- unitid
-
{"value"=>"29931", "type"=>"local_mss"}
{"value"=>"*T-Mss 2019-015", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"b22808224", "type"=>"local_b"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1984-2019", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1984/2019"}
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"Foundry Theatre records"}
- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"69 boxes, 2 tubes", "unit"=>"containers"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"29.29 linear feet", "unit"=>"linear_feet"}]}
- repository
-
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">Billy Rose Theatre Division</span>"}
- abstract
-
{"value"=>"The Foundry Theatre, an Off-off-Broadway theater, was established in 1994 by Melanie Joseph and ceased operation in 2019. The collection, dating from the years 1984 to 2019, documents all major Foundry productions and events and provides a comprehensive portrait of the creative, financial, and logistical history of an experimental theater company."}
- langmaterial
-
{"value"=>"English"}
- origination
-
{"value"=>"Joseph, Melanie", "type"=>"persname"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>Established in 1994 by Melanie Joseph, the Foundry Theatre's mission was to assemble a community of artists with revolutionary ideas for the theater and the world in which it was situated.The Foundry commissioned, developed, premiered, and toured theatrical works that explored the (im)possibilities of theater. The Foundry believed their body of work made a passionate argument for its limitless potential. In addition, The Foundry hosted ongoing dialogue series and community collaborations that brought artists together with stakeholders from other communities to unpack issues and ideas of contemporary social and political resonance.</p> <p>With some exceptions, Foundry productions were made from \"scratch,\" born of commissions made to generative artists (playwrights, poets, performance artists, composers, et al) and built within varying developmental processes and timelines. While many of their shows played in various theaters across New York City, they also premiered works in peoples' homes, in a flea market, a restaurant, in the Brooklyn Bridge Anchorage, and other such uncommon venues, that best suited a project's form and content. The company developed a strong reputation for the diversity of its theatrical works, from plays to bus tours, performance works to operas, which received overall 14 OBIE Awards and 7 Drama Desk nominations. Foundry productions toured to leading national and international venues including: The Abbey Theatre in Dublin, the Sydney Opera House, The Barbican Center in London, the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, and the Walker Arts Center in Minneapolis.</p> <p>Foundry Dialogues, panels, roundtables, town meetings, and other events brought artists together with people in other professions and communities to explore the matrix of ideas and practices that shape our everyday lives and the world in which we live. With forums like <span class=\"title\">A Conversation On Hope</span> (1998), <span class=\"title\">Patriot (f)ACT(s)</span> (2002), and <span class=\"title\">This is How We Do it</span> (2012), Foundry Dialogues unpacked complex contemporary social and political issues, and the philosophical frameworks that held them. While talkbacks or symposia were often held in tandem with a theater's productions, Foundry Dialogues were standalone public events which sometimes gave rise to new theater works or operated as research sites for those in progress.</p> <p>Over the years the Foundry sought manifold forms beyond their productions and dialogues through which to cultivate a space for artists to connect both with each other with and others who shared a longing to reinvent the world. Community programs spanned the history of the company, including conversations with theater elders in the \"Legacies Series\" (1995–2002), and their \"Free Range Thanksgivings\" (2006-2009) that gathered social and food justice organizers together with artists. They also sent artist delegations to World and US Social Forums and the ongoing Audience Ambassadors Program that brought members of New York City communities organizing for social change to works of theater and into conversation with generative artists.</p> <p>On November 4, 2019, with the launch of The Foundry's book, <span class=\"title\">A Moment on the Clock of the World</span>, the company ceased operating as a producing theater.</p> <p> (Adapted from official text at: http://thefoundrytheatre.org/, retrieved 12/2/20)</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>The Foundry Theatre records, dating from 1984 to 2019, provides a comprehensive portrait of the creative, financial, and logistical history of an experimental Off-Off-Broadway theatre company. The collection documents all major Foundry productions and events with scripts, correspondence, research materials, technical bibles, invitation mailings, marketing and press materials, photographs, notes, contracts and agreements, budgets, box office records, grant applications, and audio and video recordings.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The Foundry Theatre records are arranged in eight series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/29931#c1681555'>Series I: Production Materials</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1994-2017</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Production Files includes scripts, sketches of lighting plots, technical information, correspondence, budgets, contracts and agreements, Actors Equality documents, photographs, programs, and mailings related to the production named.</p> <p>Production Binders are often technical bibles, with scripts marked with technical cues. They also include other production materials. Binders have been disassembled and re-housed in folders.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/29931#c1681618'>Series II: Foundry Dialogues</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1996-2015</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series consists of opening remarks; correspondence with moderators, funders, hosts, and speakers; feedback questionnaires; research on the topics covered by the Dialogues; notes; proposals; and marketing and press materials.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/29931#c1681630'>Series III: Mailings, Programs, and Posters</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1994-2019</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Unique promotional mailings, customized for Foundry productions and events, consist of invitations and branded keepsakes. Files often contain programs related to the production being promoted.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/29931#c1681679'>Series IV: Subject Files</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1993-2017</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Series consists of meeting notes, Foundry newsletters, information about the website, files on the Foundry Ambassador's program, research and information on potential projects, resumes, background information on named individuals, and general materials related to the background and organization of the company.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/29931#c1681720'>Series V: Photographs</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1995-2019</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Photographs, negatives, contact sheets, and slides for Foundry productions and various events.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/29931#c1681736'>Series VI: Press Files</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1994-2017</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series consists of articles and reviews from mainstream, trade, and speciality publications, collected by production. Other publicity materials are in Production Materials and Mailings.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/29931#c1681779'>Series VII: Funding Files</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1993-2018</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>These files include materials related to funding for the Foundry as an organization as a whole and for select productions throughout. This includes correspondence between the theater and the funding organizations, invoices and receipts without personal information, proposed budgets, copies of grant applications where applicable, and notes.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/29931#c1681938'>Series VIII: Sound Recordings and Video</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1992-2011</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Audio and moving image materials related to and taken at various Foundry productions and events.</p></div></li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
- acqinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Gift of the Foundry Theatre, September 2019.</p>"}
- processinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Processed by <span class=\"name\">Diana Bertolini</span> and <span class=\"name\">Stacey Ference</span> in <span class=\"date\">2020</span>-<span class=\"date\">2022</span>.</p>"}
- accessrestrict
-
{"value"=>"<p>Inquiries regarding audio and moving image materials in the collection may be directed to the Billy Rose Theatre Division (theatre@nypl.org). Audio and moving image materials may be subject to preservation evaluation and migration prior to access. Electronic records are currently unavailable.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p>Electronic records are currently unavailable.</p>"}
- date_start
-
1984
- keydate
-
1984
- date_end
-
2019
- date_inclusive_start
-
1984
- date_inclusive_end
-
2019
- extent_statement
-
29.29 linear feet (69 boxes, 2 tubes)
- prefercite
-
{"value"=>"Foundry Theatre records, *T-Mss 2019-015. Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts"}