- Call number
- *T-Vim 2010-051
- Physical description
- 5 boxes (ca. 200 drawings)
- Preferred Citation
- Eastman design collection, Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library
- Repository
- Billy Rose Theatre Division
- Access to materials
- Request an in-person research appointment.
Irving (Abrasha) and Nikki (Nathaniel) Eastman, twin brothers, were born in Odessa, Russia and came to the United States at the age of 17 in 1910. Having studied art in Russia and in America, they opened a workshop, Russian Arts and Crafts Studios (later called Eastman Studios) in 1920. They employed up to 200 artists designing and executing sets and costumes for numerous productions over several decades. Nikki Eastman also designed model homes. He died of cancer in New York City in 1953. Mostly original color set designs, but also costume and backdrop designs, blueprints, and technical drawings for theatre, film, television, vaudeville, and nightclub productions, designed and/or executed by Nikki (Nathaniel) Eastman, his twin, Irving (Abrasha), or their studio. There are ca. 51 set and costume designs for the musical, Take it easy (previously titled Off limits), book by Jean King; music by Phil Ellis; lyrics by Jane Mack, 1952-1953, and 4 set designs for the Ziegfeld follies, 1925 and undated. Several designs appear to be for residential projects.
Using the collection
Location
Billy Rose Theatre DivisionNew York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023-7498
Third Floor