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Creator
O'Shaughnessy, John, 1907-1985
Call number
*T-Mss 2014-130
Physical description
3.3 linear feet (6 boxes, 1 volume)
Preferred Citation

John O'Shaughnessy papers, *T-Mss 2014-130. Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library

Repository
Billy Rose Theatre Division
Access to materials
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John O'Shaughnessy (1907-1985) was an actor and director. The collection, dated 1927 to 1976, mostly focuses on his career as a director through correspondence, clippings, photographs, playbills and scripts.

Biographical/historical information

John O'Shaughnessy (1907-1985) was a director for Broadway, Off-Broadway and regional theatres. A Seattle native, he began his career as an actor (returning occasionally to the stage), and became a director having his Broadway directorial debut with the play Command Decision. His other productions include Sean O'Casey's Red Roses for Me, the American Negro Theatre in Freight and other productions. During the 1960s and the 1970s he worked in regional theatres including the Arena Stage and the Missouri Repertory Theater. O'Shaughnessy died in Los Angeles in 1985.

Scope and arrangement

The collection, dated 1927 to 1976 (bulk 1960s-1970s), reflects the career of director John O'Shaughnessy through clippings, photographs, playbills, and scripts.

The bulk of the collection is material from regional theatres that include Brandeis University Theatre, Missouri Repertory Theatre, and Pennsylvania State University; and the productions of William Wister Haines's Command Decision, and O'Casey's Red Roses for Me. The latter production is documented with correspondence, annotated scripts, performance photographs, reviews, playbills for out-of-town performances, and blueprints.

His career as an actor is sparsely documented and includes a playbill for the 1927 production The Fool, a Drama in Four Acts.

Arrangement

The collection is alphabetically arranged by file title.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Donated by Hobe Morrison, date unknown.

Processing information

Compiled by Valerie Wingfield, 2015

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

Conditions Governing Use

The author/creator retains copyright of materials. for information about obtaining permission to publish, contact the Theatre Division at theatre@nypl.org.