- unitid
-
{"value"=>"*T-Mss 2016-008", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"23781", "type"=>"local_mss"}
{"value"=>"b21094549", "type"=>"local_b"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1972-2011", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1972/2011"}
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"Music-Theatre Group records"}
- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"32.45 linear feet", "unit"=>"linear feet"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"74 boxes, 14 oversized folders, 3 tubes", "unit"=>"containers"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"22.53 mb (2597 computer files)"}], "supress_display"=>true}
- repository
-
{"id"=>"THE", "value"=>"Billy Rose Theatre Division"}
- abstract
-
{"value"=>"The Music-Theatre Group (MTG) is a New York City-based organization that produces experimental and interdisciplinary musical theater and opera. MTG's records date from 1972 to 2011 and document the development, staging, promotion, and reception of the group's productions. The collection also contains files concerning administration and fundraising for the organization as a whole."}
- prefercite
-
{"value"=>"<p>Music-Theatre Group records, *T-Mss 2016-008. Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library.</p>"}
- origination
-
{"value"=>"Music-Theatre Group", "type"=>"corpname", "role"=>"creator"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>The Music-Theatre Group (MTG) is a New York City-based organization that produces experimental musical theater and opera. The group grew out of the Lenox Arts Center in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, which was founded by Lyn Austin in 1971. Austin's goal in creating the Lenox Arts Center and MTG was to allow artists to develop original music theater works outside the time constraints of mainstream theater, in an environment that fostered interdisciplinary collaboration.</p> <p>In its first decade, MTG produced works conceived and directed by Stanley Silverman, Richard Foreman, and Elizabeth Swados, among others. Productions in the 1980s included Julie Taymor and Elliot Goldenthal's <span class=\"title\">Juan Darien</span> (1988) and Martha Clarke's dance-infused theatrical works, such as <span class=\"title\">The Garden of Earthly Delights</span> (1984) and <span class=\"title\">Vienna: Lusthaus</span> (1986). MTG has produced shows internationally: Tan Dun's <span class=\"title\">Marco Polo</span> debuted in Munich (1996) and was performed at the Hong Kong International Festival and the Holland Festival.</p> <p>Austin continued as the head of the Music-Theatre Group until her death in 2000. Subsequently, managing director Diane Wondisford became MTG's producing director. Under Wondisford's leadership, the group has developed productions such as the musical <span class=\"title\">The Best of Both Worlds</span> (2004) by Diedre Murray and Randy Weiner, directed by Diane Paulus, and the chamber opera <span class=\"title\">Arjuna's Dilemma</span> (2008), by Douglas J. Cuomo, directed by Robin Guarino.</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>The Music-Theatre Group (MTG) records date from 1972 to 2011. They document the development, staging, promotion, and reception of the group's productions, and, to a lesser extent, fundraising and administration for the organization as a whole. The collection contains administrative records, production files, photographs, press files, and audio and video recordings. Administrative records and production files include electronic records. Some of the electronic records are in unreadable file formats, especially those created before 1993; researchers will only be able to glean a small amount of information from these documents. Audio and video recordings are unavailable pending digitization.</p> <p>Administrative records are arranged by the staff member or department that created them, or by subject matter, and largely concern fundraising and project development. The files contain correspondence, contracts, grant applications, budgets and expenses, board meeting minutes, and reports on MTG's work. Files related to grants and fundraising may include overviews of the work being funded and reports on the work's progress. Administrative records also include staff and artist biographies, used for promotional purposes.</p> <p>The bulk of the collection consists of production files, documenting specific productions and creators. The best-represented works in the collection include <span class=\"title\">Africanis Instructus</span>, <span class=\"title\">The Best of Both Worlds</span>, <span class=\"title\">Endangered Species</span>, <span class=\"title\">The Garden of Earthly Delights</span>, <span class=\"title\">The Griffin and the Minor Canon</span>, <span class=\"title\">Juan Darien</span>, <span class=\"title\">The Making of Americans</span>, <span class=\"title\">Marco Polo</span>, <span class=\"title\">Poppie Nongena</span>, <span class=\"title\">Running Man</span>, <span class=\"title\">Vienna: Lusthaus</span>, and <span class=\"title\">You Don't Miss the Water</span>. Among MTG's repeat-collaborators, whose work appears multiple times in the production files, are Martha Clarke, Eve Ensler, Richard Foreman, Diedre Murray, and Stanley Silverman.</p> <p>The emphasis of the production files is on staging, finances, press and publicity, the hiring of cast and crew, and the logistics of touring. Production files may contain multiple drafts of scripts and scores; scripts and scores annotated with cues or blocking instructions; actor resumes and head shots; casting notes; contracts with authors, cast, crew, and venues; budgets; records of expenses and income; clippings; press releases; itineraries and other travel information; lighting documents; prop and costume inventories; stage plans; and stage manager's production books. Production books contain annotated scripts and scores, contact information, production agreements, performance logs, schedules, and similar documents. Internal MTG correspondence as well as correspondence with partners and collaborators can be found throughout the files.</p> <p>Production photographs are arranged separately from the other production materials. They consist of performance and promotional photographs, and include prints, slides, negatives, and contact sheets.</p> <p>Press consists mostly of clippings about specific MTG productions. The press files also contain clippings about MTG in general, MTG press releases, and posters. Clippings and press releases can also be found in the production files.</p> <p>Video and audio recordings are of performances and special events, mostly produced by MTG. There are also recordings which were used in MTG productions, such as sound effects.</p>"}
- arrangement
-
{"value"=>"<p>The collection is arranged in five categories: Administration, Productions, Production Photographs, Press, and Recordings.</p>"}
- acqinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Donated by Diane Wondisford, 2016.</p>"}
- processinfo
-
{"type"=>"processing", "value"=>"<p>Compiled by <span class=\"name\">Kit Fluker</span>, <span class=\"date\">2016</span>.</p>"}
- accessrestrict
-
{"value"=>"<p>Sound and video materials are unavailable pending digitization.</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>"}
- revisiondesc
-
{"value"=>"Finding aid was revised to include electronic records by Kit\n Fluker.", "date"=>"2018"}
- dsc_type
-
combined
- date_start
-
1972
- keydate
-
1972
- date_end
-
2011
- date_inclusive_start
-
1972
- date_inclusive_end
-
2011
- extent_statement
-
32.45 linear feet (74 boxes, 14 oversized folders, 3 tubes); 22.53 mb (2597 computer files)