# Michel Hausmann

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{{Short description|Venezuelan writer}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Michel Hausmann
| image              = <!-- filename only, no "File:" or "Image:" prefix, and no enclosing [brackets](/source/brackets) -->
| alt                = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
| caption            = 
| birth_name         = <!-- only use if different from name -->
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1981|7|28}}
| birth_place        = [Caracas](/source/Caracas), Venezuela
| education          = [Columbia University](/source/Columbia_University) - [Emerson College](/source/Emerson_College)
| occupation         = {{hlist|[Theater director](/source/Theater_director)|[writer](/source/writer)|[producer](/source/Theatrical_producer)}}
| years_active       = 2003–present
| mother             = Veronica Hartman
| father             = [Ricardo Hausmann](/source/Ricardo_Hausmann)
| relatives          = {{ubl|[Joanna Hausmann](/source/Joanna_Hausmann) (sister)|[Braulio Jatar](/source/Braulio_Jatar) (uncle)}}
}}
'''Michel Hausmann''' (born July 28, 1981) a Venezuelan writer, producer and theater director. He is the co-founder and artistic director of [Miami New Drama](/source/Miami_New_Drama), the resident theater company and operator of the [Colony Theatre](/source/Colony_Theatre) in [Miami Beach](/source/Miami_Beach).<ref>{{Cite web|title=How Do You Build a Regional Theater From the Ground Up? Michel Hausmann Has an Answer {{!}} TheaterMania|url=https://www.theatermania.com/miami-theater/news/miami-new-drama-michel-hausmann-feature_83184.html|access-date=2020-09-08|website=www.theatermania.com|date=16 November 2017 |language=en-US}}</ref> Under Hausmann's leadership, the company has produced over thirty productions - twenty two of them world premieres.<ref>{{Cite web|title=MiND Productions|url=https://www.colonymb.org/productions|access-date=2020-09-08|website=colonytheatre|language=en}}{{dead link|date=December 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Michel Hausmann also started Miami New Drama's educational program, which serves more than 8,000 students annually<ref>{{Cite web|title=EDUCATION|url=https://www.colonymb.org/education|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220151237/https://www.colonymb.org/education|url-status=usurped|archive-date=December 20, 2019|access-date=2020-09-08|website=colonytheatre|language=en}}</ref> and provides online programming for people across the United States and internationally - offering master classes on a variety of different theater topics such as acting, playwriting, directing, and theater management.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Dolen|first=Christine|date=2020-03-31|title=South Florida theater community plans for its next act|work=Miami Herald|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/indulge/restaurants/article241649881.html|access-date=2020-09-08}}</ref>

== Biography ==
Hausmann is of Jewish descent, and was born and raised in [Caracas, Venezuela](/source/Caracas). After graduating from [Emerson College](/source/Emerson_College) in [Boston, Massachusetts](/source/Boston) with a BA in film,<ref>{{Cite web|last=D. Goodwin|first=Jeremy|date=2014-07-18|title='Golem' a world premiere for Barrington Stage - The Boston Globe|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/2014/07/18/golem-world-premiere-for-barrington-stage/mDVHYB1BzRPaySmSAWXqSN/story.html|access-date=2020-09-08|website=BostonGlobe.com|language=en-US}}</ref> Hausmann returned to Caracas. Once back, he founded his first theater company, Palo de Agua, in 2003 alongside executive producer, Yair Rosemberg. Under their leadership, Palo de Agua became an award-winning theater company. Its production of ''[Jesus Christ Superstar](/source/Jesus_Christ_Superstar)'' was seen by over 170,000 people.<ref>{{Cite web|title=INFO|url=https://www.palodeagua.com/info|access-date=2020-09-08|website=palodeagua|language=es}}</ref> Following an attack by the Venezuelan government during the production, Michel Hausmann left Venezuela and moved to [New York City](/source/New_York_City) to pursue an MFA in Directing at [Columbia University](/source/Columbia_University).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Theater that reflects a changing America? Venezuelan Michel Hausmann is doing it in Miami|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/theater-reflects-changing-america-venezuelan-michel-hausmann-doing-it-miami-n854441|access-date=2020-09-08|website=NBC News|date=8 March 2018 |language=en}}</ref> While at Columbia, Hausmann studied under renowned directors such as [Anne Bogart](/source/Anne_Bogart) and [Gregory Mosher](/source/Gregory_Mosher), among others.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Michel Hausmann|url=https://arts.columbia.edu/profiles/michel-hausmann|access-date=2020-09-08|website=Columbia - School of the Arts|language=en}}</ref> His thesis play, ''The Golem of Havana'', played at [La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club](/source/La_MaMa_Experimental_Theatre_Club) in 2013<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Golem of Havana|url=http://exeuntmagazine.com/reviews/the-golem-of-havana/|access-date=2020-09-08|website=Exeunt Magazine}}</ref> and went on to have its world premiere at [Barrington Stage Company](/source/Barrington_Stage_Company) in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Admin|first=B. S. C.|date=2014-07-14|title=Barrington Stage Company Musical Theatre Lab presents World Premiere "The Golem of Havana"; July 16-August 10|url=https://barringtonstageco.org/press-release/barrington-stage-company-musical-theatre-lab-presents-world-premiere-the-golem-of-havana-july-16-august-10/|access-date=2020-09-08|website=Barrington Stage Company|language=en-US}}</ref> 

In 2016, Hausmann relocated to [Miami](/source/Miami), Florida and produced ''The'' ''Golem of Havana'' at the [Colony Theatre](/source/Colony_Theatre) in [Miami Beach](/source/Miami_Beach%2C_Florida); it was [Miami New Drama](/source/Miami_New_Drama)'s debut production. Miami New Drama is the second theater company founded by Michel Hausmann. He co-founded it with playwright, director, and medal of the arts winner, [Moisés Kaufman](/source/Mois%C3%A9s_Kaufman).<ref>{{Cite news|last=Dolen|first=Christine|date=2015-10-29|title=Miami New Drama will bring multicultural theater to a diverse region|work=Miami Herald|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/performing-arts/article41849478.html|access-date=2020-09-08}}</ref> In 2020, Miami New Drama produced ''Seven Deadly Sins: Temptation in the Magic City,'' a series of seven short plays around the theme of the [seven deadly sins](/source/seven_deadly_sins), shown in vacant Miami storefronts along Lincoln Road while the limited audience, [socially distanced](/source/Social_distancing) due to [Coronavirus](/source/Coronavirus) restrictions, watches and listens via headphones. The production was directed by Hausmann and authored by playwrights [Hilary Bettis](/source/Hilary_Bettis), [Nilo Cruz](/source/Nilo_Cruz), Moisés Kaufman, Rogelio Martinez, [Dael Orlandersmith](/source/Dael_Orlandersmith), Carmen Palaez, and [Aurin Squire](/source/Aurin_Squire).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Culwell-Block|first=Logan|date=2020-11-27|title=Miami New Drama's Socially Distanced Seven Deadly Sins Begins Performances November 27|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/miami-new-dramas-socially-distanced-seven-deadly-sins-begins-performances-november-27|access-date=2020-12-27|website=Playbill|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Theatre alumnus Michel Hausmann '14 Brings Theater to Vacant Miami Beach Storefronts|url=https://arts.columbia.edu/news/theatre-alumnus-michel-hausmann-%E2%80%9914-brings-theater-vacant-miami-beach-storefronts|access-date=2020-12-27|website=Columbia - School of the Arts|language=en}}</ref>

In 2024, he put together an immersive theater experience in collaboration with ([and inside of](/source/Immersive_theater)) the [Rubell Museum](/source/Rubell_Museum), titled ''The Museum Plays'', a collection of short-format plays playing off of a set of paintings from the Rubell Museum's collection, each one performed in the same room as the piece that inspired it. Hausman commissioned the plays to playwrights Hannah Benitez, Harley Elias, Rogelio Martinez, Carmen Pelaez, Marco Ramirez and [Aurin Squire](/source/Aurin_Squire), to be inspired by specific works by Alfonso Gonzalez Jr., [Jenna Gribbon](/source/Jenna_Gribbon), [Glenn Ligon](/source/Glenn_Ligon), [Kaari Upson](/source/Kaari_Upson) and [Kehinde Wiley](/source/Kehinde_Wiley).<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Museum Plays - Miami New Drama |url=https://miaminewdrama.org/show/the-museum-plays/ |access-date=2024-03-04 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Miami New Drama Features Columbia Theatre Artists in New Series {{!}} School of the Arts |url=https://arts.columbia.edu/news/miami-new-drama-features-columbia-theatre-artists-new-series |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=arts.columbia.edu}}</ref>

==Stage credits==

=== With Miami New Drama ===

* ''The Golem of Havana'' (Book by Hausmann himself, music by Salomon Lerner, and lyrics by Len Schiff) - Director and Producer
* ''A Special Day'' (in co-production with The Play Company) - Producer
* ''Terror'' (Directed by [Gregory Mosher](/source/Gregory_Mosher)) - Producer

* The first multilingual production of ''[Our Town](/source/Our_Town)'' - Director and Producer
* ''[The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity](/source/The_Elaborate_Entrance_of_Chad_Deity)'' (In co-production with [Asolo Rep](/source/Asolo_Repertory_Theatre)) - Producer
* Hilary Bettis' ''Queen of Basel'' - Director and Producer
* [Moises Kaufman](/source/Moises_Kaufman)'s ''The Album'' (in co-production with [Tectonic Theater Project](/source/Tectonic_Theater_Project)) - Producer
* ''Puras Cosas Maravillosas'' (starring [Erika de la Vega](/source/Erika_de_la_Vega)) - Director and Producer
* [Kemp Powers](/source/Kemp_Powers)' ''One Night in Miami'' - Producer
* The world premiere of Carmen Pelaez's ''Fake'' - Producer
* The world premiere of [Billy Corben](/source/Billy_Corben) and [Aurin Squire](/source/Aurin_Squire)'s ''Confessions of a Cocaine Cowboy'' - Director and Producer
* The world premiere of ''Viva la Parranda'' - Producer
* The world premiere of Karin Valecillos' ''Gente Ociosa'' - Director and Producer
* ''[The Bridge of San Luis Rey](/source/The_Bridge_of_San_Luis_Rey)'' (Directed by and starring [David Greenspan](/source/David_Greenspan)) - Producer
* The world premiere of Michael Leon's ''The Cubans'' - Producer
* The world premiere of ''A Wonderful World'' (Book by Aurin Squire, with music made famous by [Louis Armstrong](/source/Louis_Armstrong), directed by [Christopher Renshaw](/source/Christopher_Renshaw)) - Producer<ref>{{Cite web|title=MiND Productions|url=https://www.colonymb.org/productions|access-date=2020-09-08|website=colonytheatre|language=en}}{{dead link|date=December 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

=== [Off-Broadway](/source/Off-Broadway) ===

* The 2013 production of ''The Golem Of Havana'' at [La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club](/source/La_MaMa_Experimental_Theatre_Club)<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Golem of Havana|url=http://exeuntmagazine.com/reviews/the-golem-of-havana/|access-date=2020-09-08|website=Exeunt Magazine}}</ref> - Director

* Nilo Cruz's''The Color Of Desire'' at [Repertorio Español](/source/Repertorio_Espa%C3%B1ol)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.repertorio.org/productions/bio.php?type=directors&id=68 |title=Michel Hausmann |work=[Repertorio Español](/source/Repertorio_Espa%C3%B1ol) |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714184131/http://www.repertorio.org/productions/bio.php?type=directors&id=68 |archive-date=2014-07-14 |access-date=2020-04-17}}</ref> - Director
* [Vassily Sigarev](/source/Vassily_Sigarev)'s ''Black Milk'' at [Classic Stage Company](/source/Classic_Stage_Company)<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gans|first=Andrew|date=2012-07-19|title=Black Milk Begins Limited Run at Off-Broadway's East 13th Street Theatre July 19|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/black-milk-begins-limited-run-at-off-broadways-east-13th-street-theatre-july-19-com-195627|access-date=2020-09-08|website=Playbill|language=en}}</ref>- Director

=== With Palo de Agua ===

* The world premiere of [Isaac Chocrón](/source/Isaac_Chocr%C3%B3n)'s ''Los Navegaos'' - Director
* The Venezuelan premiere of ''[Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde](/source/Gross_Indecency%3A_The_Three_Trials_of_Oscar_Wilde) -'' Co-director<ref>{{Cite web|title=PLAYS|url=https://www.palodeagua.com/plays|access-date=2020-09-08|website=palodeagua|language=es}}</ref>
* ''[Fiddler on the Roof](/source/Fiddler_on_the_Roof)'' - Director and Translator
* ''[The Producers](/source/The_Producers_(musical))'' - Director and Translator
* ''[Jesus Christ Superstar](/source/Jesus_Christ_Superstar)'' - Director and Translator<ref>{{Cite web|title=MUSICALS|url=https://www.palodeagua.com/musicales|access-date=2020-09-08|website=palodeagua|language=es}}</ref>

== Awards ==

* [New York Theatre Workshop](/source/New_York_Theatre_Workshop) 2050 Fellow<ref>{{Cite web|title=NYTW / 2050 Artistic Fellowship At New York Theatre Workshop|url=https://www.nytw.org/artist-workshop/2050-fellowships/|access-date=2020-09-08|website=NYTW|language=en-US}}</ref>
* Shubert Presidential Fellow
* [IRNE Award](/source/IRNE_Awards) (Nomination)
* [Richard Rodgers Award](/source/Richard_Rodgers_Awards_for_Musical_Theatre) (Finalist)<ref>{{Cite web|title=THEA Alumnus Michel Hausmann Wins Knight Foundation Grant with Miami New Drama|url=https://arts.columbia.edu/news/hausmann|access-date=2020-09-08|website=Columbia - School of the Arts|language=en}}</ref>
* Two-time [Knight Foundation](/source/John_S._and_James_L._Knight_Foundation) Arts Challenge Award Recipient<ref>{{Cite news|last=Loos|first=Ted|date=2017-12-05|title=Knight Foundation Helps Drive Miami Art Scene|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/05/arts/knight-foundation-miami-art-scene.html|access-date=2020-09-08|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

== Conflicts with the Venezuelan government ==
During Hausmann's 2009 production of ''Fiddler on the Roof'', the [Grand Marshal of Ayacucho Symphony Orchestra](/source/Grand_Marshal_of_Ayacucho_Symphony_Orchestra), funded in its entirety by the Venezuelan government of President [Hugo Chávez](/source/Hugo_Ch%C3%A1vez), abandoned the production two weeks before the opening, citing that its participation on a "Jewish play" would threaten the funding they receive from the Venezuelan government, a vocal foe of Israel.<ref name=SWC>{{cite news |first1=Shimon |last1=Samuels |first2=Sergio |last2=Widder |date=2009-02-01 |title=Venezuela: Fiddler on the Roof Despite Chávez |url=http://www.wiesenthal.com/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=lsKWLbPJLnF&b=5711841&ct=6858829 |url-status=dead |location=[Buenos Aires](/source/Buenos_Aires) |work=[Simon Wiesenthal Center](/source/Simon_Wiesenthal_Center) |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216020239/http://www.wiesenthal.com/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=lsKWLbPJLnF&b=5711841&ct=6858829 |archive-date=2012-12-16 |access-date=2020-04-18}}</ref> The move was condemned by the [Simon Wiesenthal Center](/source/Simon_Wiesenthal_Center) and the [Anti Defamation League](/source/Anti-Defamation_League).<ref name=SWC/><ref name=ADL>{{cite news |author=Staff writers |date=2009-02-02 |title=Chavez's Venezuela: The Jewish Community Under Threat |url=http://www.adl.org/main_Anti_Semitism_International/Chavez_Venezuela_Under_Threat.htm |url-status=dead |work=[Anti-Defamation League](/source/Anti-Defamation_League) |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090207141328/http://www.adl.org/main_Anti_Semitism_International/Chavez_Venezuela_Under_Threat.htm |archive-date=2009-02-07 |access-date=2020-04-18}}</ref> The production went forward, performed on a rooftop in [Caracas](/source/Caracas) with various musicians stepping up to play the score.<ref name=SWC/>

When preparing for a 2010 production of ''Jesus Christ Superstar'' in Caracas, Hausmann secured a sponsorship deal for [US$](/source/United_States_Dollar)300,000 ({{Inflation|US|300000|2010|r=-2|fmt=eq}}) with [Research in Motion](/source/BlackBerry_Limited) (RIM), makers of [BlackBerry](/source/BlackBerry) smartphones, and its cellular phone network partner, government-owned [Movilnet](/source/CANTV).<ref name=TorStar>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/business/article/1056530--sponsorship-deal-by-rim-shows-perils-of-global-business |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924075303/http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1056530--sponsorship-deal-by-rim-shows-perils-of-global-business |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 24, 2011 |title=Sponsorship deal by RIM shows perils of global business |first=John |last=Terauds |work=[Toronto Star](/source/Toronto_Star) |date=2011-09-20 |access-date=2020-04-18}}</ref> [Leaked diplomatic cables](/source/United_States_diplomatic_cables_leak) revealed that, less than a month before opening night, the sponsorship pair added a clause stating that the production could not place advertising space{{snd}}even with other cash{{snd}}in a list of media outlets banned by RIM and Movilnet for being critical of the Chávez regime.<ref name=TorStar/> Hausmann and producer Yair Rosemberg chose instead to cancel the RIM-Movilnet sponsorship deal, and went public with this information. When the production opened at the [Central University of Venezuela](/source/Central_University_of_Venezuela), it was attacked with tear gas by masked assailants. While the [rector](/source/Rector_(academia)) of the university stated that the attack was a continuation of incidents targeting the university, Hausmann called it an example of Chávez' intimidation against any theatre group branded enemies of the state "because they seek to maintain their autonomy".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.tcg.org/publications/at/mayjune10/latin.cfm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507023637/http://www.tcg.org/publications/at/mayjune10/latin.cfm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2010-05-07 |title=Forging Connections in a Fragmented Hemisphere, Controversy in Caracas |work=[Theatre Communications Group](/source/Theatre_Communications_Group)}}</ref>

== References ==

<references />

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120820213113/http://www.palodeagua.com.ve/beta// Producciones Palo de Agua] Sitio Oficial
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140714184131/http://www.repertorio.org/productions/bio.php?type=directors&id=68 Repertorio Español]
*[https://vimeo.com/302193562 Interview with Michel Hausmann], November 21, 2018

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hausmann, Michel}}
Category:1980 births
Category:Living people
Category:Columbia University School of the Arts alumni
Category:Emerson College alumni
Category:People of Belgian-Jewish descent<!-- From his paternal grandmother -->
Category:Venezuelan dramatists and playwrights
Category:Venezuelan Jews
Category:Venezuelan people of German-Jewish descent<!-- From his paternal grandfather -->
Category:Writers from Caracas
Category:21st-century dramatists and playwrights
Category:21st-century Venezuelan male writers
Category:21st-century Venezuelan writers

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Michel Hausmann](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Hausmann) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Hausmann?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.