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Creator
Besoyan, Rick
Call number
JPB 15-71
Physical description
5.56 linear feet (19 boxes)
Preferred Citation
Rick Besoyan papers, Additions, JPB 15-71. Music Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
Repository
Music Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.Restrictions apply

The Rick Besoyan papers (1942-1979) document Besoyan's songwriting career and are primarily comprised of scripts, sheet music, and sound recordings.

Biographical/historical information

Richard Besoyan (1924-1970) was an American songwriter. Born in California in 1924, Besoyan served in World War II with the United States Army Infantry. After the war, Besoyan joined the California-based Bredon-Savoy Light Opera Company as a performer. Besoyan then moved to New York City and was later approached to write a revue for the Showplace nightclub. This piece, In Your Hat, later evolved into the musical Little Mary Sunshine which opened off-Broadway in 1959. Besoyan went on to write the book, music, and lyrics for The Student Gypsy or The Prince of Liederkranz, which opened on Broadway in 1963. The following year Besoyan's Babes in the Wood was produced off-Broadway. Richard Besoyan died in Sayville, Long Island in 1970.

Scope and arrangement

The Rick Besoyan papers date from 1942 to 1979 and document Besoyan's songwriting career. While the majority of the collection pertains to his most well-known productions (Little Mary Sunshine, Babes in the Wood, and The Student Gyspy), there is material related to over a dozen other works, including his unproduced musical version of Paul Gallico's novel Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris.

In addition to scripts, sheet music, and sound recordings for specific productions, the collection also contains lyric ideas, unidentified sheet music, and unused themes, as well as a small grouping of material related to his estate.

Arrangement

The collection is primarily arranged by production title.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Donated by Howard Barker, 2015.

Processing information

Compiled by Susan M. Kline, 2015

Key terms

Subjects

Occupations

Material types

Using the collection

Location

Music Division
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023-7498
Third Floor

Conditions Governing Use

For permission to publish, contact the Chief, Music Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Access restrictions

Sound recordings are currently unavailable pending digitization.