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Papp, Joseph

(Encyclopedia)Papp, Joseph, 1921–91, American theatrical director and producer, b. Brooklyn, N.Y. as Joseph Papirofsky. Papp, a major influence in American theater, founded the nonprofit New York Shakespeare Fest...

Benjamin, Walter

(Encyclopedia)Benjamin, Walter, 1892–1940, German essayist and critic. He is known for his synthesis of eccentric Marxist theory and Jewish messianism. In particular, his essays on Charles Baudelaire and Franz Ka...

mask

(Encyclopedia)mask, cover or partial cover for the face or head used as a disguise or protection. Masks have been worn from time immemorial throughout the world. They are used by primitive peoples chiefly to impers...

Togliatti, Palmiro

(Encyclopedia)Togliatti, Palmiro pälmēˈrō tōlyätˈtē [key], 1893–1964, Italian Communist leader. A lawyer, he helped found the Italian Communist party in 1921. He lived in Moscow for many years after the F...

Adler, Stella

(Encyclopedia)Adler, Stella ădˈlər [key], 1901–92, American actress, director, and acting teacher, b. New York City. The daughter of Jacob and Sarah Adler, stars in New York's Yiddish theater, she made her act...

Anderson, Laurie

(Encyclopedia)Anderson, Laurie, 1947–, American performance artist, b. Chicago. Originally a sculptor, she was influenced by Philip Glass and other avant-garde composers in the early 1970s and soon turned to the ...

Stockbridge, town, United States

(Encyclopedia)Stockbridge, resort town (1990 pop. 2,408), Berkshire co., W Mass., on the Housatonic River, in the Berkshire Mts.; inc. 1739. It is a year-round tourist resort with nearby lake, ski, and recreational...

Dubna

(Encyclopedia)Dubna do͞obnŭˈ [key], town (1989 pop. 66,000), Moscow region, central European Russia, near the confluence of the Volga and Dubna rivers. Founded in 1956, it is the seat of the Joint Institute for ...

Alexy II

(Encyclopedia)Alexy II or Aleksy II əlyĕkˈsē [key], 1929–2008, 15th patriarch of Moscow and all Russia (1990–2008), b. Estonia, as Aleksey Mikhailovich Ridiger. He spent 11 years as a Russian Orthodox paris...

Arensky, Anton Stepanovich

(Encyclopedia)Arensky, Anton Stepanovich əntônˈ styĭpäˈnəvĭch ärĕnˈskē [key], 1861–1906, Russian composer; pupil of Rimsky-Korsakov at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. After 1882 he taught at the Mosc...