NEWSLETTER OF THE THEATRE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

Volume 23, No. 1 Summer 1995

GEORGE FREEDLEY/THEATRE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION BOOK AWARDS

On Wednesday, May 31, the Theatre Library Association held the George Freedley-TLA Awards ceremony at Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts in the Bruno Walter Auditorium. Two critics, a film director and an actress presented awards to authors of outstanding books on Theatre, Film, and Television. The winners were Richard Abel, Neal Gabler, Faye E. Dudden and Simon Trussler.

Michael Musto, writer for the Wage Voice and "gossip guru," presented the first award, the Theatre Library Association's honorable mention, to Neal Gabler's book WncheZZ: Gossip, Power and the Culture of Celebrity Faye E. Dudden, Estelle Parsons (Knopf). Accepting the award on behalf of Neal Gabler was Gary Stevens. Stevens read Gabler's remarks which was good, and he wasn't afraid to Trussler for his book Cambridge thanked the Theater Library Association pronounce his opinion." Illustrated History of British Theatre. and acknowledged the New York Public Barnes began by saying that people Library at Lincoln Center where most of Thierry PathC, NYU professor and often ask "How do you remember all the research for the Winchell book had director of documentaries for theatre that stuff?" "Well" he said "we don't. We been done. Gabler mentioned his and television, presented the 1994 TLA use reference books." He'went on to say special kinship with TLA for its support Award for outstanding Film book to that there aren't many books that of his book An Empire of Their Own: Richard Abel for The Cine Goes to illustrate world theatre history. How the Jews Invented Hollywood Town: French Cinema, 1896-1914 Accepting the award for Trussler was (Crown), the winner of the 1988 Theatre (University of California Press). His Peter-John Leone from Cambridge Library Association Award for most award was accepted by Eileen Bowser, University Press. He said that Simon outstanding film book of the year. In former film curator at The Museum of Trussler was deeply honored and that accepting the award, Gary Stevens, a Modern Art. She thanked TLA and "we at Cambridge would like to thank press agent who knew Winchell, said she was honored to accept the the jury for their kind recognition." remembered the man who invented award on behalf of Richard Abel. gossip: "he was electric; he knew in a The last presenter of the evening was few seconds whether or not something Clive Barnes presented the George Estelle Parsons who began her career as Freedley honorable mention to Simon a production assistant on the "Today"

Volume 23, No. 1 Summer 1995 4 show, and made her Broadway debut in Happy Hunting. Along with her many theater credits, Parsons also won an Oscar for portraying Blanche in BONNIE AND CLYDE. She now is more popularly known as Roseanne's mother and Shelley Winter's daughter.

Estelle Parsons presented the George Freedley award for the best Theatre book of 1994 to Faye E. Dudden for Women and The American Theatre, 1790-1870 (Yale University Press). Parsons said she enjoyed the book because it was one of the few times she had a chance to read something good. She also went on to say that there was a lot in the book about women who played men's roles as women. That is, they got dressed up in men's costumes but the audience still knew they were Freedley winner, Faye E. Dudden and Book Awards chairman, Steve Vallillo women. It was very popular because it gave men a chance to see women in something more revealing than a dress. College), Richard Wall (Queens (Simon & Schuster/Macmillan), 1995. College), and Don B. Wilmeth (Brown $35.00, cloth. ISBN 0028708326. Accepting the award was the author University). The TLA jurors were Faye E. Dudden She said that "history Barbara Stratyner (The New York Jonson, Ben. The Alchemist and other tells us something about the present. Public Library for the Performing plays. New York: Oxford University, Looking at theatre is very important to Arts), Steven Higgins (The Museum of 1995. $7.95, paper. ISBN 0192822527. understanding the past. I'm not a Modern Art) and James Poteat (former (World's Classics) theatre person, I'm really just a TLA president). The Awards historian." Therefore, she was doubly chairperson was Stephen M. Vallillo (St. McTeague, James H. Playwrights and honored to have her work recognized by John's University). --Michael Acting: Acting Methodologies for Brecht, theatre historians and librarians. She Cunningham Ionesco, Pinter, and Shepard. Westport, went on to say that she wrote the book CT: Greenwood Press, 1994. $49.95, for historians but surprisingly the people BOOKS RECEIVED cloth. ISBN 0313289751. [Contributions who have liked the book have been in Drama and Theatre Studies, ISSN theatre people. Dudden thanked her Darling, Jean. A Peek at the Past. 01633821, no. 591. husband for being so patient and the Jiigesheim, Germany: Hamling, 1995. Theatre .Collection at Lincoln Center Distributed by Aunty Poppy Ltd., 294 Malamud, Randy. mere the Words are where she did much of her research. South Cirular Road, Dublin 8, Eire. IR Valid: T.S. Eliot's Contmunities of She urged everyone to support the f ll/DM25/U.S. $18, paper. Drama. Westport, CT: Greenwood, National Endowment for the [Autobiography of child star of "Our 1994. $49.95, cloth. ISBN 0313278180. Humanities, which gave her the funding Gang" comedies.] [Contributions in Drama and Theatre for this project. She said if it wasn't for Studies, ISSN 01633821, no. 581. the funds from the NEH the book Ganzl, Kurt. Ganzl's Book of the would not have been possible. Broadway Musical: 75 Favorite Shows Pereira, Kim. August Wsort and the from H.M.S. Pinafore to Sunset African-American Odyssey. Urbana and The jurors for the George Freedley Boulevard. New York: Schirmer Books Chicago: University of Illinois, 1995. Award were James Fisher (Wabash

Volume 23, No. 1 Summer 1995 2 $29.95, cloth. ISBN 0252021371. [Also, persona of the clown has influenced the clown's clash with oppression. This $12.95, paper. ISBN 0252064291.1 (and been influenced by) art and politics link helps him to establish the significant in such diverse regions as Bali, thematic similarities among these artists. Playwright versus Director: Authorial Lithuania, South Africa, Italy, Japan and As chapters explore the political satires Intentions and Performance the U.S. Immersing himself in each produced by the Vilnius State Theatre, Interpretations, edited by Jeane Luere. particular culture, Jenkins (who is or the "terrifying" comedies of Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1994. trained as a clown himself) provides the Johannesburg's Prince Dubu in South $55.00, cloth. ISBN 0313286795. closest thing to an insider's view while Africa, or Japan's Taishu engeki, or [Contributions in Drama and Theatre illuminating the complicated nature of America's Bread and Puppet Theatre, Studies, ISSN 01633821, no. 541. the comic tradition. or, in the strongest chapter, Italy's Dario Fo and Franca Rame, Jenkins persuades A Singular Elegance: The Photographs In his first chapter, "Urban Slapstick and the reader that the clown can give of Baron Adolph de Meyer. [Published Survival," Jenkins traces the origins of "audiences common ground for laughter in conjunction with an exhibition the postmodern clown to Charlie and free them from the isolation that organized by The International Center Chaplin, the first comic genius of the pervades so much of modern life." of Photography, New York, 10 Dec. twentieth century. Weaving Chaplin's (p.208) 1994-12 Feb. 19951. San Francisco: screen art together with his politics, Chronicle Books, 1994. Price na., cloth. Jenkins describes a performer driven to Subversive Laughter is lucid, well-argued, ISBN 0811808300. comment on the ills of the society within and often compelling; the reader is which he operates. Chaplin believed consistently aware of the precariousness Whitmore, Jon. William Saroyan: A that "Ridicule is an attitude of defiance. of the lives of those who must play the Research and Production Sourcebook. We must laugh at our helplessness clown (and of Jenkins himself, whose Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1994. against the forces of nature or go own awareness of potential violence is $69.50, cloth. ISBN 0313292507. insane." (p.3) Jenkins believes that always present). In "America's Comedy [Modern Dramatists Research and Chaplin's on-screen assault on all forms of Detachment," the book's capstone Production Sourcebooks, ISSN of authority, mixed with his criticism of chapter, Jenkins concludes that the 1055999X, no. 61. social injustice off-screen, reveals his "through line that connects all these true theatrical persona. This merger of comic traditions goes beyond Chaplin's character and actor is necessary for 'attitude of defiance' to a deeper BOOK REVIEW Chaplin to emerge as the subversive function of humor that can turn an national court jester Jenkins describes. audience of individuals into a Subversive Laughter. The Liberating community ...the things that strike us as Power of Comedy, by Ron Jenkins. Jenkins's images of contemporary funny have the power to set us free." (p. (New York: Free Press, 1994. ISBN O- clowns leads him to test his theory that 208) What more could be asked from 02-916405-2) "Popular comedy can be a call for any theatrical form? Jenkins perseverance in the face of tyranny, convincingly illuminates the universality Ron Jenkins offers an insightful account death and oppression ... For an audience and timelessness of the subversive of several of the most elusive with its back against the wall a clown is clown.-James Fisher (Wabash College) politically-inspired clowns and comic a metaphysical escape artist, a Houdini theatres of our time in Subversive of the soul." (p.11) Throughout the CALL FOR PAPERS Laughter. Jenkins has previously book, Jenkins deals with several published Acrobats of the Soul, a politically-inspired forms of comic nte Puppetry Yearbook. For the third copiously illustrated introduction to the theatre, focusing in each case on a annual volume of essays on the art, "new vaudevillians" who have emerged specific artist or theatre company while history, theory, and performance of on American stages since the 1970s, but sketching in the necessary socio-political puppetry to be published by the Edwin in Subversive Laughter he widens his background of the culture in which the Mellen Press (Lewiston, New York and scope. Jenkins' international gaze artist or company functions. Variant London). Papers are welcome on any provides a unique survey of the ways in details of technique are revealed, and aspect of puppetry and may be of any which the remarkably resilient stage these are often individually fascinating, length. Illustrations are welcome. but the dominant theme for Jenkins is

Volume 23, No. 1 Summer 1995 Submissions should include one double- sparked by a recent bequest from the Scott Douglas Morrow was named spaced copy of the paper, a brief estate of Walter Watson, a leading San Visiting Dance Artist-in-Residence by biography of the author, and illustrations Francisco costumer for the American the Jay County Arts Council, Portland, (if any) that would accompany the Conservatory Theater and the San IN. From June 4-18, he conducted paper. Deadline for submissions: Francisco Opera. Mr. Watson's bequest master classes and workshops for March 15,19%. Send papers, proposals consisted of over 500 books, prints and children and their families, teachers and or inquiries to: James Fisher, Editor. magazines with a particular focus on other community participants. The Puppetry Yearbook, c/o Theater fashion and design in the 19th and early Department, Wabash College, 20th centuries. An additional gift of Maria P. Myers performed in The Crawfordsville, IN 47933. Tel.: 317-361- over 400 books ranging from Asian and Quadratic Rehearsals, a new play by 6394. E-Mail: [email protected] European set and costume design to the Michael Kirby presented in April at the history of the American musical has Soho Photo Gallery. This August, she COLLECTION NEWS been given by Professor William will berform in Horton Foote's A Trip to Eddelman (Stanford University). The Bountiful at the Strand Theatre, Schroon Hatch-Billops Collection, Inc. With a collection is open to the public 5 days Lake in the Adirondacks. grant from the American Library week. A list of the books currently in Association, the 14 volumes of Artist the collection is available for $10. Please Barry Alan Richmond contributed an and Influence, the annual journal send check payable to SF Palm to article on "The Grand Guignols Theatre published by the Hatch-Billops Design List, SF Palm, 3% Grove St. San of Paris" for Funeral Patty (New York: Collection, have been indexed by Francisco, CA 94102. Horror Society of New York University, Professor Susan Duffy and Librarian May 1995). Paul Adalian of the University of MEMBER NEWS California at San Luis Opisbo. This Don B. Wilmeth (Brown University) is index will be available to libraries next James Fisher recently contributed currently a consultant for WNET and year. Hatch-Billops, with assistance several articles: "Tender Men: Sherwood the New York Center for Visual History from Saskia Rozier, a work-study Anderson and Eugene O'Neill," to The for a series of television documentaries student from Holland, has just Eugene O'Neill Joumal, Spring/Fall1993 on American theatre for PBS. He is completed a catalog of the (v.17, Nos.1 & 2); "'The Angels of also Dean-Elect, College of Fellows of approximately 1OOO histories in its oral Fructification': Tennessee Williams, the American Theatre, and Secretary of history collection in the arts. The Lost Tony Kushner, and Images of the American Society for Theatre Plays of the Harlem Renaissance, an Homosexuality on the American Stage," Research (Anyone interested in ASTR anthology of 16 unpublished plays Mississippi Quarterly (Summer 1995); should write Don). For the Fall 1995 written by African-Americans between and, "A Cinemactor's Forgotten semester, Don will be the O.R. and Eva 1920 and 1938 will be published by Theatrical Resume: Spencer Tracy on Mitchell Visiting Distinguished Professor Wayne State University Press in the Stage," New England Theatre Joumal at Trinity University in San Antonio, spring of 1996. The editors are (Summer 1995). Texas. For ASTR info., write: Don B. Professors James V. Hatch and Leo Wilmeth, Box 1897-Theatre, Brown Hamalian of City College of New York. Ricky Jay played "The Cook" in ABC University, Providence, RI 02912 Movie of the Week, 7he Ranger, The San Francisco Performing Arts Library Cook & A Hole in the Sky, broadcast OBITUARY & Museum (PALM) announces the Thursday, June 15, 1995 at 8:00PM. establishment of a Theatrical Design Sonia Moore, founder of the American Research Collection. The collection Louise Kerz was the historical Center for Stanislavsky Theater Art and includes information on centuries of researcher for the 1995 Tony Awards the Sonia Moore Studio of the Theater, European design, international fashion, (produced by Smith-Hemion died on Friday, May 19, 1995 at the age Chinese Opera costumes, Japanese Productions). She also was included in of 92. A longtime TLA member, Mrs. kimonos, masks, military uniforms, the Who's Who of American Women, Moore was a writer and an acting children's fashions, even underwear. 1995. teacher who trained actors in the The initial concept for the collection was theatrical principals and theories of the

Volume 23, No. 1 Summer 1995 4 Russian director. Born in Gomel, PUBLICATIONS Belarus, Mrs. Moore studied at the Moscow Art Theater before coming to Rags, quarterly reviews of costume, (f12.75); Other (U.S. $20.00). Payable the U.S. in 1940. She authored a clothing & ethnic textile books. 16 to R. L- Shep, Box 668, Mendock CA number of books on acting including expert reviewers will critique new and 95460. Tel: 707-937-1436. Fax: 707-937- The Stanislavsky Method and recent books in these fields, hoping to 3059- Stanislavsky Revealed: The Actor's stimulate industry wide discussion and Complete Guide to Spontaneity on Stage. interest in what is presently being She was the widow of Leon Moore, a published. Annual subscriptions: U.S. former Soviet diplomat who became an ($14.00); Canada (U.S.$15.00); U.K. advisor to CIA Director, Allen Dulles. She is survived by her daughter, Irene Moore Jaglom, and grandchildren.

CALENDAR

October 27,1995. Theatre Library Association. Annual Business Meeting, 4:00-5:15PM. Reception: 5:15-6:00PM. The program will feature author Ethan Mordden who will discuss how he researched his forthcoming book on musicals of the Twenties and the changes he has encountered in doing musical research. Program runs from 6:00 to 7:00PM. At the Shubert Archive, 149 West 45th St., NYC 10036.

November 8-12,1995. American Society for Theatre Research/Theatre Library Association Annual Conference, at the Marriott in St. Louis. [CORRECTION: Guided Bus tour of St. Louis Theatre District has been changed to Thurs. afternoon, Nov. 9, from 19-4:00PM]. Led by Carolyn H. Toft, the Executive Director of the Landmarks Association of St. Louis, the tour will include interiors of the Fox Theatre and the Powell Symphony Hall and the exteriors of the Black Repertory Theatre, the American (formerly Orpheum) Theatre and the Scott Joplin Historic Site. Tour is limited to 45 persons; cost is $15.00 per person. Deadline for advance reservations is October 15th. On Fri., Nov. 10, from 4:00 to 5:30PM, TLA will present a panel on "Performing Arts Collections in the St. Louis area" with panelists, Martha Clevinger (Missouri Historical Society Library), Jean Gosebrink (Special Collections, St. Louis Public Library), and Kevin Ray (Special Collections, Washington University Library).

July 8, 1996. TLA at ALA. "Professional Use of Theatre Collections." Co-sponsored by both the ACRL English & American Literature Section (EALS) and the ACRL Arts Section. Panelists include: Ming Cho Lee, Marian Seldes. At the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, 7-10PM.

August 22-24,1996. Dance to Honour Kings: Sources for Court and Theatrical Dramatic Entertainments, 1690-1740. CALL FOR PAPERS. Using or interpreting the sources is the conference theme; proposals concerned with major collections, specific resources, biography, patronage, specific theatres, cities or geographical areas, iconography, reconstruction of dance or music from primary source notation and the role of the "critical edition" are particularly welcome. DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: Nov. 1, 1995. Send 200-300 word proposal, including information about a-v requirements to: Dance Conference King's, c/o The Department of Music, King's London, The Strand, London WC2R 2LS United Kingdom. Tel.: 01235-850 756

September 1-7, 1996. 21st International Congress of SIBMAS, in Helsinki, Finland at the Theatre Museum and at the Central Library for the Performing Arts and Dance. The theme is: Winds of Change. To help SIBMAS members cope with the new tech- nologies and compete in the market for funds & audiences, special attention will be given to audiovisual displays & multimedia. The conference will focus on four major topics: electronic documentation; exhibitions & education; marketing, publicity & fundraising; computing & new technologies. Thc circular and prclirninary call for papcrs will be sent out in Autumn 1995. For information, contact: Hanna-Leena Helavuori, Theatre Museum, Tallberginkatu 1 F 2/73 00180 Helsinki, Finland Tel.: + (358)- 0-6945088 Fax: + (358)-0-6945211

-- Volume 23. No. 1 Summer 1995 THEATRE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION ASTR/TLA ANNUAL MEETING ANNUAL MEETING in ST. LOUIS OCTOBER 27,1995 Place: Shnbert Archive A SPECIAL TOUR FOR EARLY ARRIVALS Tlme: 4:OO-5:15PM, Business Meeting 5:1MdJOPM, Reception PLEASE NOTE: 690-'7:00PM, F'rogram TLA Tour will be on Thursday, November 9,1995 from 130-4:OOPM. Author Ethan Mordden will discuss his forthcoming book. SEE Calendar for more information.

Oficers of the Theatre Library Association (founded 1937): President, Geraldine Duclow, Head, Theatre Collection, Free Library of Philadelphia; Vice President, Robert Taylor, Curator, Theatre Collection, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts; Executive Secretary, Maryann Chach, Shubert Archive; Treasurer, Richard M. Buck, Assistant to the Executive Director, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts; Recording Secretary, Rosemary L. Cullen, Brown University. Broa&HSN:8868-t3rte, published quarterly by the Theatre Library Association, 111 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY 10023, is sent to all members in good standing. Co-editors: Maryann Chach, Catherine J. Johnson. TLA membership (annual dues: $20 personal, $25 institutional) also includes Performing Arts Resources, published annually. Current members may purchase past issues of PAR, $10 prepaid, and Broadside, $2 prepaid.

Theatre Library Association NONPROFIT ORG. 111 Amsterdam Avenue U S. POSTAGE New York, N.Y. 10023 PA1D NEW YORK. N.Y. I PERMIT NO. 2632