Micah Lewensohn (Hebrew: מיכה לבינסון, (August 27, 1952, In Jerusalem - March 20, 2017 in Tel Aviv) was an Israeli theater director and actor.
Lewensohn was a graduate of the Israeli Music Conservatory in Tel Aviv. During his army years he was a senior editor-producer in the IDF Radio where he also hosted numerous radio programs and served as a military correspondent in the Yom Kippur War (1973) and later in the 1st Lebanon War (1982).
After completing his studies at New York University Film School (BA) and Theater Directing (MFA) – he received a National Endowment for the Arts grant, serving as the Assistant General Director at the Pittsburgh Public Theater.
Since his return to Israel in 1980, he directed over 50 productions in all theaters in Israel.
His productions won several theater prizes: best play, best musical, best revival as well as best director awards.
Mourir by Sergi Belbel, Beit Zvi, School of the Performing Arts, 2012
West Side Story by A. Laurents, L. Berenstein & S Sondheim, Beit Zvi, School of the Performing Arts, 2011
The Policeman by Daniel Lapin based on Ephraim Kishon's film The Policeman, Habima Theatre. 2009
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf by Edward Albee, Cameri Theater. 2008
Alma and Ruth by Goren Agmon, Beit Lessin Theater. 2008
Mike by Gadi Inbar, Beit Lessin Theater. 2008
The History Boys by Alan Bennett, Beit Lessin Theater. 2007
Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, Cameri Theater. 2007
Badenheim 1939 – A special project for an Orchestra, actors and dancers. Based on
The Producers by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, Cameri Theater. 2006
Iron by Rona Munro, Beit Lessin Theater. 2005
The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, Cameri Theater. 2005
Mikveh by Hadar Galron, Beit Lessin Theater. 2004
Mirale Efrat by Yacob Gordin, Beit Lessin Theater. 2003
The Dresser by Ronald Harwood, Cameri Theater. 2003
My Fair Lady by Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner, The Israeli Opera. 2002
Rembetiko by Costas Ferris, Haifa Theater. 2002
Romantics by Hanoch Levin, Cameri Theater. 2002
Copenhagen by Michael Frayn, Cameri Theater 2001
Don Giovanni (Opera) by MOZART, The Israeli Opera, Tel Aviv. 2001
A View from the Bridge, by Arthur Miller, Habima Theatre. 1999
Cooper, by Yoseph Bar Yoseph, Beit Lessin Theater Theater. 1998
Taking Sides by Ronald Harwood, Cameri Theater 1996
Bianka, by Miriam Kayni, Beit Lessin Theater Theater. 1995
Shmaryahu by Ilana Luft, The Children’s Theater. 1994
M. Butterfly, by David Henry Hwang, Beer Sheva Theater.
Andora by Max Frisch, Haifa Theater. 1993
Singer by Peter Flannery, Beer Sheva Theater. 1992
The Prisoner of Second Avenue, by Neil Simon, Beit Lessin Theater Theater. 1992
Relatively Speaking, by Alan Ayckbourn, Beit Lessin Theater Theater. 1991
Guys & Dolls, by Frank Loesser, Haifa Theater & Roni Productions.1991
The Odd Couple (female version), by Neil Simon, Beit Lessin Theater Theater. 1990
Mephisto, based on K. Mann’s novel, Beer Sheva Theater. 1990
Lettice & Lovage by Peter Shaffer, Cameri Theater 1990
The Foreigner, by Larry Shue, Beit Lessin Theater Theater. 1989
Comedy of Errors, by William Shakespeare, Beer Sheva Theater. 1989
Breaking the Code by Hugh Whitemore, Cameri Theater 1988
Under the Web, by Julia Kearsleye, Beer Sheva Theater. 1988
Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, Beer Sheva Theater. 1987
Hunting Scenes by Martin Spear, Beer Sheva Theater. 1987
The Suicide by Nicholas Erdman, Beer Sheva Theater. 1986
Biboff by Yossi Hadar, Habima Theatre. 1987
La fille du régiment (The Daughter of the Regiment)(Opera) by Gaetano Donizetti, Opera Company of Boston. 1985
Himself and His Son by I.D. Berkowitz, Beer Sheva Theater 1985
The Front Page by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, Beer Sheva Theater 1984
The Elephant Man by Bernard Pomerance, Beer Sheva Theater 1984
Between Bells, by Dan Almagor, Beit Lessin Theater Theater. 1984
City Sugar by Stephen Poliakoff, Beer Sheva Theater 1983
Drums in the Night by Bertolt Brecht, Beer Sheva Theater 1982
Hatasha - Rock Musical by Benny Hadar, Haifa Theater 1981
Dance of Death by August Strindberg, Haifa Theater 1980
Beckett Project, Pittsburgh Public Theater. 1979
Alongside his work in the theater, Lewensohn directed entertainment spectacles, musical events and commercials. Among his projects:
Narrator The Land Shall Not Rest - TV documentary series marking 40 years to the Yom Kippur War. (2013)
Director & storyteller The Chain of Generations - museological video installation, Western Wall Heritage Center, Jerusalem, (Recipient of the 2008 Thea Award, USA for outstanding achievement. (opened 2005)
Performer (Video installation) Hertzl Museum Visitors Center, Jerusalem (opened 2005)
Narrator Slaves of the Sword - co-produced by Bellfilms-Israel, BBC-U.K, ZDF/ARTE - Germany/France. (2003)
Artistic Director Love in Jerusalem, Music Festival (2002)
Host & Interviewer of TV series recorded at the Jazz Blues & Videotape Festival (40 episodes for channel 2 Israel). (2001)
Artistic Director By My Spirit, A Universal Spiritual Gathering in Toledo, Spain of which the highlight was a concert of the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra with Placido Domingo, conducted By Maestro Zubin Mehta. (1992)
Concept & Choreography - The Lazy Bums, Israel’s representative to the Eurovision Song Contest, Brussels, Belgium. (1987)
BBC TV directing course under a grant from the British Council. (1990)
Taught acting and directing at the Tel Aviv University, Beit Zvi, Sam Spiegel Film and Television School and at Seminar Hakibbutzim.
Artistic Director, The Israel Festival, Jerusalem (1994-2001)
General Director, Beit Zvi School of the Performing Arts in Ramat Gan, (2009-2014)
Lewensohn played a supporting role in Joseph Cedar’s 2011 film, Footnote, nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Best Foreign Film.
From English to Hebrew
The Gin Game by Donald L. Coburn (for Habima Theatre). 2009
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf by Edward Albee, ( for the Cameri Theater). 2008
The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams ( for the Cameri Theater). 2004
Iron by Rona Munro (for Beit Lessin Theater). 2003
The Dresser by Ronald Harwood (for the Cameri Theater). 2003
Talking with... by Jane Martin (for Beit Zvi, School of the Performing Arts). 1987
Buried Child by Sam Shepard ( for the Khan Theater, Jerusalem). 1984
The Suzanne Dellal Centre for Dance and Theatre, Tel Aviv.
AICE - Australia Israel Cultural Exchange.
Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem.
Since May 2009 serves as Director of the Beit Zvi School of the Performing Arts.
Micah Lewensohn passed away in his home on Monday night, March 20th, 2017. He was 64 years old. He is survived by his wife. two children. and two grandchildren.
