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Fernand Samuel was the professional name of Adolphe-Amédée Louveau[1] (2 July 1862 – 21 December 1914), a French theatre director and producer.[2] He was director of theThéâtre de la Renaissance, Paris from 1884 to 1892 and theThéâtre des Variétés from 1892 to 1914.
Samuel was born in Rome on 2 July 1862.[2] He came from a theatrical family, and as young man in the early 1880s wrote a column for theGlobe newspaper and was a leading member of a well-known amateur troupe, "Arts intimes", in Paris.[3] Encouraged byFrancisque Sarcey he became lessee of theThéâtre de la Renaissance, Paris in 1884.[3] He appointed his friendGeorges Feydeau as secretary general to the theatre, and in 1886 Samuel presented Feydeau's first full-length play,Tailleur pour dames.[4]
Samuel established a substantial reputation at the Renaissance, where he remained in charge until 1892. After he moved from there to theThéâtre des Variétés in the same year his prestige increased and he became known as "Samuel le Magnifique".[3] He assembled a company of leading stars includingJeanne Granier, Ève Lavallière (whom he married), Albert Brasseur,Max Dearly and others, and presented a series of successful plays.[3] When he died, shortly after the start of theFirst World War,Le Figaro said that he would be known as "one of our great pre-war directors".[3]
Samuel died atCap d'Ail,Alpes-Maritimes on 21 December 1914.[2]
