Rabb, Ellis, 1930-1998
Billy Rose Theatre Division | *T-Mss 1998-020
32 linear feet (65 boxes)
The Ellis Rabb Papers document the life and career of actor, director, producer, and author Ellis Rabb and the repertory company he founded in 1960, the Association of Producing Artists (APA).
Oenslager, Donald, 1902-1975
Billy Rose Theatre Division | *T-Mss 1996-015
71 linear feet (103 boxes)
Donald Oenslager was a set and lighting designer, teacher, lecturer, writer and collector. The collection consists of set and costume designs, technical drawings, elevations, manuscripts and correspondence with other prominent theater designers.
Fisher, Jules
Billy Rose Theatre Division | *T-Vim 2013-307
3.6 linear feet (5 boxes, 36 oversized folders)
The Jules Fisher collection of Jo Mielziner designs includes original drawings and renderings for theater, opera, and ballet productions from the 1920s through the 1960s, primarily in New York City.
Burnside, R. H. (Robert Hubberthorne), 1873-1952
Billy Rose Theatre Division | *T-Mss 1952-002
34.4 linear feet (76 boxes)
Showman R.H. Burnside (1870-1952) was born in Glasgow to a theatrical family. His career began at London's Savoy Theatre in the 1880's where he worked backstage for the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company on its original productions of Gilbert and Sullivan...
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Showman R.H. Burnside (1870-1952) was born in Glasgow to a theatrical family. His career began at London's Savoy Theatre in the 1880's where he worked backstage for the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company on its original productions of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. After moving to America, Burnside staged over 200 shows during his career, including many musicals for which he wrote music, libretti and lyrics. He was most closely identified with his direction of the popular musical extravaganzas at N.Y.'s Hippodrome Theatre between 1908-1923.
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Hayes, Helen, 1900-1993
Billy Rose Theatre Division | *T-Mss 1990-026
29 linear feet (42 boxes)
The Helen Hayes papers span the years 1817–1963 and consist of correspondence, the majority from friends and colleagues; speeches and writings, including drafts and handwritten index cards of speeches; clippings from her earliest days in theater...
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The Helen Hayes papers span the years 1817–1963 and consist of correspondence, the majority from friends and colleagues; speeches and writings, including drafts and handwritten index cards of speeches; clippings from her earliest days in theater and covering her work in film, television, and radio; programs for theatrical productions and awards ceremonies; awards and ephemera including her honorary degrees, appointments to committees, and citations for her charitable work; designs including costume designs for theatrical productions and artwork created by friends and colleagues; photographs, including family photographs, candid shots and professional portraits from childhood, production stills and publicity from theater, film, and radio, and portraits by famous photographers; and scrapbooks, some dedicated to particular theatrical productions and others that cover all aspects of her career and life.
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Sznajderman, Marius, 1926-
Billy Rose Theatre Division | *T-Vim 2011-204
5 linear feet (5 boxes)
Marius Sznadjerman was born in Paris in 1926. He escaped to Spain with his parents in 1942, moving to Venezuela where he attended the School of Fine Arts in Caracas. After moving to the United States in 1949, Sznajderman studied at Columbia...
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Marius Sznadjerman was born in Paris in 1926. He escaped to Spain with his parents in 1942, moving to Venezuela where he attended the School of Fine Arts in Caracas. After moving to the United States in 1949, Sznajderman studied at Columbia University with scenic designer Woodman Thompson and printmaker Hans Mueller, receiving both a B.F.A. and M.F.A. He served in the U.S. Army from 1953-1955 and has taught at several universities, including New York University, School of Visual Arts and Fairleigh Dickinson University. Sznajderman has also had numerous exhibitions of his work over several decades. Over 350 original designs, principally for sets (mostly color), floor plans, and studies created by Marius Sznajderman for Circle in the Square Theatre and the French Art Theatre in the 1950s. The collection also contains production and research notes, as well as publicity material and posters. There are also some publicity materials for Circle in the Square, programs, fliers, and postcards for individual productions, blueprints, elevations, as well as a number of black and white photographs. Also included are costume designs (possibly for The firebrand, ca. 1924), several sketches, a sketchbook with notes, ca. 1918-ca. 1924, by noted stage designer Woodman Thompson, perhaps related to Sznajderman's research for the play Ludus Coventriae. In addition to Sznajderman's set designs, studies, floor plans, and production notes for the French Art Theatre, New York City (Eve Daniel, director), there are subscription letters and 7 posters, ca. 1951-1958.
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Urban, Joseph, 1872-1933
Billy Rose Theatre Division | *T-Vim 1937-001
Designs used in the 1914 production of The Garden of Paradise based on The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Anderson.
Theatre Guild
Billy Rose Theatre Division | *T-Vim 1978-007
.21 linear feet (1 box)
The Theatre Guild Technical Drawings and Other Production Materials primarily consist of miscellaneous technical drawings and other items documenting various productions put on by the independent production company. The contents of the individual...
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The Theatre Guild Technical Drawings and Other Production Materials primarily consist of miscellaneous technical drawings and other items documenting various productions put on by the independent production company. The contents of the individual files on productions, mainly dating from the 1920s and 1930s, vary, but may include ground plans, stage plans, and light and/or property plots.
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Mielziner, Jo, 1901-1976
Billy Rose Theatre Division | *T-Vim 2005-011
1 oversized box, 22.5 x 28.5 in.; 1 oversized box, 22.5 x 28.5 in.
Jo Mielziner, theatrical designer. Consists of 26 original set design drawings by Jo Mielziner. Seventeen are for a 1965 revival of DANTON'S DEATH translated and directed by Herbert Blau and performed by the Repertory Theatre of Lincoln Center at...
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Jo Mielziner, theatrical designer. Consists of 26 original set design drawings by Jo Mielziner. Seventeen are for a 1965 revival of DANTON'S DEATH translated and directed by Herbert Blau and performed by the Repertory Theatre of Lincoln Center at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre, seven are for the 1968 original production of I NEVER SANG FOR MY FATHER at the Longacre Theatre, and two are for THE THIRD LITTLE SHOW (revue), 1931, at the Music Box Theatre. A few of the drawings are signed or initialled by Mielziner.
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Radio City Music Hall (New York, N.Y.)
Billy Rose Theatre Division | *T-Vim 2002-005
10.68 linear feet (14 boxes)
The Radio City Music Hall Collection of the Designs of James Stewart Morcom and John William Keck contain color set designs, including renderings, elevations and details, of productions primarily from the Radio City Music Hall as well as other...
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The Radio City Music Hall Collection of the Designs of James Stewart Morcom and John William Keck contain color set designs, including renderings, elevations and details, of productions primarily from the Radio City Music Hall as well as other venues.
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Dobuzhinskiĭ, Mstislav Valerianovich, 1875-1957
Billy Rose Theatre Division | *T-Vim 2010-082
14 boxes
Original set designs, working drawings and sketches, blueprints and notes by Mstislav Dobuzhinskiĭ for the following productions: Anne of England by Mary Cass Canfield and Ethel Borden adapted from Viceroy Sarah by Norman Ginsbury (1941); Boris...
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Original set designs, working drawings and sketches, blueprints and notes by Mstislav Dobuzhinskiĭ for the following productions: Anne of England by Mary Cass Canfield and Ethel Borden adapted from Viceroy Sarah by Norman Ginsbury (1941); Boris Godunov opera by Modest Mussorgsky (n. d.); Don Giovanni music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and with an Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte (1952); Das Dreimaderlhaus (House of the Three Girls) adapted into English language versions as Blossom Time and Lilac Time is a Viennese pastiche 'operetta' with music by Franz Schubert rearranged by Hungarian Heinrich Berte and a libretto by Alfred Maria Willner and Heinz Reichert (n. d.); Emilia Plater (Lithuanian National Theatre) (1939); Enough Stupidity in Every Wise Man by Alexander Ostrovski (1953); Eugene Onegin (opera) by P. Tchaikovsky (different productions 1923-1953); The Fair at Sorochinsk book by Nicolai Gogol, music by Modest Mussorgsky (1942); The Four Ruffians by Edward J. Dent adapted from I Quattro Rusteghi by Goldoni music by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari (1951); Die Geburt der Salome (1944); Happy Endings by A. Chekhov (n.d.); Khovanshina by M. Mussorgsky (1948-1950); Love for three oranges (1949); Masked Ball music by G. Verdi (1940); A Month in the Country (1909); Queen of Spades by P. Tchaikovsky (1925-1931); Radvila Perkunas by Jurgis Karnavicius (1936); Wozzeck opera music by Allen Berg (1952). There are also a few designs for unidentified productions. Most of the designs and sketches are signed.
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Mielziner, Jo, 1901-1976
Billy Rose Theatre Division | *T-Vim 1996-055
1 item
Jo Mielziner, theatrical designer. Consists of one original set design, ink and brown wash on board, for the play Abe Lincoln in Illinois.
Knorr, Arthur, 1898-1966
Billy Rose Theatre Division | *T-Mss 2001-001
60 linear feet (125 boxes)
The majority of the Knorr papers is comprised of set designs and production materials. The collection illustrates Knorr’s multiple talents and his unifying role as a producer. The designs and plans include Knorr’s early work for the Capitol and...
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The majority of the Knorr papers is comprised of set designs and production materials. The collection illustrates Knorr’s multiple talents and his unifying role as a producer. The designs and plans include Knorr’s early work for the Capitol and Roxy theaters, a formative time in his career. Amongst the designs are those of the Milton Berle shows (1948-1952) and the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants in the early 1960s.
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Colt, Alvin
Billy Rose Theatre Division | *T-Vim 2002-020
3.75 linear feet (14 boxes)
Alvin Colt is an award-winning costume and scenic designer that has worked in film, television and theater. The collection consists mainly of costume designs for television productions from the 1970s and 1980s, but also includes scenic designs for...
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Alvin Colt is an award-winning costume and scenic designer that has worked in film, television and theater. The collection consists mainly of costume designs for television productions from the 1970s and 1980s, but also includes scenic designs for stage productions drawn early in his career (1935-1947).
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Mielziner, Jo, 1901-1976
Billy Rose Theatre Division | *T-Vim 1996-040
1 item
Jo Mielziner, theatrical designer. Consists of one set design, pen and ink with watercolor on board, with artist's signature and date, for an unidentified production.
Donehue, Vincent J., -1966
Billy Rose Theatre Division | *T-Vim 1967-002
Vincent J. Donehue was a director of stage, film and television. The collection contains set designs for plays and television programs.
Donehue, Vincent J., -1966
Billy Rose Theatre Division | *T-MSS 1967-002
Donehue was a director working primarily for the New York stage and television in the 1950s and 1960s. He also directed two films in Hollywood. The collection includes personal correspondence; production files containing notes, letters, partial...
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Donehue was a director working primarily for the New York stage and television in the 1950s and 1960s. He also directed two films in Hollywood. The collection includes personal correspondence; production files containing notes, letters, partial scripts, cast lists, contracts and financial papers; complete scripts, many for television shows; clippings of reviews; and a few manuscripts and photographs.
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Bilinsky, Boris Konstantinovitch, 1900-1948
Billy Rose Theatre Division | *T-Vim 2000-045
.1 linear feet (10 slides in 1 portfolio)
Consists of ten slides with accompanying documentation: a detailed listing in English and an article about the fate of Bilinsky's designs by René Clémenti Bilinsky in French from CinemAction (no. 97, 2000). Slides consist of a set design for the...
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Consists of ten slides with accompanying documentation: a detailed listing in English and an article about the fate of Bilinsky's designs by René Clémenti Bilinsky in French from CinemAction (no. 97, 2000). Slides consist of a set design for the movie MONTE-CRISTO (France, 1929), a costume design for the opera PELLÉAS ET MÉLISANDE at the Royal Opera of Covent Garden in London (1937), set and costume designs for the movie AMORE IMPERIALE (Italy, 1941), set design for the movie SENZA CIELO (Italy, 1941), costume design for the play IL TENENTE VIRGOLA at the Odeon Theatre in Milan (1941), set design for the play SAINT JOAN at the Argentina Theatre in Rome (1943), and two women's costume designs from unidentified productions.
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Rychtarik, Richard, 1894-1982
Billy Rose Theatre Division | *T-Vim 2003-026
24 drawings in 1 portfolio
Richard Rychtarik, costume and set designer. Consists of 24 watercolor drawings, mostly costume designs, for a 1922 production of ANNE PEDERSDOTTER at The Play House in Cleveland, Ohio. Some of the drawings have notes in pencil on character, actor...
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Richard Rychtarik, costume and set designer. Consists of 24 watercolor drawings, mostly costume designs, for a 1922 production of ANNE PEDERSDOTTER at The Play House in Cleveland, Ohio. Some of the drawings have notes in pencil on character, actor and costume specifics; others are unidentified. Also includes three set designs and a playbill.
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Campbell, Patton
Billy Rose Theatre Division | *T-Vim 2003-037
20.75 linear feet (31 oversized boxes)
Patton Campbell studied design at Yale University under Donald Oenslager, then designed costumes for opera and the Broadway stage. His Yale projects and several opera productions are represented here.
Morrison, Paul, 1906-1980
Billy Rose Theatre Division | *T-VIM 1981-010
5.2 linear feet (11 boxes)
Paul Morrison (1906-1980), whose prolific theatrical career began in New York with the Theatre Guild and Group Theatre, designed sets, lighting and costumes for more than 60 Broadway productions, often working in multiple capacities. This...
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Paul Morrison (1906-1980), whose prolific theatrical career began in New York with the Theatre Guild and Group Theatre, designed sets, lighting and costumes for more than 60 Broadway productions, often working in multiple capacities. This collection includes many of his scenic and lighting designs and a few costume designs, as well as notes and sketches.
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Heeley, Desmond
Billy Rose Theatre Division | *T-Vim 2016-022
5.81 linear feet (8 boxes, 1 oversized folder, 12 tubes)
Desmond Heeley (1931-2016) was a British-born costume and set designer for theater, ballet, and opera who worked internationally. Through original sketches, prints, production bibles, reference files, photographs, and correspondence, the Desmond...
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Desmond Heeley (1931-2016) was a British-born costume and set designer for theater, ballet, and opera who worked internationally. Through original sketches, prints, production bibles, reference files, photographs, and correspondence, the Desmond Heeley designs and production files primarily document the North American portion of Heeley's career.
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Foy, Kenneth
Billy Rose Theatre Division | *T-Vim 2015-019
19.47 linear feet (50 boxes, 8 oversized folders, 10 tubes); 229.5 gb (9,789 computer files)
The Kenneth Foy papers date from 1947 to 2014 (bulk dates 1990-2008) and consist of design files, drawings and sketches, paintings, photographs, and research files spanning the career of scenic designer, Kenneth Foy. The materials pertain...
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The Kenneth Foy papers date from 1947 to 2014 (bulk dates 1990-2008) and consist of design files, drawings and sketches, paintings, photographs, and research files spanning the career of scenic designer, Kenneth Foy. The materials pertain exclusively to Foy's artistic output, predominantly showcasing his set design work in theatre and opera.
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Edwards, Ben, 1916-1999
Billy Rose Theatre Division | *T-Vim 2015-022
26.52 linear feet (47 boxes, 3 volumes, 33 oversized folders, 20 tubes)
Ben Edwards (1916-1999) was an American scenic designer and art director, and occasional lighting designer, costume designer, and producer, working in theatre, industrial shows, film, and television. The Ben Edwards designs and papers (1884-1999,...
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Ben Edwards (1916-1999) was an American scenic designer and art director, and occasional lighting designer, costume designer, and producer, working in theatre, industrial shows, film, and television. The Ben Edwards designs and papers (1884-1999, bulk dates: 1938-1999) document his career and personal life with designs, drawings, research files, letters, and other files.
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Billy Rose Theatre Division | *T-Vim 2010-056
0.5 linear feet (2 boxes, 2 boxes) : approximately 101 drawingsapproximately 101 drawings ; 39 x 50 cm. or smaller.39 x 50 cm. or smaller.
Alice Lewisohn Crowley was born in New York City in 1883, a daughter of Leonard Lewisohn. With her sister Irene Lewisohn, she established the Neighborhood Playhouse on Grand Street in 1915, a theater and teaching facility for dance and drama. By...
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Alice Lewisohn Crowley was born in New York City in 1883, a daughter of Leonard Lewisohn. With her sister Irene Lewisohn, she established the Neighborhood Playhouse on Grand Street in 1915, a theater and teaching facility for dance and drama. By 1920, professional actors had replaced the amateur troupe of children and adults, and the Playhouse became known for its avant-garde productions. The neighborhood theater closed in 1927. In 1928, Alice Lewisohn Crowley, Irene Lewisohn and Rita Wallach Morgenthau established The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, still in operation in New York City. Crowley died in 1972 in Zurich at the age of 88. The designs are primarily costume designs, with a few set designs, for theatrical productions including Everybody's husband by Gilbert Cannan, 1919; Harlequinade by Harley Granville-Barker and Dion Calthrop, 1921; The mummer's revel and The masque of the apple, music by Kurt Schindler, 1931 with costume designs possibly by Esther Peck; Night at an inn by Lord Dunsany, 1916; Pinwheel by Francis Edward Faragoh, 1927 with sketches and notes by Donald Oenslager; and The player queen by William Butler Yeats, 1923 with costume designs probably by Alexander Koiransky. Ballets represented in the collection are La boutique fantasque, music by Ottorino Respighi, 1920 with costume designs probably by Esther Peck; Petrouchka, music by Igor Stravinsky, 1916; Royal fandango by Gustavo Morales, 1921 with costume designs and 1 set design by Ernest de Weerth; and 1 costume design for Le tricorne, 1922 "after Picasso's design for a costume for the ballet." There is 1 set design by Jo Davidson of the Wailing Wall for the symphonic drama Israel by Ernest Bloch, 1928. There are also several unidentified costume and set designs.
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Senie, Richard Harrison
Billy Rose Theatre Division | *T-Vim 2011-068
3 boxes (ca. 240 drawings) : pencil or ink on paper ; 62 x 97 cm. or smaller
Scenic designer Richard Harrison Senie, born in 1916 in New Hampshire, designed sets for several television shows, many of which were produced by NBC Studio, such as I remember Mama, the Armstrong circle theatre, and The Gabby Hayes show. In 1951,...
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Scenic designer Richard Harrison Senie, born in 1916 in New Hampshire, designed sets for several television shows, many of which were produced by NBC Studio, such as I remember Mama, the Armstrong circle theatre, and The Gabby Hayes show. In 1951, Senie also designed the sets for Broadway's St. Joan, which opened in Oct. 1951 at the Cort Theatre. He died in 1986 in New York City. Originals and copies of set designs, sketches, and technical drawings such as elevations, floorplans, and hanging plots. Designs are primarily for television sets of shows produced by NBC, but also include designs and a three-dimensional stage model for St. Joan, Senie's only theatrical production.
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Billy Rose Theatre Division | *T-VIM 2013-154
8 boxes (ca. 440 drawings) : some col ; 51 x 76 cm or smaller. Approximately 238 architectural drawings : blueprints ; 45 x 62 cm or smaller
The USO (United Service Organizations, Inc.) was formed in 1941 by Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt, as the outgrowth of several organizations wishing to support the military troops as the U.S. entered World War II. During its initial years of...
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The USO (United Service Organizations, Inc.) was formed in 1941 by Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt, as the outgrowth of several organizations wishing to support the military troops as the U.S. entered World War II. During its initial years of operation (1941-1947), the Camp Shows brought entertainment to United States and Allied service men overseas, at home, in hospitals, and in occupied territories. Theater productions as well as entertainment featuring Hollywood personalities and novelty performers entertained servicemen all over the world. Original drawings of color painter's elevations, set designs, elevations, other technical drawings, and sketches for USO Camp Shows productions that played nationally and internationally during the 1940s. Although the majority of the designs and elevations are by Bradford Ashworth and Paul Morrison, other designers represented include Ralph Alswang, Howard Bay, Frederick Fox, Carl Kent, Arthur Knorr, Bruno Main, Raymond Sovey, Miles White and Edward E. Wolf. Perry Watkins, the first African-American set designer on Broadway, also designed a number of Camp Shows productions. Girl crazy, Junior miss, Panama Hattie, Porgy and Bess, and Shuffle along are especially well-documented and include production-related papers, such as property lists and memoranda.
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Du Bois, Raoul Pène, 1914-1985
Billy Rose Theatre Division | *T-VIM 2013-223
4 boxes (ca. 290 drawings) : col. ; 52 x 38 cm or smaller
Set and costume designer Raoul Pène Du Bois (1914-1985) was born on Staten Island, New York. His career began in his teens and spanned some six decades, during which he designed for theater, film, dance, and other live productions. Du Bois...
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Set and costume designer Raoul Pène Du Bois (1914-1985) was born on Staten Island, New York. His career began in his teens and spanned some six decades, during which he designed for theater, film, dance, and other live productions. Du Bois received two Tony Awards for his set designs for Wonderful town (1953), and his costume designs for No, no, Nanette (1971). He died at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, following a stroke. Original color drawings mostly of costume designs, but also set designs and detail drawings by Raoul Pène Du Bois. Many of the designs are for the musical Jumbo, music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Lorenz Hart (Hippodrome Theatre, 1935), with masks by Wynn; several designs are initialed and dated "JR 35" and are possibly by James Reynolds who also designed costumes for this production. Other productions represented are Call me madam, music and lyrics by Irving Berlin (Imperial Theatre, 1950); Carmen Jones, music by Georges Bizet, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein (Broadway Theatre, 1943); Doctor jazz, music by Buster Davis and Luther Henderson, lyrics by Buster Davis (Winter Garden Theatre, 1975); The firebrand of Florence, music by Kurt Weill, lyrics by Ira Gershwin (Alvin Theatre, 1945); Irene, music by Harry Tierney, lyrics by Joseph McCarthy (Minskoff Theatre, 1973); The music man, music and lyrics by Meredith Willson (Majestic Theatre, 1957); No, no, Nanette, music by Vincent Youmans, lyrics by Irving Caesar and Otto Harbach (46th Street Theatre, 1971); The student gypsy, music and lyrics by Rick Besoyan (54th Street Theatre, 1963). There are also detail sketches for Billy Rose's aquacade (New York World's Fair, 1939), and a costume design, possibly for the Rockettes, ca. 1932.
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Billy Rose Theatre Division | *T-VIM 2014-006
2 boxes (51 drawings) : some col ; 41 x 50 cm
Ward and Harvey Studios was begun by designers Herbert Ward and Walter M. Harvey and was located on West 38th Street in New York City. The firm is credited with scenic design for Broadway productions between 1921 and 1932. Original set designs and...
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Ward and Harvey Studios was begun by designers Herbert Ward and Walter M. Harvey and was located on West 38th Street in New York City. The firm is credited with scenic design for Broadway productions between 1921 and 1932. Original set designs and sketches by Ward and Harvey Studios for theater productions including Chee-chee, book by Lew M. Fields, music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Lorenz Hart (1928); A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's court, book by Herbert Fields, music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Lorenz Hart (1927); A farewell to arms by Laurence Stallings, based on Ernest Hemingway's novel (1930); Janet of France (1929); The sap from Syracuse by Jack O'Donnell and John Wray (1930); and Through the years (musical version of Smilin' through), book by Brian Hooker, music by Vincent Youmans, lyrics by Edward Heyman (1932). Of note is the Robert Benchley design for a drop curtain depicting a map of Camelot, to be used during the intermission for A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's court. Approximately one half of the designs are for unidentified productions, one of which is possibly Lew Leslie's blackbirds of 1930. Designers include Junius Cravens, Walter M. Harvey, John F. Hawkins, Herbert Ward, and William Weaver; there are also several designs with a circus theme and a commedia dell'arte character, Punchinella.
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Armstrong, Will Steven
Billy Rose Theatre Division | *T-VIM 2013-214
3 boxes (28 drawings) : some col ; 77 x 55 cm. or smaller
Stage designer Will Steven Armstrong (1930-1969) was born in New Orleans. He was a graduate of Louisiana State University and served in the U.S. Air Force in Korea. Armstrong received a Master's Degree from Yale University in 1957. After working...
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Stage designer Will Steven Armstrong (1930-1969) was born in New Orleans. He was a graduate of Louisiana State University and served in the U.S. Air Force in Korea. Armstrong received a Master's Degree from Yale University in 1957. After working as production designer for the Williamstown Summer Theatre (now Williamstown Theatre Festival) from 1955 to 1957, Armstrong came to New York to work under Boris Aronson, Jo Mielziner and Donald Oenslager. The American Shakespeare Festival (Stratford, Connecticut), Long Wharf Theatre, National Repertory Theatre, the Phoenix Theatre, and the New York City Opera were among the companies for which he designed sets, lighting, and costumes. His Broadway design credits include over 40 productions, winning a Tony award in 1962 for his set designs for Carnival! (Imperial Theatre, 1961). Armstrong also received an Obie award for his set designs for Ivanov (Renata Theatre, 1958). He was married to Jo Grady and they had a daughter, Sloane. Armstrong died while on vacation in New Mexico at the age of 39. Original costume and set designs by Will Steven Armstrong. American Shakespeare Festival Theatre productions included in the collection are Coriolanus (1965), Julius Caesar (1966), The merry wives of Windsor (1959), and Romeo and Juliet (1965). National Theatre productions represented are Mourning becomes Electra by Eugene O'Neill (1967) and The rivals by Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1965). There are also costume designs for The beaux stratagem by George Farquhar (1959) and a set and costume design for Lysistrata by Aristophanes (1959), both produced by the Phoenix Theatre. Other Broadway productions include The lion in winter by James Goldman, Ambassador Theatre (1966), Tchin-Tchin by Sidney Michaels, based on Francois Billetdoux's play, Plymouth Theatre (1962), and The wayward stork by Harry Tugend, Forty-sixth Street Theatre (1946).
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