Evsei Liubimov-Lanskoi

(stage name of E. O. Gelibter). Born May 17 (29), 1883, in Odessa; died July 17, 1943, in Moscow. Soviet actor and director; People’s Artist of the RSFSR (1933). Member of the CPSU from 1942.

Liubimov-Lanskoi, a graduate of the Kharkov Drama School, made his acting debut in 1904 in provincial theaters. He began his career as a director in 1914, heading theaters in Baku, Astrakhan, and Saratov. In 1922 he became a member of the company of the Moscow Council of Trade Unions Theater (from 1938, Mossovet Theater); he was its director and artistic supervisor from 1925 to 1940.

Liubimov-Lanskoi fought for the creation of a theater that would cater to a proletarian audience, and he energetically attracted beginning Soviet playwrights. His productions, marked by contemporaneity, understanding of the new theatergoer, and ardent civic spirit, were an important contribution to the history of Soviet theater. They included The Storm by Bill’-Belotserkovskii (1925), Cement (based on Gladkov’s novel; 1926), The Revolt by Furmanov and Polivanov (1927), The Rails Hum (1928) and City of Winds (1929) by Kirshon, and Fury by lanovskii (1929).

As a director, Liubimov-Lanskoi masterfully staged mass scenes and brought epic and romantic sweep to reenactments of the revolutionary struggle and peaceful construction; his best productions gave rise to a new type of actor—an agitator and propagandist. He also acted, playing the title role in Professor Mamlock by Volf, Polezhaev in Restless Old Age by Rakhmanov, and Okaemov in Mashen ’ka by Afinogenov. LiubimovLanskoi joined the troupe of the Malyi Theater in 1941.