LUGN-PO, AURLIEN

born , Dec. 27, 1869, Paris, France died June 19, 1940, Villeneuve-ls-Avignon in full Aurlien-Franois-Marie Lugn-Po French actor and theatrical producer who introduced the works of several great contemporary playwrights, particularly Maurice Maeterlinck and Paul Claudel. After studies at the Paris Conservatoire, Lugn-Po acted first at the Thtre-Libre and then at the Thtre d'Art, later managing (18921929) the celebrated Thtre de l'Oeuvre, where he staged the plays of Henrik Ibsen, August Strindberg, and Gerhart Hauptmann, among others. He produced Oscar Wilde's highly controversial Salom and, in 1912, premiered Claudel's L'Annonce faite Marie (The Tidings Brought to Mary). A brilliant promoter of budding playwrights, he made significant contributions to the development of the French theatre by producing modern masterpieces by continental authors.