Andre Gregory

Andre Gregory was born in 1934 in Paris, France, to parents of Russian Jewish descent. He attended Harvard University, where he became part of the Adams House community.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Gregory emerged as a prominent figure in avant-garde theatre, directing innovative productions that emphasized ensemble collaboration. His most acclaimed work from this period is the 1970 adaptation of Lewis Carroll's *Alice in Wonderland*. In 1968, he established The Manhattan Project, a theatrical company dedicated to experimental works. A pivotal moment in his career occurred in 1975 when he directed *Our Late Night*, the debut play by Wallace Shawn, marking the beginning of a significant creative partnership.

However, Gregory's growing concerns about modern theatre's relevance and societal issues led him to retreat from the stage and seek inspiration abroad. Invited by director Jerzy Grotowski, he spent time in Poland crafting experimental performances for private audiences and immersing himself in various spiritual communities, exploring New Age philosophies.

Although he stepped back from theatre in 1975, Gregory returned intermittently to direct intimate productions, including a noteworthy workshop of *Uncle Vanya* from 1990 to 1994, which later inspired the film *Vanya on 42nd Street*. His film career features roles in *My Dinner with Andre* (1981), where he starred alongside Shawn in a profound dialogue about life and art.

In later years, Gregory directed Shawn's *Grasses of a Thousand Colors*, which premiered in London in 2009, and worked on a new adaptation of Ibsen's *The Master Builder*, resulting in the film *A Master Builder* (2014). His life and work were explored in the documentary *Andre Gregory: Before and After Dinner* (2013), directed by his wife, Cindy Kleine.