Victoria Crandall papers

1954-1958

Victoria Crandall (d. 1990) was a theatrical producer who packaged numerous touring stage shows for the summer theater trade. In addition to organizing productions that toured the Northeastern United States, she also served as co-producer and musical director for the British Colonial Playhouse in Nassau, Bahamas, in the mid-1950s. In 1959 Crandall founded the Brunswick Summer Playhouse, later known as the Maine State Music Theater, which she headed as executive director and artistic director for the rest of her life. The Victoria Crandall papers consist of business letters and some personal correspondence pertaining to Victoria "Vicki" Crandall's career as a theatrical producer for summer theater productions during the 1950s. Most of the material concerns three large-scale productions Crandall organized for touring companies during this period, BRIGADOON, SONG OF NORWAY and THE GREAT WALTZ. The last production in particular is well documented, due perhaps to an alleged breach of promise by one theatrical venue which resulted in exchanges of heated correspondence and threats of legal action. Most of the other documents relate to routine matters of billing, casting, box office grosses, and the like.