Jedermann

(Everyman. The play of the rich man's death) is a play by the Austrian playwright Hugo von Hofmannsthal. It is based on several medieval mystery plays, including the late 15th-century English morality play Everyman. It was first performed on 1 December 1911 in Berlin, directed by Max Reinhardt at the Circus Schumann. Since 1920, it has been performed regularly at the Salzburg Festival. Plot God sends Death (Tod) to summon the rich bon viveur Jedermann who is then abandoned by his friends, his wealth and his lover (Buhlschaft). History The play was conceived by Hugo von Hofmannsthal in the tradition of medieval morality plays, based on Elckerlijc (ca. 1470) by Peter van Diest, the late 15th-century English Everyman, Hecastus (1539) by Macropedius, and Hekastus (1549) by Hans Sachs. It was first performed on 1 December 1911 in Berlin under the direction of Max Reinhardt at the Circus Schumann (which later became the Großes Schauspielhaus). In 1917, an English language adaptation, The Play of Everyman, was performed at the Trinity Auditorium in Los Angeles and the Burbank Theater in Burbank, California, translated and adapted by George Sterling with "Richard" Ryszard Ordynski, music by Victor Schertzinger. The Sterling adaptation was performed again in 1936 at the Hollywood Bowl with music by Einar Nilson.