Scope and arrangement
The Manhattan Theatre Club Records document the development of the creative and the business output of this successful off-Broadway theater company. Materials are arranged according to the Manhattan Theatre Club originating divisions of Artistic Files and General Management. Artistic Files refer to files generated by the Artistic departments under the direct supervision of Artistic Director Lynne Meadow. General Management files refer to files generated by the General Management departments under the direct supervision of Executive Producer Barry Grove. Due to the close working relationship between the Artistic Director and the Executive Producer, numerous artistic materials can also be found in General Management series (e.g. production files). As such, similar sub-series can be found under both series (i.e. administration and production files). While comparable documents can be found within these two series (and specifically within the sub-series mentioned), the notes and departmental handling are unique.
Correspondence with financial and theatre related agencies, artistic personnel connected with both proposed and produced productions, and with Manhattan Theatre Club staff makes up a considerable portion of this collection. This collection also contains papers that illustrate the practical business of running a theater company such as box office statements, literary office reports, meeting minutes, and guidelines, as well as a significant amount of production related material including casting information, clippings, production reports, programs, and general publicity.
The collection contains a limited amount of personal correspondence or other personal information about the founders, members, writers, directors, or actors. In addition, the collection contains a limited number of scripts, contracts and production photographs. In order to maintain Manhattan Theatre Club's designated divisions of Artistic and General Management departments, similar sub-series can be found under both series (i.e. administration and production files). While comparable documents can be found within these two series (and specifically within the sub-series mentioned), the notes and departmental handling are unique.
The Manhattan Theatre Club records are arranged in two series:
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1964-1997
The Artistic Files contain materials generated by the departments under the direct supervision of Artistic Director Lynne Meadow. The Artistic Departments focused on creating and producing shows and performances as well as developing and maintaining working relationships with authors, artistic and theatrical agencies, and funding organizations. While every decision was ultimately subject to approval by Lynne Meadow and Barry Grove, Artistic Associate Jonathan Alper is credited with his invaluable assistance in shaping the artistic focus of the agency from 1980 until his death in 1990.
Artistic files include show and performance materials related to off-Broadway, Broadway, and Cabaret productions and performances as well as materials related to the Writers in Performance series of readings by authors and performers. Materials include correspondence, scripts, casting lists, financial materials, fundraising materials, stage manager reports, publicity, photographs, and clippings as well as resumes of artistic personal, submissions from writers, artists and agents, and professional files created by Artistic department staff. Due to the close working relationship between the Artistic departments and General Management, assorted management materials can also be found in this series.
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1966-2004
This series contains the files generated under the direct supervision of Executive Producer Barry Grove. The General Management department focused primarily on developing and maintaining working relationships with funding organizations to produce shows and performances yet still maintained the link established by the Artistic Department with authors and the others of the artistic community.