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Creator
Swados, Elizabeth
Call number
*T-Mss 2016-020
Physical description
37.15 linear feet (94 boxes, 8 oversize folders). 866 audio files. 120 video files
Language
Multiple languages; Some audio recordings are in English and Spanish.
Preferred Citation
Elizabeth Swados papers, additions, *T-Mss 2016-020. Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
Sponsor
Description of audio and moving image materials was made possible by a grant from the Leon Levy Foundation, "The Shelby White and Leon Levy Initiative to Press Play on the Audio and Motion Picture Archives at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts."
Repository
Billy Rose Theatre Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.Restrictions apply

Elizabeth Swados (1951-2016) was a theater composer, musician, director, writer, poet, and illustrator. The Elizabeth Swados papers, Additions (1950-2015) document her career and works through scripts, scores, contracts, photographs, publicity materials, posters, artwork, and audio and moving image recordings.

Biographical/historical information

Elizabeth Swados (1951-2016) was born in Buffalo, New York on February 5, 1951. She was raised by her father, Robert, who was an attorney, and her mother, Sylvia Maisel, an actress and poet. Maisel struggled with alcoholism and depression throughout her life, and committed suicide in 1974. Swados also had a brother, Lincoln, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia and died in 1989.

Swados attended Bennington College in Vermont, where she studied music and creative writing. While a student, she composed the score for Andrei Serban's adaptation of Medea, which was performed at Manhattan's La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, and earned Swados her first Obie award in 1973. She graduated from Bennington later that year with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

After college, Swados relocated to New York City, where she pursued work in theater. In 1977, she composed music for Broadway revivals of both The Cherry Orchard and Agamemnon, and wrote and directed the Off-Broadway revue, Nightclub Cantata, which garnered her two Drama Desk Award nominations.

Swados' breakthrough hit came with Runaways, a musical revue that she wrote, composed, and directed. The production, which premiered at the Public Theater in February 1978, addressed the lives of teenagers who had run away from home. Swados developed the revue's stories through a series of workshops she held with teenage runaways living in New York City, and cast some of these teenagers in the production. Runaways was met with so much acclaim that it was moved to Broadway in May of 1978, receiving an Obie Award for best direction, as well as five Tony nominations and four Drama Desk Award nominations.

In 1979, Swados composed and directed the musical Dispatches, based on the book by Rolling Stone reporter Michael Herr about the Vietnam War and the music it inspired. That same year, she also composed the music for Alice in Concert, a musical adaptation of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. Alice in Concert premiered at the Public Theater in 1980 starring Meryl Streep, and was produced and directed by Joseph Papp. A television adaptation, Alice at the Palace, was broadcast on the PBS network.

For her next major project, Swados collaborated with cartoonist Garry Trudeau, composing the music for two theatrical social satires, Doonesbury and Rap Master Ronnie. The former premiered on Broadway in 1983 and was based on Trudeau's comic strip, while the latter debuted in 1984, billed as a "partisan revue" of the Reagan administration.

In 1985, Swados was awarded the Helen Hayes Award for Best New Play for her musical, The Beautiful Lady. She continued to forge a successful theater career, composing, writing, and directing such productions as The Hating Pot, a musical performance piece about racism and anti-Semitism that was filmed in 1995, Groundhog (1992), Prince and the Pauper (1994), Missionaries (1996), The 49 Years (1997), The Caucasian Chalk Circle (1998), Jabu (2005), Kaspar Hauser: A Foundling's Opera (2009), Narcissus (2010), Triangle: From the Fire (2011), Revolting Rhymes (2011), La MaMa Cantata (2011), and Piano Bar (2013). Swados also wrote a number of Jewish-themed works including, The Haggadah: A Passover Cantata (1980), Esther, A Vaudeville Megillah (1988), Song of Songs (1989), Jonah (1990), Job: A Circus (1990), Jerusalem (1992), Bible Women (2001), Jewish Girlz (2003), and Atonement (2008).

In addition to her own theater work, Swados devoted much of her time to education and collaboration with youth and adolescents. She led numerous theater workshops for young people, and taught in the drama departments at both New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and The New School's Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts. In partnership with her students, Swados was commissioned by the New York University Wellness Exchange to create Reality Show, a musical performance piece that addressed issues faced by new students living away from home for the first time. The piece was performed at such venues as Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, the Skirball Center at New York University, and on New York University's Abu Dhabi campus.

Swados was also a prolific writer and published four books of fiction, a book of poetry, two memoirs, three works of nonfiction, and seven books for children. Her writing also appeared in an array of magazines and literary journals. Her adult fiction includes Leah and Lazar (1982), Flamboyánt (1988), The Myth Man (1984), and Walking the Dog (2016); and her children's books are, The Girl With the Incredible Feeling (1976), Lullaby (1980), Skydance (1981), Inside Out (1990), Dreamtective (1999), Hey you! C'mere: A Poetry Slam (2002), and The Animal Rescue Store (2005). In 2009, she released her book of poetry, The One and Only Human Galaxy.

In 1991, Swados published The Four of Us: A Family Memoir, about her experiences growing up among family members struggling with mental illness. Her second memoir, My Depression: A Picture Book (2005), addressed Swados' own struggle with depression and featured her illustrations. She adapted the memoir into an animated television film, My Depression (The Up and Down and Up of It), which starred Sigourney Weaver as Swados. The film aired on HBO in July of 2015.

Swados died in New York City on January 5, 2016 due to complications from surgery for esophageal cancer. She is survived by her wife, Roz Lichter.

Scope and arrangement

The Elizabeth Swados papers, Additions extensively document the career of playwright, director, composer, writer, and artist Elizabeth Swados. Dating from 1950 to 2015, the collection documents both the artistic and business aspects of Swados's career through scripts, scores, contracts, photographs, publicity materials, posters, artwork, personal diaries, notebooks, and audio and moving image recordings.

The collection has documentation of Swados's theater works; oratorios; music for films and television; books; and various other types of work and collaborations. Works documented in the collection include Agamemnon, Alice in Concert, The Beautiful Lady, Bible Women, Conscience and Courage: Rescuers of Jews During the Holocaust, Dispatches, Doonesbury, Elektra, Esther: A Vaudeville Megillah, The Haggadah, Hansel and Gretel, The Hating Pot, Jabu, Jerusalem: An Oratorio, Jewish Girlz, Jonah, Kaspar Hauser: A Foundling's Opera, Medea, Missionaries, Nightclub Cantata, The Nomad, The Prince and the Pauper, Rap Master Ronnie, The Red Sneaks, Runaways, The Trojan Women, Weather, and others.

The Additions are in two series, Personal and Professional Files, and Audio and Moving Image Recordings.

Series I: Personal and Professional Files comprises alphabetical files regarding productions, works, writings, projects, and other subjects; scripts and scores; publicity and press files; awards; notebooks and journals; photographs; and business records.

Series II: Audio and Moving Image Recordings covers a larger number of works than Series I. It traces the development of theater works from demos and workshop recordings to rehearsals and performances. It also holds Swados's live performances of selections of her work; interviews with Swados; Swados's field recordings of indigenous music in various countries; her mix tapes of commercially-released music; and unidentified recordings. Works by Ellen Stewart are present as well.

The Elizabeth Swados papers, additions are arranged in two series:

  • Series I: Professional and Personal Files
    1950-2014

    This series holds papers and photographs documenting primarily Swados's professional life, though some content regards her personal life as well.

    The Alphabetical Files evidence Swados's productions, works, writings, and other projects; as well as general subjects and individuals, dating from the beginning of her career to 2001. Some of these files are also listed by format or file type. These materials include drafts of scripts, scores, and other writings; programs, clippings, posters, flyers, and other promotional materials; correspondence; notes; budgets; contracts; research materials, designs; and drawings.

    The full span of Swados's career is covered more extensively with Scores and Scripts from theatrical productions, writings, and compositions. Every stage of her composition process is documented through sheet music, hand-written notes, and printed and published scores. Alphabetical Files, which cover many of the same productions as Scripts and Scores, contain a wider range of materials, though they cover a shorter date span. Scripts and Scores occasionally contain photographs, notes, research materials, correspondence, and publicity materials. See also Series III for audio or video content documenting projects found in these files.

    Publicity and Press Files consist of reviews, clippings, posters, flyers and other publicity materials. They may include photographs, programs and other production materials.

    Awards, Honors, Tributes, and Other Events contain programs, correspondence, certificates and other materials relating to awards, tributes, and honorary degrees for which Swados was nominated or received. These include multiple Drama Desk Award nominations (for Nightclub Cantata and Runaways), a Grammy Award nomination (for the Doonesbury cast album), and Tony Award nominations (in multiple categories for Runaways), and a Jewish Cultural Achievement Award.

    Notebooks, Journals, and Diaries, which are largely undated, provide insight into every aspect of Swados's life and career. Some contain notes on the writing or rehearsing of productions; some contain drafts of poems, lyrics, cartoons, and drawings; and others contain personal diaries and autobiographical writings, concerning her personal life, friends, family, sexuality, and sexual encounters. Box 89 includes cards and invitations.

    Also included are photographs of productions; performances; professional headshots; a few photos of Swados's childhood and family; photographs with friends and pets; photographs while traveling, while giving lectures, and at other public appearances. Productions include Bible Women, Doonesbury, The Hating Pot, Jerusalem, The Red Sneaks, and Runaways.

    Contracts, Agreements, Royalties, and Other Business Files paint a comprehensive picture of the business side of an artist's career. There are multiple drafts and final signed copies of contracts and agreements for Swados' theatrical productions and other professional works, as well as royalty statements for plays and songs. Swados's wife, Rosalind Lichter, was also her lawyer, and they maintained detailed business records.

  • Series II: Audio and Moving Image Recordings
    1971-2015

    This series documents most of Swados's theatrical, film, and television work and collaborations, from demos and workshop recordings to rehearsals and performances and finished recordings. They also contain Swados's live performances of selections of her work; interviews with Swados; Swados's field recordings of indigenous music in various countries; Swados's mix tapes of commercially-released music; and unidentified recordings. Works by Ellen Stewart are present as well.

    The series is in 11 major divisions: Projects, Commencement Addresses, Compilations, Demos, Field Recordings, Holiday Music, Interviews, Mix Tapes, Performances, Work Recordings, and Unidentified.

    The Project recordings of Swados's major works consist of work and composition recordings; demos; rehearsals; and performances. Most are audio recordings, but some video is present as well. Many of the works start with Swados composing with her own vocals and solo guitar, though as the 1980s progressed she employed more digital keyboards, recording production, and score realization software to compose and create demos. Compositions were also created and shaped during rehearsals with cast members and other musicians.

    The Projects include stage and vocal works; music for plays; film and television soundtracks; and music for dance. Stage and vocal works created primarily by Swados (as composer, writer, and director) with audio and/or video documentation include The 49 Years, Alice in Concert, The Beautiful Lady, Bible Women, Conscience and Courage: Rescuers of Jews During the Holocaust, Dispatches, The Emperor's New Clothes, Esther: A Vaudeville Megillah, Giving Thanks, The Golem, Groundhog, The Haggadah: A Passover Cantata, Hansel and Gretel, The Hating Pot, The Incredible Feeling Show, Jabu, Jerusalem, Job: A Circus, Jonah, Kasper Hauser: A Foundling's Opera, Lullabye and Goodnight, Millennium Lounge, Missionaries, The New Americans, Nightclub Cantata, The Pied Piper, Piano Bar, Political Subversities, The Prince and the Pauper, Samuels, The Secret Window, Song of Songs, Songs of Innocence and Experience, Swing, The Trojan Women, Under Fire, The Violence Project, Weather, and Women of Hope and Valor.

    Other Swados projects here are Songs of Innocence and Experience (an adaptation of poetry by William Blake shot for television); the television program Wilfrid's Special Christmas; the Swados-directed film What Do Children Think of When They Think of the Bomb?; and television and film projects with music by Swados, such as Animal Alphabet, the documentary Gauguin the Savage, Barn Burning, Family Sins, Four Friends, The House of Ramón Iglesia, King of America, The Occult History of the Third Reich, OHMS, Rapaccini's Daughter, A Year in the Life, Rate It X, Saying Kaddish, and Too Far to Go. Also present is footage and trailers for a never-completed documentary by Swados titled Haircut, about the relationships between women and their hair.

    Documented projects on which Swados collaborated with others include stage works created with Andrei Serban (Agamemnon, Medea, The Trojan Women, Electra, and Hamlet), Peter Brook (The Conference of the Birds), and Garry Trudeau (Doonesbury and Rap Master Ronnie); animated films by Faith Hubley and John Canemaker; dance works such as The Mermaid Wakes and Popular Science; and plays with music by Swados, including productions of The Beloved Dearly, The Good Woman of Szechuan, and The Odets Project.

    There are also several works present in audio or video which were never completed or performed, but were workshopped and rehearsed. These include the musicals Disturbed by the Wind (about the Wright Brothers), Houdini, and The Three Gods; an operatic adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray; and a Chilean song cycle.

    The Projects recordings also holds video of three theater works by Swados's mentor and the founder of La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, Ellen Stewart: Dionysus Filius Dei, Mythos Oedipus, and The Monk and the Hangman's Daughter. Swados wrote some of the music and vocal arrangements for Mythos Oedipus.

    Other audio/video content includes live performances of Swados singing material from various projects (these date mostly from the late-1970s); Swados's field recordings of indigenous music in Africa, Bali, Brazil, Bulgaria, and the United States; audio demos and work recordings not linked to a known project; interviews with Swados; the 1977 documentary film Elizabeth Swados: The Girl With the Incredible Feeling; commencement addresses delivered by Swados at Bennington College; and mix tape compilations of commercially-released music created by Swados for her own use or for friends.

    Work tapes made for unidentified productions are arranged under Work Recordings. Recordings of indeterminate origin are arranged under Unidentified.

Administrative information

Custodial history

Donated by Roz Lichter, 2017, 2018.

Revision History

Enhanced description for audio and moving image material added by Matthew Snyder in (2024.)

Processing information

Processed by Diana Bertolini in 2020.

Related Material

Elizabeth Swados papers, 1972-2016. Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library.

Using the collection

Location

Billy Rose Theatre 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

Access restrictions

Audio and moving image materials can be used onsite at the Library for the Performing Arts. To request materials, please contact the Billy Rose Theatre Division.