Scope and arrangement
The Claire Nichtern papers (1959-1987) document the professional career of producer Claire Nichtern. The bulk of the collection consists of production files for plays and musicals produced by Nichtern. The collection also includes a small amount of office files, scripts, and posters. There is very little personal material in the collection.
The collection contains one sound recording, a demo pressing of the musical version of the play Luv. Inquiries regarding the audio material in the collection may be directed to the Billy Rose Theatre Division (theatrediv@nypl.org). Audio material may be subject to preservation evaluation and migration prior to access.
The Claire Nichtern papers are arranged in four series:
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1959-19854 boxes
The office files are arranged alphabetically by folder title and reflect the various theater companies and organizations Nichtern worked for, and the professional organizations she belonged to. The correspondence regards Nichtern's personal and professional lives, which often overlapped. Notable correspondents include the poet and longtime friend Cid Corman, Nichtern's mentor Sir Tyrone Guthrie, and Anne Jackson and Eli Wallach. The publicity file contains clippings regarding Nichtern's career. Photographs consist of both publicity photographs and more causal snapshots of productions, award shows, and other events. Subjects include Vinnette Carroll, Frances Fuller, Moses Gunn, Arthur Miller, Paul Newman, Shauneille Perry, and Murray Schisgal.
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1962-198627 boxes
The projection files are arranged alphabetically by production and represent plays and musicals that Nichtern independently produced, as well as productions she produced at Warner Theatre Productions. The files primarily contain contracts and financial material. The contracts are detailed and include agreements made with theaters, directors, actors, and playwrights. The financial material consists of operating budgets, correspondence with investors, statements of receipts, final reports, and tax forms. Additional material includes correspondence, photographs, programs, and reviews. The Crimes of the Heart files document a two-year national tour and contain correspondence between Nichtern and tour manager, Alexander Holt. The files on Luv include photographs of the original cast members Alan Arkin, Anne Jackson, and Eli Wallach, as well as touring cast members Tom Bosley, Herbert Edelman, Barbara Bel Geddes, and Dorothy Loudon.
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1977-19875 boxes
The scripts are arranged alphabetically by title. The majority of the scripts are clean copies. The Emperor of Atlantic script includes reader reports from a staff member at Warner Theatre Productions.
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19801 box
The posters are arranged alphabetically by title. Though the posters are primarily of productions Nichtern produced, there are also posters from plays and musicals developed by other producers.