Scope and arrangement
The Michael John LaChiusa papers date from the 1970s to 2015 and document his work as a composer, lyricist, and librettist. The collection concerns the development and performance of LaChiusa's original theatrical works, collaborations with other writers and composers, and work he contributed to revues and other shows. The bulk of the material is scores, scripts, and librettos, including early drafts, final drafts, fragments, and unused material. The collection also contains recordings, notes, correspondence, press clippings, programs, and other materials. Some of the records are electronic.
The Michael John LaChiusa papers are arranged in six series:
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1980-2015
Most production files contain complete and partial drafts of music and scripts; cut songs and discarded ideas; notes and research material; scripts and scores used in workshops, readings, performances, and cast recordings; and audio and video recordings. Files may also include programs, press clippings, promotional material, correspondence, rehearsal schedules, cast lists, and other production papers. Among the best-documented works are First Lady Suite, Lovers and Friends (Chautauqua Variations), Marie Christine, The Petrified Prince, See What I Wanna See, and The Wild Party. LaChiusa's early produced work includes music for Jeffrey Essmann shows, librettos for Robert Moran operas, and work with the Terrapin theater company, the Soho Repertory Theatre, and the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center.
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1979-2007
Unproduced and unfinished works are documented in varying levels of detail: some projects are represented only by notes, correspondence, or programs, while for others there are scores and recordings. The most extensive files are for works that were performed in readings or workshops: Ballad of the Sad Cafe, The End of Day, Henry and Ellen, Therese Raquin, and Zorro. Some material related to unproduced work can also be found in Series III: Songs.
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1970s-2010
Song files contain scores, lyrics, notes, correspondence, recordings, and other documentation of individual songs by LaChiusa, many of which were commissioned as contributions to shows. This series also contains music for LaChiusa's early songs from the 1970s and 1980s.
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1981-2014
This series contains clippings, interviews, and other publicity material for LaChiusa and his work. Drafts and clippings of essays written by LaChiusa are also in this series.
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1992-20031,121 Kilobytes (77 computer files)
This series contains letters to and from LaChiusa regarding his work, and miscellaneous personal records including financial records and personal photographs.
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circa 1990s
Miscellaneous recordings include music by others and unidentified recordings.