- unitid
-
{"value"=>"*T-Mss 2015-002", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"23358", "type"=>"local_mss"}
{"value"=>"b20945697", "type"=>"local_b"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1946-2013", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1946/2013"}
{"value"=>"1976-2003", "type"=>"bulk", "normal"=>"1976/2003"}
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"William Luce papers"}
- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"13.9 linear feet", "unit"=>"linear feet"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"34 boxes", "unit"=>"containers"}], "supress_display"=>true}
- repository
-
{"id"=>"THE", "value"=>"Billy Rose Theatre Division"}
- abstract
-
{"value"=>"William Luce is an American playwright and television writer best known for his theatrical studies of historical figures. His papers, dating from 1946 to 2013, primarily document his career as a writer from 1976 to the early 2000s. The collection contains scripts, notes, correspondence, clippings, photographs, programs, contracts, and other papers."}
- prefercite
-
{"value"=>"<p>William Luce papers, *T-Mss 2015-002. Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library.</p>"}
- origination
-
{"value"=>"Luce, William", "type"=>"persname", "role"=>"creator"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>William Luce (born 1931) is an American playwright and television writer. He studied piano and composition at university and worked as a songwriter and singer before he began to write for theater and television.</p> <p>As a writer, Luce specializes in character studies of historical figures. His first stage work was a one-woman show about Emily Dickinson, <span class=\"title\">The Belle of Amherst</span>, written for Julie Harris. It was produced in 1976, and Harris received a Tony Award for her performance. A televised version was also produced by PBS. The same year, Luce wrote a radio drama for Harris about Charlotte Brontë, titled <span class=\"title\">Currer Bell, Esquire</span>, which won a Peabody Award. It was later adapted into a television film and a one-woman play, <span class=\"title\">Brontë</span>.</p> <p>Luce wrote the solo shows <span class=\"title\">Zelda: The Last Flapper</span> about Zelda Fitzgerald (1984), <span class=\"title\">Lillian</span> about Lillian Hellman (1986), and <span class=\"title\">Lucifer's Child</span> about Isak Dinesen (1991). He wrote the book for a musical adaptation of James A. Michener's novel, <span class=\"title\">Sayonara</span>, first produced at the Paper Mill Playhouse in 1987.<span class=\"title\">Barrymore</span> was produced on Broadway in 1997, and its star Christopher Plummer received a Tony for his role as John Barrymore. <span class=\"title\">Baptiste</span>, about the life of Molière, was produced at Hartford Stage in 2001.</p> <p>Two of Luce's plays, <span class=\"title\">Chanel</span> and <span class=\"title\">Nijinsky</span>, premiered in Toyko in 1996 and 2000, respectively. Many of his other works, including <span class=\"title\">Barrymore</span> and <span class=\"title\">The Belle of Amherst</span>, also received Japanese productions.</p> <p>Luce wrote the libretto for an opera, <span class=\"title\">Gabriel's Daughter</span>, with music by Henry Mollicone. The opera was produced by the Central City Opera in 2003.</p> <p>In addition to adapting some of his plays for television, Luce wrote several original television films: <span class=\"title\">The Last Days of Patton</span> (1986), <span class=\"title\">The Woman He Loved</span> (about Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, 1988), and <span class=\"title\">Lucy and Desi Before the Laughter</span> (1991). He lives in Depoe Bay, Oregon.</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>The William Luce papers date from 1946 to 2013 and document his career as a writer, primarily for theater and television, from 1976 to the 2000s. The collection contains scripts, notes, correspondence, clippings, photographs, programs, contracts, sheet music, and a small amount of personal papers.</p> <p>Luce's produced works are traced from their commission to production to public reception. Production files include background research (sometimes including correspondence with subject experts); copies of the script (usually including multiple drafts); correspondence regarding script changes, contracts, and casting; and programs and clippings for Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regional productions, as well as productions in countries such as Japan, Denmark, Russia, and Finland.</p> <p>Unproduced theater and television projects are represented by scripts and outlines. There is also a file for an unpublished children's book, written by Luce with illustrations by the actor Christian LeBlanc.</p> <p>Luce's work as a lyricist in the 1950s and 1960s is represented by published sheet music for Christian hymns. There is also a score for <span class=\"title\">Beatitude Mass: For the Homeless</span>, with music by Henry Mollicone and words by Luce.</p> <p>Personal papers include correspondence (some related to Luce's career), photographs of Luce, items inscribed to Luce by actors, awards and certificates, and clippings, among other papers.</p>"}
- arrangement
-
{"value"=>"<p>Production files are listed alphabetically by title. Other papers are arranged in four categories: Programs, Unproduced Projects, Songs, and Personal Papers.</p>"}
- acqinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Donated by William Luce, 2014 and 2016.</p>"}
- processinfo
-
{"type"=>"processing", "value"=>"<p>Compiled by <span class=\"name\">Kit Fluker</span>, <span class=\"date\">2016</span>.</p>"}
- userestrict
-
{"value"=>"<p>The author/creator retains copyright of materials. For information on obtaining permission to publish, contact the Theatre Division at theatre@nypl.org.</p>"}
- dsc_type
-
combined
- date_start
-
1946
- keydate
-
1946
- date_end
-
2013
- date_inclusive_start
-
1946
- date_inclusive_end
-
2013
- date_bulk_start
-
1976
- date_bulk_end
-
2003
- extent_statement
-
13.9 linear feet (34 boxes)