Found 3 collections related to Gassner, John, 1903-1967

Clifford Odets, a leading playwright of the 1930s, was born in Philadelphia on July 18, 1906. He began his performing career as "The Rover Reciter" in local talent shows, on radio, and in local stock theatre companies. In 1929, he acted in small roles with the Theatre Guild, from whose auspices emerged the Group Theatre in 1931. Odets' first successful play was the one-act play Waiting for Lefty, which received its first theatrical production by the Group Theatre in March 1935. In 1936, Odets began working in Hollywood as a screenwriter on The Silent Partnerfor the Group. His 1937 play Golden Boy, also written for the Group, became his biggest commercial success. His last Broadway hit was The Country Girl in 1950. His last finished play, The Flowering Peach, was a finalist for the 1954 Pulitzer Prize. Odets died in Los Angeles on August 14, 1963. The Clifford Odets papers contain diaries, scripts, screenplays, personal and professional notes, research materials, clippings, photographs, and scrapbooks. In addition, the collection contains other writings by Odets such as poetry, short stories, articles, and paintings. Lastly, the collection holds Margaret Brenman-Gibson's biographical notes on Clifford Odets and his father, Louis J. Odets, for her book Clifford Odets - American Playwright: The Years from 1906-1940. less

The papers of Lucille Lortel relate the details of her life and career from teen years to her death in 1999, and include correspondence, production files, scripts, programs, production photographs, personal and family photographs, organization files, clippings, memorabilia, and scrapbooks. Lucille Lortel's life spanned the twentieth century, so in addition to providing details of her family and personal life her papers encompass many aspects of the theatrical history of her era. Lortel is credited with fostering the Off-Broadway movement and providing a forum for avant-garde and experimental work at her Theatre de Lys. Lortel's productions at the White Barn and the ANTA Matinee Series at the Theatre de Lys brought works by Jean Genet, Sean O'Casey, Athol Fugard, and others to a wider audience. Many of these productions are represented in the collection by correspondence, programs, photographs and clippings. Over the years Lortel also worked closely with several non-profit theaters as a donor and mentor. Her affiliations with Circle in the Square, Circle Repertory Company, Goodspeed Opera House, Yale Repertory Theatre, and other companies are documented in the organization files. less

The Lawrence Langner Papers include scripts by Langner and others, and speeches, articles and miscellaneous writings by Langner. The collection contains over 30 scripts by Langner, and several adaptations by him. Many of the scripts are annotated, and a few include related material including programs, light plots, and prompt books. Langner's writings and speeches include memorial addresses for Ferenc Molnar and Joan McCracken, seminars on playwriting, and works on the future of the theater, morals in mass media, and some material relating to his interest in inventions and patent law. less