Thalheimer, Michael

(1965- )

   Director. After completing studies as an actor at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Bern, Switzerland, in 1989, Thalheimer embarked on an acting career that took him to Mainz, Bremerhaven, and back to Bern. In 1992 he began working as a director as well as acting at the Chemnitz City Theater, which led to directing jobs in Leipzig, Freiburg, Dresden, and Basel. In 1998 he left Chemnitz to pursue a career as a freelance director, which has led to outstanding productions that have been invited to the Berliner Theatertreffen. In 2001 Thalheimer became one of the few German directors in the history of the Theatertreffen to have two productions, originally staged in two different theaters, invited; as a result, he was awarded the 3sat televison network's Innovation Prize in 2001. The following year, he won the Nestroy Prize and the Friedrich Luft Prize for his directing efforts.