Here is the biography of Max Reinhardt:
Max Reinhardt was born into an Austrian merchant family and was drawn to the theater from a young age. He studied at the Sulkowsky Theater in Matzleinsdorf and began acting in Vienna and later in Salzburg. In 1894, he was invited to Berlin by Otto Brahm, director, critic, and theater manager, where he became a key figure in the development of German theater.
Reinhardt co-founded his own cabaret, "Schall und Rauch," in 1901, which was later renamed "Kleines Theater." He also opened and managed his own theater, "Neues Theater," from 1902 to 1905. His philosophy of theater emphasized the harmony of stage design, costumes, language, music, and choreography as a unified artwork, known as Gesamtkunstwerk.
Reinhardt's innovative productions and experimental approach to theater led him to become a titan of influence and inspiration on a generation of theater and film directors. He directed many plays, including Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and was known for his realistic direction of huge crowd and mob scenes.
In the 1920s, Reinhardt built the two Boulevard Theaters on the Kurfürstendamm in Berlin and established the Salzburg Festival with composer Richard Strauss and playwright Hugo von Hofmannsthal. He also directed many films, including a silent movie adaptation of his favorite pantomime play, "The Miracle."
Reinhardt's later years were marked by exile and hardship, as he fled Nazi Germany and eventually settled in Hollywood, where he continued to work as a director and producer. He directed a film adaptation of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in 1935, which was a lavish production featuring many Hollywood stars.
Throughout his career, Reinhardt remained true to his passion for theater and his commitment to spreading joy and wonder to audiences. He believed that theater was the happiest haven for those who had secretly put their childhood in their pockets, and he continued to play and create until the end of his days.
