A project: Shakespeare on the desert Item Type text; Thesis-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Emerson, Paul H. Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 07/10/2021 08:23:51 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/553990 A PROJECT: SHAKESPEARE ON THE DESERT BY PAWL H . Em e r s o n A T hes i s S u b m i t t e d to the Fa c u l t y or t h e DEPARTMENT OF DRAMA In Pa r t i a l Fu l f i l l m e n t of the Requirements For t h e D ecr e e of MASTER OF ARTS In t h e Gr a d u a t e Co l l e c e THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 1964 STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This t h e s i s has been s u b m i t t e d in p a rtial fulfillment of REQUIREMENTS FOR AN ADVANCED DECREE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA AND IS DEPOSITED IN THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO BORROWERS UNDER RULES OF THE LIBRARY. Brief q u o t a t i o n s from this t h e s i s ar e a l l o w a b l e w i t h o u t SPECIAL PERMISSION, PROVIDED THAT ACCURATE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SOURCE IS MADE. REQUESTS FOR PERMISSION FOR EXTENDED QUOTATION FROM OR REPRODUCTION OF THIS MANUSCRIPT IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE GRANTED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER. SIG N ED : Co p y r i g h t by Paul H. Em e r s o n 1964 APPROVAL BY THESIS DIRECTOR This t h e s i s has been a p p r o v e d on the date s h o w n b e l o w : PETER R . MARRONEY Pr o f e s s o r of Drama ACKNOWLEDGMENTS T he a u t h o r e x p r e s s e s his g r a t i t u d e to the m a n y Ar i z o n a n s w h o HELPED ADVANCE THE FOUNDING OF SHAKESPEARE ON THE DESERT. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I T he St u d y for the PrO u e c t : Sh a k e s p e a r e oh the D esert . I s' I I The ORGANIZATION OF THE PROJECTS SHAKESPEARE ON THE De s e r t .................... 5 III T he Ex e c u t i o n of t h e Pr o j e c t : Sh a k e s p e a r e on t h e D ese r t l4 IV Author’s Appraisal of the Project: Shakespeare on the D e s e r t .................... lo APPENDICES A C orrespondence from the Au t h o r to t h e Ro y a l Ac a d e m y of l8 Dr a m a t i c A rt ......... .................... B Correspondence f r o m a n d ab o u t t h e Ro y a l Ac a d e m y of Dr a m a t i c Art to t h e Au t h o r ........................ 31 C Correspondence from Arizona high schools to the Author IN Response to the Author’s Su r v e y ........... 76 D Journalistic C o v e r a g e of t h e Pr o j e c t : S h a k e s p e a r e on the De s e r t ..................................... 97 E Co n t r a c t s In v o l v i n g S h a k e s p e a r e on t h e De s e r t , In c . 135 F Pr o s p e c t u s : Sh a k e s p e a r e on t h e D esert ................ Extra Volume G Brochure and Program: Shakespeare on the Desert .... Extra Volume IV ABSTRACT T he p u r p o s e of t h i s t h e s i s is to pr e s e n t t h e m a j o r p o ints of DEVELOPMENT OF SHAKESPEARE ON THE DESERT FROM AM IDEA THROUGH THE COM­ PLETION OF ITS FIRST YEAR AS A SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL. T he a u t h o r t r a c e s the f o r m a t i o n of t h r e e e l e m e n t s n e c e s s a r y to THE COMPLETION OF ANY DRAMA FESTIVAL: A THEATRE COMPANY, AN AUDIENCE, AND THE FINANCIAL STRUCTURE WHICH BRING THE TWO FORMER ELEMENTS TO­ GETHER. V CHAPTER I THE STUDY FOR THE PROJECT % SHAKESPEARE ON THE DESERT Du r i n g 1961, a f t e r s e v e n y e a r s of w o r k in Ar i z o n a as a s t u d e n t OF THE THEATRE, THE AUTHOR BELIEVED HE HAD FOUND A RELATIONSHIP OF FACTS WHICH WOULD SUPPORT HIS IDEA TO FOUND A WINTER, SHAKESPEAREAN FESTIVAL in Ar i z o n a e m p l o y i n g Br i t i s h a c t o r s . T his c h a p t e r is c o n c e r n e d w i t h a PRESENTATION OF THESE FACTS WHICH ARE GROUPED INTO THREE CATEGORIES. T he FIRST CATEGORY MAY BE EXPRESSED IN THE PREMISE THAT THE THREE MAJOR SHAKESPEAREAN FESTIVALS IN THE UNITED STATES, PRESENTING PLAYS ON DIFFERENT TYPES OF STAGES USING DIFFERENT TYPES OF COMPANY OR­ GANIZATION, OPERATE SUCCESSFULLY IN TOURIST AREAS. THE THREE MAJOR S hakespearean f e s t i v a l s in t h e Un i t e d Stat e s a r e : (I) T he Na t i o n a l S hakespearean Fe s t i v a l at t h e O ld Gl o b e T h e a t r e , Ba l b o a Pa r k , S an D ieg o , Ca l i f o r n i a ; (2) T he Am e r i c a n S hakespearean Fe s t i v a l , St r a t f o r d , Co n n e c t i c u t ; (3 ) T he Or e g o n S hakespearean Fe s t i v a l , As h l a n d , Or e g o n . S ince 1955 t i c k e t s a l e r e v e n u e at t h e Na t i o n a l S hakespearean Fe stival in S an D iego has e x c e e d e d t h e t h e a t r e 's o p e r a t i n g e x p e n s e s . T his information , t a k e n f r o m the f i n a n c i a l r e c o r d s of t h e Old G lobe T h e a t r e , w a s given to t h e a u t h o r by M iss Peggy Ke l l n e r , Art D i r e c t o r .* Pr o d u c i n g D irector Cr a i g No e l a t t r i b u t e s over half t h e t i c k e t s a l e r e v ­ enue to S an D i e g o 's t o u r i s t t r a d e . T he Na t i o n a l S hakespearean Fe s t i v a l *SlNCE THESE RECORDS ARE PART OF THE FILES OF A PRIVATE CORPORA­ TION, WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THIS INFORMATION IS NOT AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. I 2 OPERATES DURING THE HEIGHT OF CALIFORNIA'S SUMMER TOURIST SEASON, WHICH IS FROM THE FIRST WEEK OF JUNE THROUGH THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF SEPTEM­ BER. * The S hakespearean p l a y s p r e s e n t e d at t h e Old Gl o b e T h e a t r e are PERFORMED UPON A PROSCENIUM STAGE BUILT WITHIN A ROOFED PLAYHOUSE. THE REPERTORY COMPANY IS ORGANIZED AS A STOCK COMPANY EMPLOYING A NUCLEUS OF Eq u i t y a c t o r s to w h i c h are a d d e d a s u p p l e m e n t of a p p r e n t i c e a c t o r s .