View XML QR Code

University of Utah Department of Theatre records University of Utah Department of Theatre records, 1965-2008

Overview of the Collection

Creator
University of Utah. Department of Theatre
Title
University of Utah Department of Theatre recordsUniversity of Utah Department of Theatre records
Dates
1965-2008 (inclusive)
1985-2008 (bulk)
Quantity
15.00 linear feet
Collection Number
Acc0555
Summary
The Department of Theatre provides academic training for students who wish to pursue careers in theatre, related fields, or advanced graduate education. This collection consists of both administrative office files and show files from department sponsored performances.
Repository
University of Utah Libraries, University Archives and Records Management
University Archives and Records Management, J. Willard Marriott Library
University of Utah
666 Guardsman Way
Salt Lake City, UT
84112
Telephone: 8015818242
david.buhler@utah.edu
Access Restrictions

Materials must be used on-site; advance notice suggested. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Languages
English
Return to Top

Historical Note

The study of dramatics was first introduced at the University of Utah by Maude May Babcock in 1895 when she presented the Greek drama Eleusthenia as a part of elocution and physical education. In the early 1900's, the theatre curriculum became a part of the Speech Department. In 1930, theatre got its first official home on the University of Utah campus when Kingsbury Hall was opened. Theatre was seperated from the Speech Department in 1962 when the Department of Theatre and Ballet was created. This department was later divided into the Department of Theatre and the Department of Ballet in 1966. Film studies and video production were later added to the department's curriculum in the 1970s. As part of its mission to train students for careers in acting and stage production, the Theatre Department has operated the 125 seat Babcock Theatre in the basement of the Pioneer Memorial Theatre as its main stage and the Lab Theatre/Studio 115 in the Performing Arts Building as a venue for more independent and experimental student productions. The annual Classical Greek Theatre Festival was began in 1971 and has performed throughout Utah and in other western states.

One of the most significant issues that the Department of Theatre has had to deal with in recent times was the case of Christina Axson-Flynn who was accepted into the Actors Training Program in 1998, but allegedly was later forced out of the program because she was unwilling to use profanity or blasphemy, which was a regular part of the program's course work, because it was contrary to her strongly-held LDS beliefs. She initially filed a civil action against the University of Utah in district court in 2001 alleging religious discrimination. This lawsuit was dismissed in 2002 and an appeal was filed in the Tenth District Court in Denver, Colorado. In 2004, the University settled with Axson-Flynn outside of court. As part of the settlement, the University agreed to create a policy that provided guidelines for when and how accomodations could be made for students' " sincerely held beliefs" in course work or other school activities. This policy, passed by the Academic Senate in March of 2005, was the first such student accomodation policy adopted by a university in the nation.

Return to Top

Content Description

The bulk of this collection covers the administrations of Chairpersons Marilyn Holt (1981-1988), Tom Markus (1988-1991), William Siska (1991-1997), Xan Johnson (July-December 1998), David Dynak (1999-2005), and Bob Nelson (2006-2009). The first five linear feet of the collection are general administration files which consist of correspondence, memoranda, minutes, reports and syllabi. The remaining ten linear feet of the collection consist of show files from performances given by the Theatre Department at the Babcock Theatre, The Lab Theatre/Studio 115, the Classical Greek Theatre Festival, and the Student Directors Series. These show files generally contain playbills, contracts, correspondence, advertising, and published reviews of the performances. This collection also includes a few performance files that do not fit in any of the other four show file series, therefore they have been placed in the general administration records.

Return to Top

Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

Initial Citation: University of Utah Department of Theatre records, Acc. 555, Box [ ]. University Archives and Records Management. University of Utah, J. Willard Marriott. Salt Lake City, Utah.

Following Citations:Acc. 555

Return to Top

Administrative Information

Arrangement

This collection is divided into the following five series: Administrative Office Files, Babcock Theatre Performance Files, Classical Greek Theatre Festival Files, Lab Theatre/Studio 115 Files, and Student Director Series Files. The Administrative Office Files are arranged alphabetically by subject while the performance files in the other four series are arranged chronologically.

Acquisition Information

This collection came from 34 cubic feet of material that was picked up from Theatre Department on August 16, 2013.

Processing Note

Processed by David Buhler in 2017.

Separated Materials

4 cubic feet of photographs were taken to Photo Archives.

Return to Top

Detailed Description of the Collection