News

L’Avant-Scène’s Grande Fête: Princeton’s French theater workshop celebrates 20 years
May 15, 2024

A host of French theater-lovers, dignitaries and alumni united April 18-20 to celebrate L’Avant-Scène, a Princeton stronghold that for the last 20 years has bonded French-speaking students and faculty from all across campus through the dramatic arts. The weekend event—funded in part by a Humanities Council Magic Grant and co-sponsored by the…

French theater troupe L’Avant-Scène marks 20th anniversary with shows, guest speakers
April 19, 2024

A weekend of festivities is planned to celebrate the 20th anniversary of L’Avant-Scène, Princeton University’s French Theater Workshop, April 18-20. For two decades, Princeton undergraduate and graduate students from across academic disciplines…

A Celebration of 20 Years of French Theater at Princeton! L’Avant-Scène 2004-2024
April 5, 2024

The Department of French and Italian, Humanities Council, Lewis Center for the Arts, French Embassy in the United States, Villa Albertine, Center of Excellence & L’Avant-Scène, Present 20 Years of French Theater at Princeton! Celebrating Twenty Years of Full-Length Plays at L’Avant-Scène

L’Avant-Scène in Paris: Reflections on the Twentieth Anniversary Trip
Feb. 28, 2024

This January, as in previous years, Prof. Florent Masse brought a select group of Princetonians from the L’Avant-Scene French theatre troupe on a whirlwind trip to Paris. Things were extra special this time, however, as L’Avant-Scene prepares for its 20th Anniversary celebration in April. Here’s what the students from this…

Seuls en Scène, Princeton French Theater Festival 2023 Lineup
July 28, 2023

Seuls en Scène brings celebrated French actors and directors, as well as promising early-career artists, to Princeton University and the local community to present their work, introducing American audiences to dynamic and engaging French productions. We are thrilled to bring this new edition of the festival in collaboration with…

Race in French Theater featured on Radio France
Nov. 16, 2022

FRE-THR 390 Race in French Theater was recently featured on Radio France in Tous en scène by Aurélie Charon on France Culture. Playwright Penda Diouf and scholar Sylvie Chalaye discussed their visit to Princeton for the course Race in French Theater taught by Florent Masse.

Seuls en Scène 2022 presents Traces: My experience with French theater
Sept. 28, 2022

The play “Traces,” presented in the Marie and Edward Matthews ’53 Acting Studio on Sept. 19 and 20, began with the melodic sound of the kora, a West African string instrument. The lights illuminated the stage, spotlighting the musician Simon Winse. The music was a trance-inducing force that I felt I could listen to for hours. When actor Étienne…

The 11th edition of Seuls en Scène
Aug. 31, 2022

Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts, Department of French and Italian, and L’Avant-Scène will present the 11th edition of Seuls en Scène French Theater Festival, which will take place from September 9 to 23 at venues across the University’s campus. Most…

"Berlin mon garçon" by Marie NDiaye at L'Avant-Scène, Princeton U.
April 14, 2021

The Troupe of L'Avant-Scène, the company of the Department of French and Italian's French Theater Workshop at Princeton University, will perform its third and last play of the academic year, "Berlin mon garçon" by Marie NDiaye 

Seuls en Scène Festival 2020 - The Show Must Go On
Jan. 22, 2021
The Show Must Go On / Le spectacle doit continuer

Essay by Amelia Parenteau  05 January 2021 Original Publication

I’m going to come right out and say it: I hate Zoom plays. That doesn’t mean I won’t watch Zoom plays, or that I…

 L’Avant-Scène Offered a Fully Virtual Fall 2020 Season
Nov. 23, 2020

This fall 2020, L’Avant-Scène offered a fully remote virtual season. The ninth annual edition of Seuls en Scène, Princeton French Theater Festival, a collaboration between the…

L’Avant-Scène Enjoyed a Memorable Fall 2019 Season
Nov. 30, 2020
L’Avant-Scène enjoyed a spectacular, nineteenth, Fall 2019 season, The eighth annual edition of Seuls en Scène, Princeton French Theater Festival, a collaboration between the Department of French and Italian, the Lewis Center for the Arts, and L’Avant-Scène launched the season in late September 2019.
Virtual Seuls en Scène 2020 - September 10th-20th, 2020
Sept. 4, 2020
The Festival brings renowned French actors and directors, as well as a new generation of artists, to the University and local community. We are pleased to emphasize this festival’s particularly diverse group of artists and to continue our new collaboration with Festival d’Automne in Paris
Seuls en Scène - Princeton French Theater Festival
May 20, 2019
Celebrated French theater artists converge onstage at Princeton University
Pascal Rambert directs Princeton students this spring
March 7, 2019

Pascal Rambert, a celebrated French writer, choreographer and director for the stage and screen, has joined Princeton this spring as a Belknap Fellow in the Council of the Humanities and visiting lecturer in French and Italian.

L’Avant-Scène performs “La double inconstance” by Marivaux
March 7, 2019

In mid-February, L’Avant-Scène performed “La double inconstance,” one of Marivaux's most beloved comedies, at the Princeton University Art Museum. The production, directed by Florent Masse, featured seniors Isabel Leigh, James Tralie, Sherry Romanzi and Adnan Sachee; junior Donald Della Pietra; sophomore Anna Vinitsky; and freshman Joseph…

The Seuls en Scène 2018 Performance Lineup has been Announced
Aug. 6, 2018
Seuls en Scène brings celebrated French actors and directors, as well as promising early-career artists, to Princeton University and the local community to present their work, introducing American audiences to dynamic and engaging French productions. Learn more below about the exciting productions in the 2018 season.
French theatre lecturer Guillaume Gallienne discusses teaching philosophy, life, and art
April 4, 2018

Guillaume Gallienne a Visiting Lecturer in the Humanities Council and Belknap Fellow in French and Italian (Spring 2018), a French Actor, and Director, Sociétaire of the Comédie-Française, recently discussed his teaching philosophy and lessons that he attempts to impart upon his students, with the Daily Princetonian's Katja Stroke-Adolphe.

Ceremonies in New York and Princeton honor Florent Masse this fall
Nov. 21, 2017
La Médaille d’Or du Rayonnement Culturel awarded by La Renaissance Française recognizes persons who have rendered distinguished service in the following fields: French language, literature, fine arts, science and technology, artisans, promotion and visibility of the French patrimony (including traditions and artistic heritage).
Jin Yun Chow, a L'Avant-Scène member, named valedictorian.
April 25, 2017

Jin Yun Chow, a comparative literature major from Hong Kong, has been selected as valedictorian of Princeton's Class of 2017.

The Princeton faculty accepted the nominations for the Faculty Committee on Examinations and Standing at its April 24 meeting. 

Chow will…

L'Avant-Scène AY 16-17 International Theater Travels
Feb. 10, 2017

L'Avant-Scène had memorable visits to leading European drama conservatories and state theaters during L'Avant-Scène in Strasbourg, Berlin and London (October 2016) & L'Avant-Scène in Paris (January 2017).
Many thanks to our generous sponsors and to Ecole Tns,…

L'Avant-Scène Masterclass James Baldwin with Théâtre des Lucioles from Caen, France
Dec. 9, 2016
L'Avant-Scène Masterclass James Baldwin with Théâtre des Lucioles from Caen, France
Seuls en Scène and L’Avant-Scène at Princeton
Oct. 16, 2015
Macs Smith, G5, is interviewed about Seuls en Scène and L’Avant-Scène at Princeton