Petras Vaičiūnas (July 11, 1890 in Piliakalniai, Jonava district - June 7, 1959 in Vilnius) - XX century. Lithuanian poet, playwright and translator of the first half. Wife - actress Teofilija Dragūnaitė-Vaičiūnienė.
He was born in the family of peasants Vincas Vaičiūnas and Marija Šarkaitė-Razumiene-Vaičiūniene. There were seven children in the family: Ignas, Jurgis, Stanislovas and Ona Razumas and Petras, Juozas and Viktoras Vaičiūnas. Juozas Vaičiūnas and Stanislovas Razums became priests, Viktoras Vaičiūnas - a psychiatrist, and Petras Vaičiūnas - one of the first organizers, managers and playwrights of the emerging professional Lithuanian theater. P. Vaičiūnas also played a big role in the life of his niece, the daughter of V. Vaičiūnas, the poet Judita Vaičiūnaitė, becoming her first critic and advisor.
in 1907 after graduating from Ukmergė four-year school, 1914-1918. lived in Petrograd, studied at the Institute of Psychoneurology and Petrograd University, worked in educational and cultural institutions. The dramaturgical debut took place in 1916. March 6 in the "Krivoj zerkalo" theater, where his first play - "Withered flowers bloomed" - was performed at a charity evening.
1920 returned to Lithuania. 1920-1923 Member of the board of drama theaters, State Drama Theater. in 1921 married actress Teofilija Dragūnaitė, had a son Arno. 1930-1935 Secretary of the Folklore Commission of Vytautas Magnus University. 1931-1932 and 1935-1939. Member of the State Theater Repertoire Commission. Since 1941 worked at the LMA library in Vilnius and was its director for some time. After World War II, a member of the board of the Writers' Union, he worked in the LMA library.
Jonava district In the village of Piliakalnii, there is a preserved homestead of P. Vaičiūnas, where the museum operates. A monument (Peace Square) was built in the center of Jonava. Panoteriau primary school is named after P. Vaičiūnas.
