%xmlchars; ]> MS2061 Guide to the Washington Theater Club records, 1952-1983 Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University Special Collections Research Center, The Gelman Library, The George Washington University 2007

2130 H. St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20052 Phone: 202-994-7549 Email: speccoll@gwu.edu

Machine-readable finding aid derived from Re:discovery database program and converted into xml; Code template by Archives and Information Associates (http://archivesandinformation.com), Alexandria, Virginia . 2007 Finding aid written in English Guide to the Washington Theater Club records, 1952-1983 MS2061 Special Collections Research Center, The Gelman Library, The George Washington University

Washington, D.C.

Processed by Special Collections Staff, 2006 Encoded by Jennifer King, 2007

Descriptive Summary Washington Theater Club records, 1952-1983 MS2061 116 Linear feet Collection contains correspondence, scripts, resumes, programs, administrative records, financial documents, photographs, art work, and audio cassettes from the Washington Theater Club, which was formed in 1957 to fill a perceived cultural void; to present good drama, away from Broadway; to speak out in plays of consequence; to present new ideas, new forms, and quality theater, which could be enjoyed and performed without racial barriers.. The materials date from 1952-83. The George Washington University, The Gelman Library, Special Collections Research Center

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English Information for Users Preferred citation

Washington Theater Club records, Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University.

Restrictions on Access

Some records may be restricted.

Acquisition Information

Hazel H. Wentworth, Executive Director and co-founder of the Washington Theater Club, donated these records in 1979.

Restrictions on Use

Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.

Historical or Biographical Note

The Washington Theater Club was formed in 1957 to fill a perceived cultural void; to present good drama, away from Broadway; to speak out in plays of consequence; to present new ideas, new forms, and quality theater, which could be enjoyed and performed without racial barriers. The initial days of the Washington Theater Club were financially complex. John Wentworth had acquired a carriage house at 1632 0 St. N.W. in Georgetown, which had the essential space for a small intimate theater, with possible expansion potential. Zoning required that any theater venture be designated a private club. Even with a heavy input of money, Wentworth could not finance a professional theater and the building. The Washington Drama Center was organized to rent the building and pay for alterations to convert the space to a theater; and thereafter to provide professional theater, a drama school, and other activities.

Theater Venture I and Theater Venture II were developed to solicit funding to finance productions in 1960 and 1961. The Dramatic Arts Society of the District of Columbia was created to conduct a school and to produce and sponsor theatrical productions as a non-profit corporation, eligible to receive foundation and community support. The Washington Theater Club functioned with these support groups from 1957 to 1963, when it was incorporated as a non-profit theater and could stand alone. The designation "club" was necessary because of zoning problems resulting from the Club's location in a residential neighborhood adjacent to a church. The theater was, in actual fact, open to all with payment of nominal dues of $1.00.

As evidence of its growing success, the Washington Theater Club acquired a second location at 23rd and L Streets, N.W., which opened in 1970. The records of the Washington Theater Club reflect the progress of a regional theater from a small intimate dramatic venture to a full-fledged, highly acclaimed professional dramatic force operating at two locations, capable of successfully launching plays which had failed on Broadway, and effective in introducing new productions, new playwrights, and new performers. So successful was the club under the direction of Davey Marlin-Jones, that on April 11, 1969, it became the first theater in Washington to win the coveted Margo Jones award for persistence in a continuing program of new play productions. Its accomplishments included the production of ten world premieres, four American premieres, thirty Washington premieres, and the introduction of sixty-four writers new to area audiences.

Programs developed for dark Monday nights included staged readings of new plays to test feasibility for full production. Other programs included concerts by the Theater Chamber Players, who later became resident at the Kennedy Center, separate series of jazz concerts, dance, mime, and international events, as well as a showcase gallery in the lobby. The existing drama school, begun under the direction of the Wentworths, continued as a club activity to provide training for all ages and interaction with professional performers and directors. Like the theater production staff, Hazel Wentworth was motivated to expand the influence of the school to the disadvantaged, with outreach to Anacostia, a joint grant with Bowie State College, in-service training for college students on the east coast, and touring theater in the public schools and parks.

Like other performing arts groups which flourished in the sixties but did not survive the seventies, the Theater Club came to an end in 1974. Despite cash flow difficulties and a reliance on modestly-paid and volunteer staff, the Washington Theater Club was noted for its expansion into new areas and dramatic excellence from its modest inception in a 142-seat theater space to its two-house status with more than 9,000 subscribers.

Collection Scope and Content

This collection contains correspondence, scripts, resumes, programs, administrative records, financial documents, photographs, art work, and audio cassettes. The materials date from 1952-83. These records provide insight into many facets of theater management. There are extensive files of resumes for acting and support staff, of constant communication with Actors' Equity, League of Resident Theaters, and similar groups, materials related to funding and grant support, royalty negotiations, audition records, screening in large cities, and subscription and box office records. The collection also contains records related to the Board of Trustees.

Please note: the folder numbering is a mixture of an original numbering scheme and those a newer scheme designed by Special Collection staff. For this reason there may be times when the folder numbers may appear run consecutively. These numbers are simply used as a location guide and no material is missing and the material is in the correct order.

Hazel H. Wentworth, Executive Director and co-founder of the Washington Theater Club, donated these records in 1979.

Collection Organization

Organized into four series: Production files, Administrative files, General accounting, and Miscellaneous.

Indexing Terms Individuals Wentworth, Hazel H. Wentworth, John Corporate Entities Washington Theater Club Topics Washington Theater Club Wentworth family Hupper family Ackerman family Theater Performing arts Theater management Geographic Locations Washington (D.C.) Detailed Description of the Records MS2061 Series 1 Production files, 1960-1979 35 Linear feet

This series contains correspondence, flyers, brochures, newspaper and magazine articles, news releases, advertisements, programs, opening night lists, production staff worksheets, scripts, applications, and resumes. The material dates from 1960-79 with the bulk of the material falling within 1960-74.

The first segment of the Production series contains Productions 1 to 90, arranged chronologically by numbered production. Within each file there are divisions with the following headings: programs, newspaper and magazines, advertisements, news releases, flyers and brochures, promotion- administrative, WTC extended (refers to productions whose runs were extended), production staff worksheets, opening night lists, art work, and cast background information.

Non-Equity Productions 1 to 10 are filed with the same order strategy as the other major productions. Thereafter, Scripts 1 to 183 are arranged alphabetically by author, or by title, if no author is available. The scripts are of various types: some represent major productions; some were offered as Monday night readings; and many were never produced. Production numbers are provided as a cross reference to production files whenever possible.

Correspondence and conclusions related to Script Reading for the years 1963-70 are filed after the Scripts section. Later script analysis was done by the Board of Trustees rather than the theater staff, and their efforts are filed with the Board materials under Playreading Committee. The next segment of the Production Series contains applications and resumes of actors, actresses, technical staff, managers, and directors. At the beginning of this segment are index files; one small collection on 3 x 5 cards with dates ranging from October 1972 to 1973, sorted by potential casting categories. Some similar cards of both types are scattered through the resume folders. In addition, ratings A - C, and/or numbers appear on some cards and resumes (presumably part of the organized audition process), as well as candid comments, negative and positive, to provide guidance in future casting.

Applications and resumes with supporting documentation have been placed in one comprehensive alphabetical order, with papers for each application in the following order: resume; photograph; material such as brochures, press releases, letters of recommendation, and educational credentials; and correspondence. Multiple resumes for the same individual are arranged chronologically, to the extent possible with existing evidence.

Within this series there were originally many folders grouped together and designated as "active", which, as directors changed, became "inactive." There were also resumes in mailing envelopes, never opened, as well as a few scripts, query letters, and personal correspondence, now relocated in appropriate series. Most files were not dated. For potential research value, original folders with significant headings have been retained, with a listing of prior contents on the folder or sheet of yellow paper which identified, them, and are arranged alphabetically at the end of the Resume file.

The segment of the collection designated Special Events includes improvisational evenings, play productions by and for the Theater Club, staged readings of new plays, concerts by special groups, five years of performances by the Theater Chamber Players (a group which later became the resident company at the Kennedy Center), jazz concerts, dance programs, mime, and other special events. Arrangement within each folder conforms to the pattern established in the initial production series. Most of these events were presented on dark Monday evenings when the theater was not otherwise in use. Additional special productions will be found under Children's Theater Productions. The Children's Theater Production section contains shows produced in the Washington Theater Club training programs for children and teenagers, professional performances for young and family audiences (sponsored by the Theater Club), community outreach programs, and administrative material.

1 1 Production 1, The Matchmaker, Thornton Wilder., 07/01/1960-07/17/1960 1 2 Production 2, A Hatful of Rain, Michael Gazzo., 07/09/1960-07/31/1960 1 3 Production 3, The Lesson & The Chairs, Eugene Ionesco., 08/02/1960-08/14/1960 1 4 Production 4, A Clearing in the Woods, Arthur Laurents., 08/16/1960-08/28/1960 1 5 Production 5, Cry of the Raindrop , Lonny Chapman --programs, 06/06/1961-06/18/1961 1 6 Production 5--newspaper and magazine, undated 1 7 Production 5--news releases, undated 1 8 Production 5--flyer and brochures, undated 1 9 Production 5--promotion - administrative, undated 1 10 Production 5--art work, undated 1 11 Production 5--cast background information, undated 1 12 Production 6, Tevya and his Daughters, Arnold Perl--programs, 06/22/1961-08/06/1961 1 13 Production 6--newspaper and magazine, undated 1 14 Production 6--advertisements, undated 1 15 Production 6--news releases, undated 1 16 Production 6--promotion - administrative, undated 1 17 Production 6--art work, undated 1 18 Production 7, Call Me By My Rightful Name, Michael Shurtleff. --programs, 07/11/1961-07/23/1961 1 19 Production 7--newspaper and magazine, undated 1 20 Production 7--advertisements, undated 1 21 Production 7--news releases, undated 1 22 Production 7--flyers and brochures, undated 1 23 Production 7--promotion - administrative, undated 1 24 Production 7--art work, undated 2 25 Production 8, A Country Scandal, Anton Chekhov --programs, 02/27/1962-03/19/1962 2 26 Production 8--newspaper and magazine, undated 2 27 Production 8--news releases, undated 2 28 Production 8--promotion - administrative, undated 2 29 Production 8--production staff worksheets, undated 2 30 Production 8--art work, undated 2 31 Production 9, Legend of Sarah, James Gow and Arnold Usseau.--programs, 04/23/1962-04/05/1962 2 32 Production 9--newspaper and magazine, undated 2 33 Production 9--news releases, undated 2 34 Production 9--flyers and brochures, undated 2 35 Production 9--promotion - administrative, undated 2 36 Production 9--art work, undated 2 37 Production 10, The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams. --programs, 04/10/1962-05/06/1962 2 38 Production 10--newspaper and magazine, undated 2 39 Production 10--news releases, undated 2 40 Production 10--flyers and brochures, undated 2 41 Production 10--promotion - administrative, undated 2 42 Production 10--opening night lists, undated 2 43 Production 10--art work, undated 2 44 Production 11, Three at 9:30: The Rising of the Moon, Lady Gregory; A True Story, Mark Twain; and The High School, Sholom Aleichem., 05/12/1962-05/27/1962 2 45 Production 11--programs, --newspaper and magazine, undated 2 46 Production 11--news releases, undated 2 47 Production 11--flyers and brochures, undated 2 48 Production 11--promotion - administrative, undated 2 49 Production 11--art work, undated 2 50 Production 11--cast background information, undated 2 51 Production 12, Period of Adjustment, Tennessee Williams., 06/05/1962-08/26/1962 2 52 Production 12--programs, --newspaper and magazine, undated 2 53 Production 12--advertisements, undated 2 54 Production 12--news releases, undated 2 55 Production 12--flyers and brochures, undated 2 56 Production 12--promotion - administrative, undated 2 57 Production 12--WTC extended, undated 2 58 Production 12--opening night lists, undated 2 59 Production 12--art work, undated 2 60 Production 12--cast background information, undated 2 61 Production 13, The Establishment, Peter Cook., 12/04/1962-01/13/1963 2 62 Production 13--programs, --newspaper and magazine, undated 2 63 Production 13--advertisements, undated 2 64 Production 13--news releases, undated 2 65 Production 13--flyers and brochures, undated 2 66 Production 13--promotion - administrative, undated 2 67 Production 13--WTC extended, undated 2 68 Production 13--art work, undated 3 69 Production 14, Brecht on Brecht, translated by George Tabort--programs, 02/27/1963-04/13/1963 3 70 Production 14--newspaper and magazine, undated 3 71 Production 14--advertisements, undated 3 72 Production 14--news releases, undated 3 73 Production 14--flyers and brochures, undated 3 74 Production 14--promotion - administrative, undated 3 75 Production 14--WTC extended, undated 3 76 Production 14--production staff worksheets, undated 3 77 Production 14--art work, undated 3 78 Production 15--The Blacks, Jean Genet. --programs., 09/29/1964-10/03/1964 3 79 Production 15--newspaper and magazine 80 --advertisements, undated 3 81 Production 15--news releases, undated 3 82 Production 15--flyers and brochures, undated 3 83 Production 15--promotion - administrative, undated 3 84 Production 15--art work, undated 3 85 Production 16--The Amorous Flea - Based on Molier's "School for Wives".--programs, 10/27/1964-11/15/1964 3 86 Production 16--newspaper and magazine, undated 3 87 Production 16--advertisements, undated 3 88 Production 16--news releases, undated 3 89 Production 16--flyer and brochures, undated 3 90 Production 16--promotion - administrative, undated 3 91 Production 16--art work, undated 3 92 Production 17--Return of the Runaway , Mary Leckie. --programs., 12/01/1964-12/13/1964 3 93 Production 17--newspaper and magazine, undated 3 94 Production 17--advertisements, undated 3 95 Production 17--news releases, undated 3 96 Production 17--flyer and brochures, undated 3 97 Production 17--promotion - administrative, undated 3 98 Production 17--art work, undated 3 99 Production 17--cast background information, undated 3 100 Production 18--The Blood Knot, Artholl Fugard. --programs., 01/05/1965-01/31/1965 3 101 Production 18--newspaper and magazine, undated 3 102 Production 18--advertisements, undated 3 103 Production 18--promotion - administrative, undated 3 104 Production 18--art work, undated 3 105 Production 19--The Bernard Shaw Story, Bramwell Fletcher. --programs., 02/16/1965-02/28/1965 3 106 Production 19--newspaper and magazine, undated 3 107 Production 19--advertisements, undated 3 108 Production 19--news releases, undated 3 109 Production 19--flyers and brochures, undated 3 110 Production 19--promotion - administrative, undated 3 111 Production 19--production staff worksheets, undated 3 112 Production 19--art work, undated 3 113 Production 20--The Deadly Game, James Yaffe. --programs., 04/02/1965-04/21/1965 3 114 Production 20--newspaper and magazine, undated 3 115 Production 20--advertisements, undated 3 116 Production 20--news releases, undated 3 117 Production 20--flyers and brochures, undated 3 118 Production 20--promotion - administrative, undated 3 119 Production 20--art work, undated 3 120 Production 21, A Touch of the Poet, Eugene O'Neill. --programs., 04/30/1965-04/17/1965 3 121 Production 21--newspaper and magazine, undated 3 122 Production 21--advertisements, undated 3 123 Production 21--news releases, undated 3 124 Production 21--promotion - administrative, undated 3 125 Production 21--art work, undated 3 126 Production 22, The Tempest, William Shakespeare. --programs., 04/21/1965-05/16/1965 3 127 Production 22--newspaper and magazine, undated 3 128 Production 22--advertisements, undated 3 129 Production 22--news releases, undated 3 130 Production 22--flyers and brochures, undated 3 131 Production 22--promotion - administrative, undated 3 132 Production 22--opening night lists, undated 3 133 Production 22--art work, undated 3 134 Production 22--cast background information, undated 4 135 Production 23, Slow Dance on the Killing Ground, William Hanley.--programs, 10/14/1965-11/07/1965 4 136 Production 23--newspaper and magazine, undated 4 137 Production 23--advertisements, undated 4 138 Production 23--news releases, undated 4 139 Production 23--flyers and brochures, undated 4 140 Production 23--promotion - administrative, undated 4 141 Production 23--art work, undated 4 142 Production 23--cast background information, undated 4 143 Production 24, U.S.A., Paul Shyre and John Dos Passos.--programs, 11/10/1965-12/05/1965 4 144 Production 24--newspaper and magazine, undated 4 145 Production 24--advertisements, undated 4 146 Production 24--news releases, undated 4 147 Production 24--flyers and brochures, undated 4 148 Production 24--promotion - administrative, undated 4 149 Production 24--WTC extended, undated 4 150 Production 24--art work, undated 4 151 Production 25, Ernest in Love, Lee Pockriss and Anne Croswell.--programs, 12/21/1965-01/23/1966 4 152 Production 25--newspaper and magazine, undated 4 153 Production 25--advertisements, undated 4 154 Production 25--news releases, undated 4 155 Production 25--flyers and borchures, undated 4 156 Production 25--promotion - administrative, undated 4 157 Production 25--art work, undated 4 158 Production 26, Romeo and Jeannete, Jean Anouilh --programs, 01/27/1966-02/20/1966 4 159 Production 26--newspaper and magazine, undated 4 160 Production 26--advertisements, undated 4 161 Production 26--flyers and brochures, undated 4 162 Production 26--promotion - administrative, undated 4 163 Production 26--production staff worksheets, undated 4 164 Production 26--art work, undated 4 165 Production 27, The Typists and The Tiger, Murray Schisgal. --programs, 02/24/1966-04/20/1966 4 166 Production 27--newspaper and magazine, undated 4 167 Production 27--advertisements, undated 4 168 Production 27--news releases, undated 4 169 Production 27--flyers and brochures, undated 4 170 Production 27--promotion - administrative, undated 4 171 Production 27--art work, undated 4 172 Production 28, The Birthday Party , Harold Pinter.--programs, 03/24/1966-04/16/1966 4 173 Production 28--newspaper and magazine, undated 4 174 Production 28--advertisements, undated 4 175 Production 28--news releases, undated 4 176 Production 28--flyers and brochures, undated 4 177 Production 28--promotion - administrative, undated 4 178 Production 28--art work, undated 4 179 Production 29, The Eccentricities of a Nightingale, Tennessee Williams. --programs, 04/20/1966-05/15/1966 4 180 Production 29--newspaper and magazine, undated 4 181 Production 29--advertisements, undated 4 182 Production 29--news releases, undated 4 183 Production 29--flyers and brochures, undated 4 184 Production 29--promotion - administrative, undated 4 185 Production 29--art work, undated 5 186 Production 30, Spread Eagle, Russel Baker and others. --programs., 05/19/1966-06/26/1966 5 187 Production 30--newspaper and magazine, undated 5 188 Production 30--advertisements, undated 5 189 Production 30--news releases, undated 5 190 Production 30--flyers and brochures, undated 5 191 Production 30--promotion - administrative, undated 5 192 Production 30--production staff worksheets, undated 5 193 Production 30--opening night lists, undated 5 194 Production 30--art work, undated 5 195 Production 31, The Knack, Ann Jellicoe. --programs., 10/13/1966-11/06/1966 5 196 Production 31--newspaper and magazine, undated 5 197 Production 31--advertisements, undated 5 198 Production 31--news releases, undated 5 199 Production 31--flyers and brochures, undated 5 200 Production 31--promotion - administrative, undated 5 201 Production 31--art work, undated 5 202 Production 32, The Lover, Harold Pinter, and Hughie, Eugene O'Neill. --programs, 11/10/1966-12/04/1966 5 203 Production 32--newspaper and magazine, undated 5 204 Production 32--advertisement, undated 5 205 Production 32--news releases, undated 5 206 Production 32--promotion - administrative, undated 5 207 Production 32--production staff worksheets, undated 5 208 Production 32--art work, undated 5 209 Production 33, The Fantasticks, Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt. --programs, 12/08/1966-01/15/1967 5 210 Production 33--newspaper and magazine, undated 5 211 Production 33--advertisements, undated 5 212 Production 33--news releases, undated 5 213 Production 33--flyers and brochures, undated 5 214 Production 33--promotion - administrative, undated 5 215 Production 33--production staff worksheets, undated 5 216 Production 33--art work, undated 6 217 Production 34, Tiny Alice, Edward Albee. --programs., 01/19/1967-02/12/1967 6 218 Production 34--newspaper and magazine, undated 6 219 Production 34--advertisements, undated 6 220 Production 34--news releases, undated 6 221 Production 34--flyers and borchures, undated 6 222 Production 34--promotion - administrative, undated 6 223 Production 34--art work, undated 6 224 Production 35, The Marriage of Mr. Mississippi, Friedrich Duerrenmatt.--programs, 02/16/1967-03/12/1967 6 225 Production 35--newspaper and magazine, undated 6 226 Production 35--advertisements, undated 6 227 Production 35--news releases, undated 6 228 Production 35--flyers and brochures, undated 6 229 Production 35--promotion - administrative, undated 6 230 Production 35--art work, undated 6 231 Production 36, The Killer, Eugene lonesco. --programs., 03/16/1967-04/09/1967 6 232 Production 36--newspaper and magazines, undated 6 233 Production 36--advertisements, undated 6 234 Production 36--news releases, undated 6 235 Production 36--flyers and brochures, undated 6 236 Production 36--promotion - administrative, undated 6 237 Production 36--art work, undated 6 238 Production 37, The Waters of Babylon, John Arden. --programs, 04/13/1967-05/07/1967 6 239 Production 37--newspaper and magazine, undated 6 240 Production 37--advertisements, undated 6 241 Production 37--news releases, undated 6 242 Production 37--promotion - administrative, undated 6 243 Production 37--production staff worksheets, undated 6 244 Production 37--art work, undated 7 245 Production 38, Son of Spread Eagle, a topical revue. --programs, 05/11/1967-06/04/1967 7 246 Production 38--newspaper and magazine, undated 7 247 Production 38--advertisements, undated 7 248 Production 38--news releases, undated 7 249 Production 38--flyers and brochures, undated 7 250 Production 38--promotion - administrative, undated 7 251 Production 38--WTC extended, undated 7 252 Production 38--production staff worksheets, undated 7 253 Production 38--opening night lists, undated 7 254 Production 38--art work, undated 7 255 Production 39, Luv, Murray Schisgal.--programs, 07/28/1967-08/28/1967 7 256 Production 39--newspaper and magazines, undated 7 257 Production 39--advertisements, undated 7 258 Production 39--news releases, undated 7 259 Production 39--art work, undated 7 260 Production 40, My Sweet Charlie, David Westheimer --programs, 10/12/1967-11/19/1967 7 261 Production 40--newspaper and magazine, undated 7 262 Production 40--advertisements, undated 7 263 Production 40--news releases, undated 7 264 Production 40--flyers and brochures, undated 7 265 Production 40--promotion - administrative, undated 7 266 Production 40--opening night lists, undated 7 267 Production 40--art work, undated 7 268 Production 40--cast background information, undated 8 269 Production 41, Eh?, Henry Livings. --program