Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
University Theatre Records, 1925-2009
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Oregon State University. Dept. of Speech Communication.
- Title
- University Theatre Records
- Dates
- 1925-2009 (inclusive)19252009
- Quantity
-
6 cubic feet, (6 boxes, including 2 oversize boxes, and 3
map folders)
1 microfilm reel - Collection Number
- RG 180
- Summary
- 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.
- Repository
-
Oregon State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives Research Center
Special Collections and Archives Research Center
121 The Valley Library
Oregon State University
Corvallis OR
97331-4501
Telephone: 5417372075
Fax: 5417378674
scarc@oregonstate.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Additional Reference Guides
-
List of posters available online.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
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.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
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.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
University Theatre Records (RG 180), Oregon State University Archives, Corvallis, Oregon.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
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.
Acquisition Information
Materials in the collection were received in numerous transfers from 1970 through 2009.
Future Additions
Additions to the collection are expected.
Related Materials
The C.B. Mitchell University Theater Scrapbooks 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 Theater Photographs (P 112). Some additional information about theater and dramatics at Oregon State is part of the Speech Communication Department Records (RG 181) as well as the Memorabilia Collection.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I: Play Files, 1928-1965Return to Top
The Play Files document the promotion, rehearsals, and performances of stage productions by the University Theatre and include rehearsal schedules; information pertaining to scenery and costume rentals, ticket sales, and attendance; programs and publicity; invoices and budgets; newspaper clippings; correspondence; and seating charts. The files are arranged chronologically. Play files for 1928-1950 are only available on microfilm; files for later productions are available in original paper form.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| reel 1 | 1: The Kelly Kid, the Monkey's Paw, and For
Distinguished Service |
May 4, 1928 |
| Reel | ||
| reel 1 | The Devil in the Cheese |
December 7-8, 1929 |
| reel 1 | 2: Hell Bent for Heaven |
May 23-24, 1930 |
| reel 1 | 3: The Dover Road |
November 22-23, 1930 |
| reel 1 | 4: Cock Robin |
Feb. 18-19, 1930 |
| reel 1 | 5: Merchant of Venice |
March 6-7, 1931 |
| reel 1 | 6: Youngest |
May 1931 |
| reel 1 | 7: Beyond the Horizon |
April 1932 |
| reel 1 | 8: Little Prison and The Land of Heart's
Desire |
Nov. 17, 1932 |
| reel 1 | 9: There's Always Juliet |
Nov. 24-26 |
| reel 1 | 10: Wurzle-Flummery and 'Op-
'o-Me-Thumb |
February 16, 1933 |
| reel 1 | 11: Death Takes a Holiday |
March 9-11, 1933 |
| reel 1 | 12: Rose O' Plymouthtown |
May 4-6, 1933 |
| reel 1 | 13: Summer Session Play |
July 21, 1933 |
| reel 1 | 14: Bread |
December 1933 |
| reel 1 | 15: Both Your Houses |
March 9-10, 1934 |
| reel 1 | 16: Career for Mother, The Finger of God, and
The Mayor's House |
November 23, |
| reel 1 | 17: No More Frontier |
May 1-2, 1935 |
| reel 1 | 18: Tables and Chairs, Are Men Superior, and
Society Column |
July 29, 1935 |
| reel 1 | 19: The Kelley Kid and The Clock Struck
One |
November 21,1935 |
| reel 1 | 20: The Climbers and Maizie |
February 6, 1936 |
| reel 1 | 21: The Man who Married a Dumb Wife |
March 11, 1936 |
| reel 1 | The Man Who Married a Dumb Wife and Cabbages |
July 24, 1931 |
| reel 1 | 22: The Streets of New York |
December 13-14, 1935 |
| reel 1 | 23: Three Cornered Moon |
March 6-7, 1936 |
| reel 1 | 24: The Ivory Door |
May 8-9, 1936 |
| reel 1 | 25: Mansions and Lavender and Red
Pepper |
|
| reel 1 | 26: Laburnum Grove |
Dec. 3-4, 1936 |
| reel 1 | 27: Grandma-Old Style |
Dec. 10, 1936 |
| reel 1 | 28: R.U.R. |
March 5-6, 1937 |
| reel 1 | 29: Aladdin |
April 19, 1937 |
| reel 1 | 30: Ladies of the Jury |
May 7-8, 1937 |
| reel 1 | 31: First Lady |
Dec. 10-11, 1937 |
| reel 1 | 32: The Ship |
Feb. 11-12, 1938 |
| reel 1 | 33: School for Scandal |
May 6-7, 1938 |
| reel 1 | 34: Act Your Age |
July 25, 1938 |
| reel 1 | 35: High Tor |
Dec. 2-3, 1938 |
| reel 1 | 36: The Monkey's Paw, Cabbages, and For
Distinguished Service |
Feb. 14, 1939 |
| reel 1 | 37: George and Margaret |
March 3-4, 1939 |
| reel 1 | 38: Tovarich |
May 12-13, 1939 |
| reel 1 | 39: Cross My Heart |
July 24, 1939 |
| reel 1 | 40: Mystery at Greenfingers |
Dec. 1-2, 1939 |
| reel 1 | 41: Spring Dance |
March 1-2, 1940 |
| reel 1 | 42: The Precious Stream |
May 1940 |
| reel 1 | 43: Stage Door |
May 23-24, 1940 |
| reel 1 | 44: Sunday Costs 5 Pesos and The Wonder
Hat |
1940 |
| reel 1 | 45: Going Places |
July 29, 1940 |
| reel 1 | 46: Susan and God |
Dec. 6-7, 1940 |
| reel 1 | 47: What a Life |
Dec. 12-13, 1940 |
| reel 1 | 48: Lillion |
March 7-8, 1940 |
| reel 1 | 49: You Can't Take it with You |
April 5, 1941 |
| reel 1 | 50: In a House Like This |
May 9-10, 1941 |
| reel 1 | 51: Night Must Fall |
May 22-24, 1941 |
| reel 1 | 52: So This is Hollywood |
July 28, 1941 |
| reel 1 | 53: Our Town |
Nov. 12-13, 1941 |
| reel 1 | 54: George Washington Slept Here |
Dec. 5-6, 1941 |
| reel 1 | 55: Ever Since Eve |
July 20, 1942 |
| reel 1 | 56: Glamour Preferred |
May 8-9, 1942 |
| reel 1 | 57: Goodbye Again |
April 16-18, 1942 |
| reel 1 | 58: Dark Victory |
march 6-7, 1942 |
| reel 1 | 59: Arsenic and Old Lace |
Dec. 3-4, 1942 |
| reel 1 | 60: Fly Away Home |
March 4-5, 1943 |
| reel 1 | 61: Craig's Wife |
May 7-8, 1943 |
| reel 1 | 62: Young April |
Dec. 9-11, 1943 |
| reel 1 | 63: Personal Appearance |
March 17-18, 1944 |
| reel 1 | 64: Letters to Lucerne |
Dec. 7-8, 1944 |
| reel 1 | 65: The Torchbearers |
March 1-2, 1945 |
| reel 1 | 66: Mrs. Partridge Presents |
May 11-12, 1945 |
| reel 1 | 67: Snafu |
Dec. 6-7, 1945 |
| reel 1 | 68: Outward Bound |
March 7-8, 1946 |
| reel 1 | 69: Holiday |
May 10-11, 1946 |
| reel 1 | 70: Blithe Spirit |
Nov. 15-16, 1946 |
| reel 1 | 71: Dear Ruth |
Dec. 5-6, 1946 |
| reel 1 | 72: Purple Doorknob, China Pig, and Wisdom
Teeth |
June 6, 1946 |
| reel 1 | 73: East Lynne |
Feb. 7-8, 1947 |
| reel 1 | 74: The Little Foxes |
March 6-7, 1947 |
| reel 1 | 75: The Haunted House |
May 23-24, 1947 |
| reel 1 | 76: I Remember Mama |
May 8-10, 1947 |
| reel 1 | 77: Foot-Loose |
July 22, 1947 |
| reel 1 | 78: Apple of His Eye |
Nov. 14-15, 1947 |
| reel 1 | 79: Claudia |
Dec. 4-5, 1947 |
| reel 1 | 80: Joan of Lorraine |
Feb. 13-14, 1948 |
| reel 1 | 81: The Scarecrow |
March 4-5, 1948 |
| reel 1 | 82: State of the Union |
May 6-8, 1948 |
| reel 1 | 83: Squaring the Circle |
May 4-5, 1948 |
| reel 1 | 84: The Cat and the Canary |
July 20, 1948 |
| reel 1 | 85: A Murder has Been Arranged |
Nov. 12-13, 1948 |
| reel 1 | 86: Papa is All |
Dec. 2-3, 1948 |
| reel 1 | 87: Room Service |
Feb. 18-19, 1949 |
| reel 1 | 88: MacBeth |
March 3-4, 1949 |
| reel 1 | 89: Years Ago |
May 5-7, 1949 |
| reel 1 | 90: Dulcy |
May 20-21, 1949 |
| reel 1 | 91: Storm in a Teacup |
Nov. 10-12, 1949 |
| reel 1 | 92: Thunder Rock |
Dec. 1-3, 1949 |
| reel 1 | 93: The Bat |
Feb. 16-18, 1950 |
| reel 1 | 94: Androcles and the Lion |
March 2-4, 1950 |
| reel 1 | 95: Hay Fever |
May 4-6, 1950 |
| reel 1 | 96: The Far Off Hills |
May 25-27, 1950 |
| reel 1 | 97: Green Pastures |
Dec. 7-9, 1950 |
| Box | ||
| 1 | The Milky Way |
February 15-17, 1951 |
| 1 | There Shall be No Night |
March 1-3, 1951 |
| 1 | Heaven Can Wait |
May 24-26, 1951 |
| 1 | Berkeley Square |
May 3-5, 1951 |
| 1 | Arsenic and Old Lace |
November 1-3, 1951 |
| 1 | The Winslow Boy |
November 28-29 and December 1, 1951 |
| 1 | Born Yesterday |
February 7-9, 1952 |
| 1 | The Cradle Song |
March 6-8, 1952 |
| 1 | Autumn Garden |
May 1-3, 1952 |
| 1 | June Moon |
May 22-24, 1952 |
| 1 | Harvey |
November 6-8, 1952 |
| 1 | Double Door |
December 4-6, 1952 |
| 1 | The Male Animal |
February 12-14, 1953 |
| 1 | Our Town |
March 5-7, 1953 |
| 1 | Two Blind Mice |
April 30 and May 1-2, 1953 |
| 1 | Playboy of the Western World |
May 21-23, 1953 |
| 1 | Good-Bye My Fancy |
November 5-7, 1953 |
| 1 | Elizabeth the Queen |
December 3-5, 1953 |
| 1 | Blithe Spirit |
February 11-13, 1954 |
| 1 | Taming of the Shrew |
March 4-6, 1954 |
| 1 | The Man Who Came to Dinner |
April 29-30 and May 1, 1954 |
| 1 | Ten Little Indians |
May 20-22, 1954 |
| 1 | Good House Keeping
Summer session.
|
August 4-6, 1954 |
| 1 | Affairs of State |
November 4-6, 1954 |
| 1 | Heart Break House |
December 2-4, 1954 |
| 1 | The Country Girl |
February 10-12, 1955 |
| 1 | Sabrina Fair |
March 3-5, 1955 |
| 1 | My Three Angels |
May 5-6, 1955 |
| 1 | The Torchbearers |
May 26-28, 1955 |
| 1 | Bell, Book, and Candle |
November 3-5, 1955 |
| 1 | Night Must Fall |
December 1-3,1955 |
| 1 | The Late George Apley |
February 9-11, 1956 |
| 1 | The Glass Menagerie |
March 1-3, 1956 |
| 1 | The Solid Gold Cadillac |
May 3-5, 1956 |
| 1 | The Curious Savage |
Mary 24-26, 1956 |
| 1 | Time Out for Ginger |
August 1956 |
| 1 | Present Laughter |
November 1-3, 1956 |
| 1 | Oklahoma |
November 28-30, 1956 |
| 1 | Life with Father |
February 7-9, 1957 |
| 1 | The Desperate Hours |
February 28 and March 1-2, 1957 |
| 1 | The Guest Cottage |
May 23-25, 1957 |
| 1 | The Parlor Story |
July 31 and August 1, 1957 |
| 2 | Teahouse of the August Moon |
November 7-9, 1957 |
| 2 | Antastasia |
May 2-4, 1957 |
| 2 | Dial "M" for Murder |
December 5-7, 1957 |
| 2 | The Crucible |
February 13-15, 1958 |
| 2 | The Fourposter |
March 6-8, 1958 |
| 2 | The Late Christopher Bean |
May 1-3, 1958 |
| 2 | See How They Run |
May 22-24, 1958 |
| 2, 5 | Lo and Behold |
August 6-7, 1958 |
| 2 | Ladies in Retirement |
November 6-8, 1958 |
| 2 | Mary of Scotland |
December 4-6, 1958 |
| 2 | Rain |
February 12-14, 1959 |
| 2 | Visit To A Small Planet |
March 5-7, 1959 |
| 2 | Life With Mother |
April 30, May 1-2, 1959 |
| 2 | The Lady Chooses |
May 21-23, 1959 |
| 2 | A Room Full of Roses |
August 5-6, 1959 |
| 2 | Witness for the Prosecution |
November 5-7, 1959 |
| 2 | Annie Get Your Gun |
December 1-5, 1959 |
| 2 | Third Best Sport |
February 11-13, 1960 |
| 2 | Antigone |
March 3-5, 1960 |
| 2 | Mister Roberts |
May 5-7, 1960 |
| 2 | Be Your Age |
August 3-4, 1960 |
| 2 | The Importance of Being Earnest |
May 26-28, 1960 |
| 2 | Girls in 509 |
November 3-5, 1960 |
| 2 | The Seed and the Thorn |
December 1-3, 1960 |
| 2 | The Great Diamond Robbery |
February 9-11, 1961 |
| 2 | Separate Tables |
March 2-4, 1961 |
| 2 | Picnic |
May 4-6, 1961 |
| 2 | She Stoops to Conquer |
May 25-27, 1961 |
| 2 | Nude with Violin |
July 27-29, 1961 |
| 2 | Three Men on a Horse |
November 2-4, 1961 |
| 2 | The Knight of the Burning Pestle |
November 30, December 1-2, 1961 |
| 2 | Inherit the Wind |
February 8-10, 1962 |
| 2 | The Great Sebastians |
March 1-3, 1962 |
| 2 | The Diary of Anne Frank |
May 3-5, 1962 |
| 2 | Arms and the Man |
May 24-26, 1962 |
| 2 | Pool's Paradise |
August 2-3, 1962 |
| 2 | Speaking of Murder |
November 1-3, 1962 |
| 2 | R.U.R. |
November 29-30, December 1, 1962 |
| 2 | Jacques Cartier |
December 7, 1962 |
| 2 | A Streetcar Named Desire |
February 7-9, 1963 |
| 2 | Critic's Choice |
February 28, March 1-2, 1963 |
| 2 | The Great White Swan |
March 6, 1963 |
| 2 | The Silver Whistle |
May 2-4, 1963 |
| 2 | Shadow and Substance |
May 23-25, 1963 |
| 2 | An Evening of Albee |
August 1-2, 1963 |
| 2 | Happiest Millinaire |
November 7-9, 1963 |
| 2 | The Aspern Papers |
December 5-7, 1963 |
| 2 | Six Characters in Search of an Author |
February 6-8, 1964 |
| 2 | Private Lives |
March 5-7, 1964 |
| 2 | Little Mary Sunshine |
April 30, Map 1-2, 1964 |
| 2 | Come Back, Little Sheba |
May 21-23, 1964 |
| 2 | Kind Sir |
August 5-6, 1964 |
| 2 | Hamlet |
December 1-5, 1964 |
| 3 | Papa is All |
February 11-13, 1965 |
| 3 | A Man for All Seasons |
March 4-6, 1965 |
| 3 | Mary, Mary |
May 13-15, 1965 |
| 3 | The Seven Year Itch |
November 4-6, 1965 |
| 3 | Seasons of 1964-1965 |
1964-1965 |
| 3 | One Acts |
1964-1965 |
Series II: Play Lists, 1929-1988Return to Top
Container(s): Box 3
Series II consists of lists of plays performed by the the University Theatre.
Series III: Scripts of Plays, 1931-2009Return to Top
Series III includes scripts of several plays performed at Oregon State in the 1930s and in 2009 with annotations and performance notes.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 3 | The Two Vagabonds |
1931 |
| 3 | Without First Aid |
1934 |
| 3 | School for Scandal |
1938 |
| 3 | The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later |
2009 |
| 3 | Shakespeare's Journey |
2009 |
Series IV: Summer Theater, 1972-1973Return to Top
Container(s): Box 3
Series IV documents the Summer Theater Program in 1972 and 1973 and includes budgets and funding requests, brochures, newspaper clippings, reports, correspondence, and records of funding provided by the Oregon Arts Commission.
Series V: Programs, circa 1925-2009Return to Top
Series V includes programs of theater performances at Oregon State, primarily during the 1920s-1930s and 1990s-2000s.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 4 | 1926-1943 | |
| 4 | Undated |
circa 1920s-1930s |
| 4 | The Mikado |
2008 |
| 4 | The Laramie Project and My Name is Rachel Corrie |
2009 |
| 4 | 3 folders |
1994-2007 |
| 4 | One Act Festivals |
1995-2004 |
| 5 | Playbill for Streets of New
York
|
1935 |
Series VI: National Collegiate Players Fraternity (Drama Honorary), circa 1925Return to Top
Container(s): Box 5
Series VI consists of the charter certificate for the Oregon State College chapter of the National Collegiate Players drama honorary society.
Series VII: Posters, 1935-2009Return to Top
Series VII consists of more than 200 posters promoting individual University Theatre productions as well as theater seasons. Most of the posters are printed items smaller than 20x24 inches. The series also includes about 40 original painted posters (about 30 inches by 45 inches) for productions in the 1950s and 1960s. Several of these posters include 8x10 b/w portrait photographs of lead cast members. A list of posters included in the collection is available online.
Series VIII: Plans for Stage Switchboard, 1949Return to Top
Container(s): *
Designed by Northern School Supply of Portland, Oregon; 1 sheet.
Series IX: Publications, 1999-2009Return to Top
The Publications include the annual newsletter for theater arts at Oregon State and several issues of the Northwest Theater Review, a regional journal of works by or about Northwest theater scholars and practitioners, published by the Northwest Drama Conference.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 4 |
Northwest Theater
Review
Edited by George Caldwell, OSU Speech Communications professor. An
article in the 2005 issue by Marion O. Rossi, Jr., and Charlotte J.
Headrick examines Shakespeare plays staged at Oregon State University.
|
2004-2007 |
| 4 |
Entra'acte
Newsletter of the theater arts at Oregon State University, published
annually in the fall.
|
1999-2009 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- College and school drama, American--Oregon--Corvallis.
- Drama--Study and teaching--Oregon--Corvallis.
Corporate Names
Form or Genre Terms
Other Creators
Finding aid prepared by Lawrence A.
Landis; updated by Elizabeth Nielsen.
2010
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
