Gigi Gaucher-Morales, 1939-2008

192 LATIN AMERICAN THEATRE REVIEW Gigi Gaucher-Morales, 1939-2008 Jeanine (Gigi) Gaucher-Morales, professor emerita of French and Spanish, passed away in May of 2008 at her home in California. Born and raised in Paris, Gigi continued her education in the US, receiving her BA at the University of Nebraska, and the MA and PhD in French and Spanish from the University of Southern California. Her entire teaching career was spent at California State University, Los Angeles where she specialized in French literature, especially 20th century theatre. At mid-career, she had the opportunity to teach Spanish literature as well, specializing in 19th and 20th century poetry and theatre. Together with her husbandAlfredo Morales, also Cal State LAemeritus professor of Spanish, she was the co-founder, director and advisor of Teatro Universitario en Español (TUE). It was her passion, and she dedicated all her time and energy transmitting this enthusiasm to her students. At the time of its founding, the TUE was the only university program of its kind that included in its yearly curriculum the production of plays in Spanish. It brought national and international acclaim to Cal State LA The main purpose of TUE was to offer students the opportunity to act, learn how to put on a play, and offer the Spanish-speaking public of Southern California a venue where they could see the best in Spanish American and Spanish theatre. They invited renowned guest directors such as Emilio Carballido and Luis de Tavira from Mexico, Rodolfo Tosto from Argentina, and Eduardo Almeida from Ecuador. Their productions included works such as Bodas de sangre and Las torres y el viento. Gigi and Alfredo published four volumes on the fiction and poetry of Mexican writer Miguel N. Lira. At the time of her death they were in the process of completing two volumes of his dramatic production. Her desire was to bring to light Lira’s literary contributions to Spanish American literature. Gigi was a woman of diverse interests who contributed much to the promotion of Latin American theatre. George Woodyard University of Kansas ...