Sub-series 2 - Productions and Professional Projects

Description data TOP

unitdate

{"type"=>"inclusive", "value"=>"1952 - 1985"}

{"value"=>"undated"}

{"value"=>"1969"}

{"value"=>"1968"}

{"value"=>"1966"}

{"value"=>"1969"}

{"value"=>"1959"}

{"value"=>"1952 – 1957"}

{"value"=>"1959"}

{"value"=>"1955"}

{"value"=>"1957"}

{"value"=>"1959"}

{"value"=>"1957"}

{"value"=>"1970"}

{"value"=>"1977"}

{"value"=>"1978"}

{"value"=>"1980"}

{"value"=>"1982"}

{"value"=>"1976"}

{"value"=>"1983 -1985"}

{"value"=>"1972"}

{"value"=>"1973"}

{"value"=>"1973"}

{"value"=>"1973"}

{"value"=>"1975"}

{"value"=>"1971"}

{"value"=>"1973"}

{"value"=>"1974"}

{"value"=>"1977"}

{"value"=>"1975"}

{"value"=>"ca. 1979"}

{"value"=>"1983"}

{"value"=>"1981"}

{"value"=>"1975"}

{"value"=>"1981"}

{"value"=>"1972"}

date_inclusive_start

1952

date_inclusive_end

1985

unittitle

{"value"=>"Sub-series 2 - Productions and Professional Projects"}

physdesc

{"value"=>"10 boxes", "format"=>"simple"}

scopecontent

{"value"=>"<p>This series contains correspondence, scripts, programs, production materials, clippings, notes, and other ephemera, documenting many of the productions Rabb worked on, either as actor or director, that were not connected to APA.</p> <p>Most of the productions were for the theater, but there are also materials for several opera, dance, and television productions. Among these productions directed by Rabb are the Dallas Civic Opera productions of <span class=\"title\">Aida</span>(with Elena Souliotis, Shirley Verrett, and Cynthia Gregory, 1969), and <span class=\"title\">Orpheus in the Underworld</span>(1968); for the Performing Arts Foundation of Kansas City, <span class=\"title\">Dido and Aeneas</span> (1966), and <span class=\"title\">Long Hair? A Tribal Dance</span>(1969); papers for these productions are filed under the company names. Materials documenting Rabb’s acting work for television include a script for <span class=\"title\">Bartleby the Scrivener</span>with Clarence Derwent for <span class=\"title\">Camera Three</span>(1959).</p> <p>Rabb’s earliest productions are often represented by programs and correspondence, including those for the Antioch Shakespeare Festival (1952 – 1957) and the Group 20 Players (Wellesley, Mass., 1959); Group 20 casts included George Grizzard, Rosemary Harris, Barry Morse, Diana Muldaur, Gus Solomons, Jr., and Sam Waterston. There are also materials for such early New York appearances by Rabb as <span class=\"title\">The Thesmophoriazusae</span> (Rooftop Theatre, 1955), <span class=\"title\">Mary Stuart</span>(Phoenix Theatre, 1957), and <span class=\"title\">Look after Lulu!</span> with Jack Gilford, Tammy Grimes, and Roddy McDowall (Henry Miller’s Theatre, 1959).</p> <p>Additionally, Rabb’s own acting work is documented with materials for a number of productions in which he appeared, including <span class=\"title\">Mary Stuart</span>(Phoenix Theatre, 1957), <span class=\"title\">The Breath of Kings: A Program of the Chronicle Plays of William Shakespeare</span>, a one-man show adapted and performed for the Antioch Summer Festival of the Performing Arts, ca. 1959, <span class=\"title\">Oedipus Rex</span> for American Conservatory Theatre (San Francisco,1970), <span class=\"title\">A Life in the Theatre</span> (Theatre de Lys, 1977), <span class=\"title\">A Month in the Country</span>with Rosemary Harris (Williamstown Theatre Festival, 1978), <span class=\"title\">The Man Who Came to Dinner</span> (Circle in the Square, 1980), and <span class=\"title\">The Importance of Being Earnest</span>at both San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre (1982) and East Hampton’s John Drew Theater (l983).</p> <p>Several of Rabb’s best-known productions (directed by him) are well-documented, such as <span class=\"title\">The Royal Family</span> (which Rabb directed and in which he later performed), starring Rosemary Harris, Eva Le Gallienne, Sam Levene, and George Grizzard (pre-Broadway productions, Helen Hayes Theatre, and tour, 1976), and the revival of <span class=\"title\">You Can’t Take It with You</span>, starring Jason Robards and Colleen Dewhurst (Paper Mill Playhouse, Kennedy Center, Plymouth Theatre, and television, 1983 -1985). Of particular note are Rabb’s writings for <span class=\"title\">You Can’t Take It with You</span>, including a play for the company, <span class=\"title\">The Audition</span>.</p> <p>Correspondence, scripts, casting materials, programs, and notes document productions Rabb directed for the Repertory Theater of Lincoln Center at the Vivian Beaumont Theater, including <span class=\"title\">Enemies</span> directed by Rabb, with Philip Bosco, Barbara Cook, Nancy Marchand, Frances Sternhagen, and Christopher Walken (Vivian Beaumont Theater, 1972 and television, 1973), a modern-dress version of <span class=\"title\">The Merchant of Venice</span>, with Rosemary Harris, Philip Bosco, Sydney Walker, and Christopher Walken (1973), and <span class=\"title\">A Streetcar Named Desire</span>, starring Rosemary Harris and James Farentino (1973). There is also a script for Christopher Marlowe’s <span class=\"title\">Edward II</span>which Rabb directed for the Acting Company (Harkness Theatre, 1975).</p> <p>Other Broadway directing ventures represented in this series include <span class=\"title\">The Grass Harp</span>, with Barbara Cook (Martin Beck Theatre, 1971), <span class=\"title\">Veronica’s Room</span>, starring Eileen Heckart (Music Box Theatre, 1973), <span class=\"title\">Who’s Who in Hell</span>, with Peter Ustinov (the play’s author), Beau Bridges, Olympia Dukakis, and Christina Pickles (Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, 1974), and <span class=\"title\">Caesar and Cleopatra</span>, starring Elizabeth Ashley and Rex Harrison (Palace Theatre, 1977).</p> <p>There are also materials covering Rabb’s prolific directing work for regional theaters, such as American Conservatory Theatre (San Francisco), the Mark Taper Forum (Los Angeles), Missouri Repertory Theatre (Kansas City), and the Old Globe Theatre (San Diego). <span class=\"title\">The Selling of the President</span>, a musical by Bob James and Jack O’Brien, directed by Rabb for American Conservatory Theatre in 1971, starring Michael Learned, Peter Donat, and Josef Sommer, is well-documented. Two other well-documented regional productions include <span class=\"title\">The Tempest</span> at the Old Globe Theatre, with Marian Mercer and Patrick Duffy (1975), and a proposed production at the Missouri Repertory Theatre (Kansas City, ca. 1979).</p> <p>Also in this series are a number of Rabb’s own works, that had (or appear to have had) productions or readings. Among these are <span class=\"title\">Clap Your Hands</span> by Rabb with Nicholas Martin (Old Globe Theatre, 1983), and <span class=\"title\">So Many Women</span> (also titled <span class=\"title\">A Life Without Illusion</span>), a proposed musical by Rabb and Claibe Richardson, that appears to have had a reading in 1981, with Patti LuPone, Robert LuPone, Allegra Kent, Christopher Walken, Douglass Watson, Mary Louise Wilson in the cast. <span class=\"title\">Mysteries and Transitions</span> (1981) and <span class=\"title\">Unlikely: But Not Impossible</span>(1975) also were presented (probably as readings) at Playwrights Horizons. Materials relating to Rabb’s tenure as a member of the Vivian Beaumont’s directorate are also included.</p> <p>Materials for projects Rabb was slated to work on but did not, such as <span class=\"title\">Come Back to the Five & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean</span> (1981), <span class=\"title\">The Women</span> (1972), and the 1979 television production of <span class=\"title\">You Can’t Take It with You</span>, are also included. Additional materials relating to Rabb’s productions (other than APA) can be found in the Scrapbooks and Oversized series.</p>"}

arrangement

{"value"=>"<p>Alphabetical</p>"}

unitid

{"type"=>"local_mss", "value"=>"787812"}

Child components TOP

1. Antioch Shakespeare Festival (a.k.a. Shakespeare under-the-Stars), Antioch Area Theatre, (Yellow Springs, Ohio) [6/2]
2. Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street Script (Television)
3. The Breath of Kings: A Program of the Chronicle Plays of William Shakespeare (One-man show),, [3/1]
4. Caesar and Cleopatra,, , and ca. [7/1]
5. Chekhov in Yalta Script, Mark Taper Forum (Los Angeles, Calif.)
6. Clap Your Hands by Ellis Rabb with Nicholas Martin - Old Globe Theatre (San Diego, Calif.)
7. Come Back to the Five & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean
8. Dallas Civic Opera [2/1]
9. Edward II, Acting Company, Harkness Theatre (N.Y., N.Y.)
10. Enemies [2/3]
11. Fontana de la Montana, Dec. 20
12. The Grass Harp (Earlier Title Yellow Drum) (Musical), Martin Beck Theatre [2/2]
13. Group 20 Players (Wellesley, Mass.) [3/1]
14. Hamlet, Missouri Repertory Theatre (Kansas City, Mo.)
15. The Heiress of Washington Square (Ballet and Opera)
16. Henry VIII
17. The Importance of Being Earnest [2/2]
18. A Life in the Theatre, Theatre de Lys
19. Look after Lulu!, Henry Miller's Theatre
20. Macbeth, Old Globe Theatre (San Diego, Calif.)
21. The Madwoman of New Orleans (The Madwoman) (Ballet)
22. Man and Superman (Motion picture) (Potential Project) [2/2]
23. The Man Who Came to Dinner, Circle in the Square
24. Mary Stuart, Phoenix Theatre
25. The Merchant of Venice [2/1]
26. A Midsummer Night's Dream, Theatre Memphis (Tenn.) [3/1]
27. A Month in the Country, Williamstown Theatre Festival (Williamstown, Mass.)
28. Mysteries and Transitions by Ellis Rabb and Christopher Foster [1/2]
29. Oedipus Rex, Geary Theatre (San Francisco, Calif.)
30. Performing Arts Foundation of Kansas City (Mo.) [3/3]
31. The Philadelphia Story, Vivian Beaumont Theater [2/2]
32. The Royal Family, and 1981 [5/2]
33. Saint Joan, Geary Theatre (San Francisco, Calif.)
34. The Selling of the President (Musical) Suggested by Joe McGinniss' book, music and lyrics by Bob James and Jack O'Brien, American Conservatory Theatre - Geary Theatre (San Francisco, Calif.) [10/2]
35. Sleuth,, [2/2]
36. So Many Women (Proposed Musical) (a.k.a.A Life Without Illusion) conceived and devised by Ellis Rabb, music by Claibe Richardson, lyrics by Claibe Richardson and Ellis Rabb, original book by Ellis Rabb with apologies to Coward, Chekov [sic], Shakespeare, [5/2]
37. A Streetcar Named Desire, Repertory Theater of Lincoln Center - Vivian Beaumont Theater
38. The Tempest [2/2]
39. The Thesmophoriazusae, Rooftop Theatre (N.Y., N.Y.)
40. TV Library (Television Program Proposal)
41. Twelfth Night, Vivian Beaumont Theater
42. Unlikely: But Not Impossible by Ellis Rabb [2/2]
43. Veronica's Room, Music Box Theatre [4/1]
44. Vivian Beaumont Theater, and ca. [4/2]
45. Who's Who in Hell, Lunt- Fontanne Theatre [6/1]
46. The Women
47. You Can't Take It with You [2/4]
48. Unidentified Production - Set Diagrams