Research Catalog

Title

Ron Vawter papers, 1963-1994.

Author

Vawter, Ron

Supplementary Content

Finding Aid

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

San Giacomo, Laura, 1962-

Description

10.18 lf (10 boxes + 1 oversized folder)

Subject

• Vawter, Ron
• Cohn, Roy M. > Drama
• Smith, Jack, 1932-1989 > Drama
• Schechner, Richard, 1934-
• San Giacomo, Laura, 1962- > Interviews
• Performance Group
• Wooster Group
• Theater > New York (State) > New York
• Experimental theater > New York (State) > New York

Genre/Form

• Papers.
• Scripts.
• Photographs.
• Clippings.
• Interviews.

Access (note)

• Collection is open to the public. Library policy on photography and photocopying will apply. Advance notice may be required.

Source (note)

• Mehrten, Greg

Biography (note)

• Ron Vawter (1948-1994) was a seminal figure in New York's downtown experimental theater scene from the 1970s until his death. Born in Latham, N.Y., Ron Vawter was raised in a military family. In the mid-1960s during the Vietnam War Vawter joined the Special Forces, also known as the Green Berets. For a time he aspired to become a military chaplain, spending years in a seminary studying to join the Franciscan order before becoming disillusioned, although he continued his military career. Vawter was working in Lower Manhattan as a recruiting officer in the early 1970s when he became involved with the experimental theater troupe, the Performance Group. Founded by Richard Schechner in 1967, the Performance Group included among its early members Spalding Gray and Elizabeth LeCompte. Vawter joined the organization as an administrator, but gradually became an actor. In the mid-1970s, Schechner was forced out, and the new company called itself the Wooster Group, with LeCompte as its director. Vawter acted in productions for the Wooster Group as well as other troupes, winning an Obie Award in 1985 for "Sustained Achievement in Acting." He also appeared on television and in a number of films, including SEX, LIES, AND VIDEOTAPE, THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, and PHILADELPHIA. In 1993-4 he returned to the stage in a one-man show, ROY COHN/JACK SMITH. Ron Vawter died of complications from AIDS on April 16, 1994, at the age of 45.

Indexes/Finding Aids (note)

• Finding aid available in repository and on Internet.

Processing Action (note)

• Cataloged

Call Number

*T-Mss 1995-010

OCLC

NYPW02-A315

Author

Vawter, Ron.

Title

Ron Vawter papers, 1963-1994.

Restricted Access

Collection is open to the public. Library policy on photography and photocopying will apply. Advance notice may be required.

Summary

The Ron Vawter papers consist largely of production materials, especially concerning Vawter's one-man show, ROY COHN/JACK SMITH, and earlier plays presented by the Wooster Group. Production items include scripts, photographs, programs, clippings, publicity material, research material, technical notes, and a light plot. The majority of this production material pertains to ROY COHN/JACK SMITH, while the Wooster Group material consists mostly of scripts, some of which have acting and blocking notes written by Vawter. Also includes miscellaneous material pertaining to unrealized projects, items collected by or given to Ron Vawter, and a doctoral dissertation on a Wooster Group production, FRANK DELL'S THE TEMPTATION OF ST. ANTHONY. Two interviews are included, one of which is an interview of Ron Vawter conducted by Richard Schechner, while the other is an interview of actor Laura San Giacomo conducted by Ron Vawter. Aside from the interview, personal papers and correspondence related to Vawter are sparsely represented.

Biography

Ron Vawter (1948-1994) was a seminal figure in New York's downtown experimental theater scene from the 1970s until his death. Born in Latham, N.Y., Ron Vawter was raised in a military family. In the mid-1960s during the Vietnam War Vawter joined the Special Forces, also known as the Green Berets. For a time he aspired to become a military chaplain, spending years in a seminary studying to join the Franciscan order before becoming disillusioned, although he continued his military career. Vawter was working in Lower Manhattan as a recruiting officer in the early 1970s when he became involved with the experimental theater troupe, the Performance Group. Founded by Richard Schechner in 1967, the Performance Group included among its early members Spalding Gray and Elizabeth LeCompte. Vawter joined the organization as an administrator, but gradually became an actor. In the mid-1970s, Schechner was forced out, and the new company called itself the Wooster Group, with LeCompte as its director. Vawter acted in productions for the Wooster Group as well as other troupes, winning an Obie Award in 1985 for "Sustained Achievement in Acting." He also appeared on television and in a number of films, including SEX, LIES, AND VIDEOTAPE, THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, and PHILADELPHIA. In 1993-4 he returned to the stage in a one-man show, ROY COHN/JACK SMITH. Ron Vawter died of complications from AIDS on April 16, 1994, at the age of 45.

Indexes

Finding aid available in repository and on Internet.

Connect to:

Request Access to Theatre Division Special Collections material

Finding Aid

Added Author

Vawter, Ron.

San Giacomo, Laura, 1962- Interviewee

Research Call Number

*T-Mss 1995-010