Research Catalog

Title

Living Theatre records, 1945-1991.

Author

Living Theatre (New York, N.Y.)

Supplementary Content

Finding Aid

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

22.5 lf. (63 boxes)

Subject

• Beck, Julian, 1925-1985
• Malina, Judith, 1926-2015
• Piscator, Erwin, 1893-1966
• Living Theatre (New York, N.Y.)
• Theater > United States
• Theater > New York (State) > New York
• Street theater
• Theater > Political aspects
• Theater > Production and direction
• Experimental theater > New York (State) > New York
• Prison theater
• Theater, Environmental
• Political plays
• Community theater
• Pacifists > United States
• Theatrical producers and directors
• Off Off-Broadway theater

Genre/Form

• Posters.
• Scripts.

Access (note)

• Collection is open to the public. Advance notice may be required. Contracts and payroll records (Boxes 20-21) may be viewed only with permission of the curator. Materials in Box 53 are restricted, patrons must use service copies in Box 52.

Source (note)

• Judith Malina
• Erica Bilder/Living Theatre

Biography (note)

• The Living Theatre was founded by Judith Malina and Julian Beck in 1947. Their avant-garde plays were performed in New York theaters until 1963 when they were shut down by the IRS for failing to pay taxes. Living Theatre then launched a workd-wide tour and settled in Berlin in 1965. The company toured the United States in 1968 and returned to Europe in 1969. In 1970 Living Theatre toured Brazil, performing in street plays, developing the cycle of plays titled THE LEGACY OF CAIN. While in Brazil its members were arrested for drug possession and jailed. The charges were eventually dropped due to strong protests from the world artistic community. After leaving Brazil, Living Theatre performed in the inner city of Pittsburgh. In 1975 they returned to Europe and continued bringing plays to the streets. Julian Beck returned with the Living Theatre to the United States before his death in 1985 and performed a repertory of four works. This included THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF SLEEP, ANTIGONE, THE YELLOW METHUSELAH and THE ONE AND THE MANY. In May 1989 the Living Theatre came back to New York where it has its present home.

Indexes/Finding Aids (note)

• Finding aid available in repository and on the Internet.

Processing Action (note)

• Cataloged
• Accessioned

Call Number

*T-Mss 1988-005

OCLC

NYPW90-A107

Author

Living Theatre (New York, N.Y.)

Title

Living Theatre records, 1945-1991.

Access

Collection is open to the public. Advance notice may be required. Contracts and payroll records (Boxes 20-21) may be viewed only with permission of the curator. Materials in Box 53 are restricted, patrons must use service copies in Box 52.

Summary

The Living Theatre Records consist of correspondence, financial papers, legal papers, production files, notebooks and calendars, scripts, programs, photographs, promotional materials, clippings and oversized files relating to its evolution, management and history. The collection documents in detail the legal, financial, and day-to-day operations of The Living Theatre from its earliest performances, through its period of exile in Europe and work in Brazil, to its contemporary performances at the permanent theater in New York City.

Biography

The Living Theatre was founded by Judith Malina and Julian Beck in 1947. Their avant-garde plays were performed in New York theaters until 1963 when they were shut down by the IRS for failing to pay taxes. Living Theatre then launched a workd-wide tour and settled in Berlin in 1965. The company toured the United States in 1968 and returned to Europe in 1969. In 1970 Living Theatre toured Brazil, performing in street plays, developing the cycle of plays titled THE LEGACY OF CAIN. While in Brazil its members were arrested for drug possession and jailed. The charges were eventually dropped due to strong protests from the world artistic community. After leaving Brazil, Living Theatre performed in the inner city of Pittsburgh. In 1975 they returned to Europe and continued bringing plays to the streets. Julian Beck returned with the Living Theatre to the United States before his death in 1985 and performed a repertory of four works. This included THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF SLEEP, ANTIGONE, THE YELLOW METHUSELAH and THE ONE AND THE MANY. In May 1989 the Living Theatre came back to New York where it has its present home.

Indexes

Finding aid available in repository and on the Internet.

Connect to:

Request Access to Theatre Division Special Collections material

Finding Aid

Research Call Number

*T-Mss 1988-005