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University Theatre Records, 1925-2011

By Finding aid prepared by Lawrence A. Landis; updated by Elizabeth Nielsen.

Collection Overview

Title: University Theatre Records, 1925-2011

ID: RG 180

Primary Creator: Oregon State University. Department of Speech Communication

Extent: 10.3 cubic feet. More info below.

Arrangement: The records are arranged in 9 series: I. Play Files, 1928-1965; II. Play Lists, 1929-1988; III. Scripts of Plays, 1931-2009; IV. Summer Theater, 1972-1973; V. Programs, circa 1925-2009; VI. National Collegiate Players Fraternity (Drama Honorary), circa 1925; VII. Posters, 1935-2009; VIII. Plans for Stage Switchboard, 1949; and IX. Publications, 1999-2009.

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

Abstract

The University Theatre Records document dramatic stage productions at Oregon State University beginning in the 1920s and consist predominantly of play files and theater posters.

Scope and Content Notes

The University Theatre Records document drama productions at Oregon State University beginning in the 1920s. The bulk of the collection consists of play files for individual plays and posters publicizing performances and annual theater seasons. About 40 of the posters are original painted artwork. The records also include programs, scripts, publications, and materials documenting the summer theater program in the early 1970s.

An addition to the University Theatre Records (Accession 2010:074) consists of materials generated by the University Theatre Department that primarily document the staging of theatrical productions and includes account ledgers, an award ribbon, correspondence, event programs, flyers, meeting minutes, newspaper clippings, photographs, posters, and a scrapbook. The bulk of this transfer is made up of director prompt notebooks reflecting the process of producing plays. Among the activities illustrated in these notebooks are: actor auditioning, stage direction organization, the notation of scripts, publicity, and obtaining of permission to present. Information about the individual productions are also organized into play files that contain programs, newspaper clippings, and photographs. The correspondence and meeting minutes document department administrative processes and budgeting. Numbering a total of 520 images (400 prints, 70 negatives, and 50 slides), the photographs depict various plays, actors, and Theatre staff.

A second addition to the University Theatre Records (Accession 2011:035) consists of materials generated by University Theatre and is made up of prompt books, newsletters, programs, a script, and a musical score. Containing annotated scripts, notes, schedules, and photographs reflecting the process of producing plays, the director prompt books document the following plays: "The Contrast" (1969), "The 5th of July" (1982), "Talley's Folly" (1985), "Talley and Son" (1995), and "The Suicide" (2000). The score is for the opera "A Game of Chance" and contains staging notations. The script "Storm and Stress" is a translation from the original German by theatre faculty member John Terfloth.

A third addition to the University Theatre Records (Accession 2011:094) is made up of programs, posters, postcard flyers, DVDs, and banners documenting a variety of University Theatre productions dating from two periods: 1946 to 1974 and 2009 to 2011. Reflecting productions staged in 2010 and 2011, the posters pertain to the following plays: "Almost Maine," "Fainting Beaver Follies," "I See Allah, I See God," "You Can't Take it with You," "Glengarry Glenross," "The Coming of the Rain," "A Bright Room Called Day," and "As You Like It." The banners were created for productions of "Romeo and Juliet" and "Much Ado About Nothing," while the 2 DVDs contain recordings of the 2010 productions "The Coming of Rain" and "An Ideal Husband."

Biographical / Historical Notes

Dramatic productions began at Oregon Agricultural College in the 1890s; the Mask and Dagger Club was formed in 1912 "to encourage and promote dramatic work." A theater program was formally established in 1920 as part of a new Public Speaking and Dramatics Department (now the Speech Communication Department). Dramatic productions were presented at the Majestic Theater in downtown Corvallis and a small theater in Benton Hall until 1950 when a campus structure was remodeled into the Mitchell Playhouse. The University Theatre moved to Withycombe Hall in 1991 after Mitchell Playhouse was declared unsafe.

Administrative Information

Accruals: Additions to the collection are expected.

More Extent Information: including 520 photographs and 2 DVDs; 22 boxes, including 7 oversize boxes, and 3 map folders; 1 microfilm reel

Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.

Acquisition Note: Materials in the collection were received in numerous transfers from 1970 through 2009.

Related Materials: The C.B. Mitchell University Theater Scrapbooks (MSS Mitchell) document theater productions at Oregon State College during the 1920s through early 1950s. Materials pertaining to drama activities prior to 1920 are available in the Feronian Literary Society and Mask and Dagger Club Records (RG 042). Extensive photographs of the dramatic productions at Oregon State comprise the University Theatre Photographs (P 112). Some additional information about theater and dramatics at Oregon State is part of the Speech Communication Department Records (RG 181), and the OSU Memorabilia Collection (MSS MC).

Preferred Citation: University Theatre Records (RG 180), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Other URL:

A preliminary container list was created for this collection on or before November 19, 2015.

A list of posters held in the collection is also available online.

Creators

Oregon State University. Department of Speech Communication
Oregon State Agricultural College. Department of Public Speaking and Dramatics
Oregon State College. Department of Speech
Oregon State University. Department of Speech
Oregon State University. Department of Theatre

People, Places, and Topics

College and school drama, American--Oregon--Corvallis.
Drama--Study and teaching--Oregon--Corvallis.
Mask and Dagger Club (Oregon Agricultural College)
Oregon State Agricultural College. Department of Public Speaking and Dramatics
Oregon State College. Department of Speech
Oregon State University. Department of Speech
Oregon State University. Department of Speech Communication
Oregon State University. Department of Theatre

Forms of Material

Posters.


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