowicz married actress Luisa Caballero, who had played the leading role in 'Antigone'.
In 1947, Dr. Jaime Benitez, the rector of the University of Puerto Rico, invited him to give a series of lectures and Schjaowicz was visiting professor until 1950 when he was appointed professor in Fine Arts and director of the university theater. He staged the Greek tragedies 'Iphigenia at Aulis' (1949) and 'Hecuba' (1950) and trained Puerto Rico's leading actors and directors.
In 1952 Ludwig Schajowicz had the opportunity to return to Europe for the first time in 1952 during his sabbatical year and stayed in Paris for most of the year to renew his philosophical vocation and studies. Back in Puerto Rico he was appointed Interim Chair of Fine Art in 1954 and then Chair of Philosophy in 1956. During another stay in Europe, in 1963, he suffered a stroke and returned to Puerto Rico in 1964 after he had recovered to continue his teaching and writing career. In the same year he founded the Philosophy journal Diálogos. He retired in 1977, was appointed Emeritus Professor in 1979, and continued his work until his death.
Ludwig Schajowicz died on April 19th, 2003 in San Juan/Puerto Rico/USA.
Lit.: information from Mag. Sabine Koch, Vienna, 2013; Cuban Theater Digital Archive.
Katharina Kniefacz and Herbert Posch
