Scope and arrangement
The Joan Marcus photographs, dating from 1980 to 2019, include images she took of hundreds of Broadway, Off-Broadway, and touring theatrical performances, as well as promotional portraits of actors, and other theater-related subjects. The collection comprises original and duplicate photographic slides, prints, transparencies, negatives, and digital images created by Marcus over the course of her career as a theater photographer.
Productions of note include M. Butterfly (1988), The Lion King, Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Spamalot, Doubt, Jersey Boys, Rent, Gypsy, Cabaret, Mamma Mia!, Angels in America, Book of Mormon, Dear Evan Hansen, Fun Home, Hamilton, Kinky Boots, Matilda, Shrek, Spring Awakening, and Wicked. Marcus photographed many such popular productions repeatedly over the course of successive seasons, spanning years or decades.
The collection is organized into two series: Series I holding Marcus' working files, which she called "Assignments," and Series II, her negatives, which correspond to many of the assignments in Series I.
The Joan Marcus photographs are arranged in two series:
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1980-201989.54 linear feet (214 Boxes). 33.2 terabytes (3,473,053 computer files)
"Assignments" is the term Marcus uses for her main work files. Files in this series are labeled with the name of the production, theater company, people, or events they document.
The vast majority of images depict live performances of plays and musicals. Many staged publicity shots and cast portraits are also included. Some individual headshot portraits of actors, playwrights, and directors are present, as are occasional images of rehearsals, backstage scenes, and other theater-related events. Most productions were staged in New York City, though Marcus also occasionally documented performances in Washington, DC, and touring productions as they travelled regionally around the United States.
Assignments files typically contain slides, prints, contact sheets, and digital image files. Occasionally, documents relating to shooting sessions or particular productions, such as: lab invoices; Marcus's handwritten notes; other correspondence; playbills; cast lists; or programs are found alongside photographs in these files. Many duplicate and similar images appear within a single file. Marcus's editing choices can frequently be discerned by markings on slide sleeves or notations on the backs of prints.
In 2003 Marcus began using digital cameras. She was an early adopter of digital photography, making the transition from traditional analog processes gradually throughout the 2000s and 2010s. Assignments files from 2003 onward may include digital images. Digital image files become more prevalent among Assignments as the years progress.
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1980-201252.29 linear feet (126 Boxes)
Series II holds the negative strips and sheets corresponding to some prints and slides, especially those shot before the 2000s, found in Series I, which Marcus stored separately. Selection information and technical lab notes sometimes appear in these files. The vast majority of negatives were shot in black-and-white 35 millimeter format. A substantial quantity of black-and-white 120 millimeter film is included, while only a scant quantity of color or larger format negatives is present.