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Creator
Luce, William
Call number
*T-Mss 2015-002
Physical description
13.9 linear feet (34 boxes)
Preferred Citation

William Luce papers, *T-Mss 2015-002. Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library.

Repository
Billy Rose Theatre Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.

William Luce is an American playwright and television writer best known for his theatrical studies of historical figures. His papers, dating from 1946 to 2013, primarily document his career as a writer from 1976 to the early 2000s. The collection contains scripts, notes, correspondence, clippings, photographs, programs, contracts, and other papers.

Biographical/historical information

William Luce (born 1931) is an American playwright and television writer. He studied piano and composition at university and worked as a songwriter and singer before he began to write for theater and television.

As a writer, Luce specializes in character studies of historical figures. His first stage work was a one-woman show about Emily Dickinson, The Belle of Amherst, written for Julie Harris. It was produced in 1976, and Harris received a Tony Award for her performance. A televised version was also produced by PBS. The same year, Luce wrote a radio drama for Harris about Charlotte Brontë, titled Currer Bell, Esquire, which won a Peabody Award. It was later adapted into a television film and a one-woman play, Brontë.

Luce wrote the solo shows Zelda: The Last Flapper about Zelda Fitzgerald (1984), Lillian about Lillian Hellman (1986), and Lucifer's Child about Isak Dinesen (1991). He wrote the book for a musical adaptation of James A. Michener's novel, Sayonara, first produced at the Paper Mill Playhouse in 1987.Barrymore was produced on Broadway in 1997, and its star Christopher Plummer received a Tony for his role as John Barrymore. Baptiste, about the life of Molière, was produced at Hartford Stage in 2001.

Two of Luce's plays, Chanel and Nijinsky, premiered in Toyko in 1996 and 2000, respectively. Many of his other works, including Barrymore and The Belle of Amherst, also received Japanese productions.

Luce wrote the libretto for an opera, Gabriel's Daughter, with music by Henry Mollicone. The opera was produced by the Central City Opera in 2003.

In addition to adapting some of his plays for television, Luce wrote several original television films: The Last Days of Patton (1986), The Woman He Loved (about Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, 1988), and Lucy and Desi Before the Laughter (1991). He lives in Depoe Bay, Oregon.

Scope and arrangement

The William Luce papers date from 1946 to 2013 and document his career as a writer, primarily for theater and television, from 1976 to the 2000s. The collection contains scripts, notes, correspondence, clippings, photographs, programs, contracts, sheet music, and a small amount of personal papers.

Luce's produced works are traced from their commission to production to public reception. Production files include background research (sometimes including correspondence with subject experts); copies of the script (usually including multiple drafts); correspondence regarding script changes, contracts, and casting; and programs and clippings for Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regional productions, as well as productions in countries such as Japan, Denmark, Russia, and Finland.

Unproduced theater and television projects are represented by scripts and outlines. There is also a file for an unpublished children's book, written by Luce with illustrations by the actor Christian LeBlanc.

Luce's work as a lyricist in the 1950s and 1960s is represented by published sheet music for Christian hymns. There is also a score for Beatitude Mass: For the Homeless, with music by Henry Mollicone and words by Luce.

Personal papers include correspondence (some related to Luce's career), photographs of Luce, items inscribed to Luce by actors, awards and certificates, and clippings, among other papers.

Arrangement

Production files are listed alphabetically by title. Other papers are arranged in four categories: Programs, Unproduced Projects, Songs, and Personal Papers.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Donated by William Luce, 2014 and 2016.

Processing information

Compiled by Kit Fluker, 2016.

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 on obtaining permission to publish, contact the Theatre Division at theatre@nypl.org.