Background
As her father accepted a job at the National Bureau of Standards.
As her father accepted a job at the National Bureau of Standards.
Zelda Diamond"s husband, Thomas C. Fichlander, a statistician and economist, was a cofounder of the Arena Stage theatre in Washington, District of Columbia, the first integrated theater in Washington. At age 4, she moved from Boston area to Washington District of Columbia Aged 8, she performed as Helga in Helga and the White Peacock at the Rose Robison Cowen’s Studio for Children"s Theatre. As audiences grew, the theatre moved to "The Old Vat Theatre" which the company created in an abandoned distillery on the Potomac riverside.
The Fichandlers were able to build a new theatre complex.
Zelda Fichandler served as Arena"s artistic director from the theatre"s inception until her retirement at the end of the 1990-1991 season. During that time, Arena Stage became known as one of America"s premier regional theatres.
Fichandler directed numerous plays at Arena Stage including Death of a Salesman, Uncle Vanya, A Doll"s House and Six Characters in Search of an Author. Several of her Arena Stage productions toured internationally, including Inherit the Wind and The Crucible.
From 1991-1994, she was artistic director of The Acting Company.
She was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame in 1999, the first artistic leader outside of New York to be so honored. "There is a hunger to see the human presence acted out. As long as that need remains, people will find a way to do theater.".
Under her leadership, the Arena won the first regional Tony award in 1976, became the first American theatre to tour the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics (1973), as well as the first regional theatre to transfer a show to Broadway. Her honors and awards include the Common Wealth Award for distinguished service in the dramatic arts (1985). The Helen Hayes Award for directing The Crucible (1988). And the National Medal of Arts in 1996.
