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Actors' Equity Association Theatrical Programs

Call Number

WAG.257

Date

1915-2001, inclusive

Creator

Actors' Equity Association
Actors' Equity Association (Role: Donor)

Extent

61 Linear Feet (61 boxes)

Language of Materials

English .

Abstract

Actors' Equity Association (AEA) is the union of professional legitimate stage actors and stage managers. AEA negotiates contracts and agreements that often affect a productions theatre program. Over the years rules regarding billing, program biographies, and Equity recognition in programs have become part of these contracts and agreements. The Actors' Equity Association Theatrical Programs collection is made up of programs collected by the organization, its employees and friends from 1915 to 2001. The collection includes programs for productions in New York City, at regional theatres around the country as well as touring productions and Equity Library Theatre. The collection demonstrates the enormity and diversity of theatre in America during the 20th Century.

Historical/Biographical Note

Actors' Equity Association (AEA) is the union of professional legitimate stage actors and stage managers. It was founded in New York City in May 1913, but did not gain full recognition as the bargaining agent for actors until the historic strike of 1919.

AEA negotiates contracts and agreements that often affect a productions theatre program. Over the years rules regarding billing, program biographies, and Equity recognition in programs have become part of these contracts and agreements.

The bulk of the programs in this collection came from Paul Ross. An Equity stage manager, Ross was the publisher of the Players' Guide, a compilation of actors' photographs and credits arranged by sex and type. He collected these programs from Equity representatives who attended shows as well as from his own participation. He used them primarily to check credits for inclusion in the guide.

The staff of Actors' Equity also uses programs to determine if all contractual obligations have been fulfilled and if a member is under the correct contract (principal or chorus). Some of the programs in the collection, most often from the 1930s, include notes but it is unclear under what circumstances these notes occurred since Equity would usually put a program with notes in an individual production file.

Demonstrating the enormity and diversity of theatre in America during the 20th Century, the collection gives more than just a list of players in a given production. The programs offer a look into how productions were presented, how advertising changed over the years, and how some productions continue to be produced generation after generation.

Arrangement

Series I is arranged alphabetically. Series II is arranged chronologically.

The files are grouped into two series:

Missing Title

  1. I, New York City, Regional Theatres and Touring Productions/Companies
  2. II, Equity Library Theatre, New York City

Scope and Content Note

The Actors' Equity Association Theatrical Programs collection is made up of programs collected by the organization, its employees and friends from 1915 to 2001.

Series: I. New York City, Regional Theatres and Touring Productions/Companies, consists of programs for productions produced in New York City, theatres around the country, touring productions including out-of-town tryouts, and touring companies. The series is arranged alphabetically. The general files that begin each letter are chronological then followed by an alphabetical list of productions and companies. A production is listed individually primarily if it has had more than one production, is of theatrical significance, or ran for an extended period of time.

Series: II. Equity Library Theatre, New York City, Equity Library Theatre (ELT)produced productions from 1944-1989 as a showcase for Equity talent. Because they were a seasonal company the programs for this series are chronological. Production lists and other ELT activities such as children's theatre, informal presentations and benefits are included in the files.

Conditions Governing Access

Materials are open without restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright (or related rights to publicity and privacy) for materials in this collection, created by the Actors' Equity Association was not transferred to New York University. Permission to use materials must be secured from the copyright holder.

Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form:

Identification of item, date; Collection name; Collection number; box number; folder number;
Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012, New York University Libraries.

Location of Materials

This collection are stored off-site and advance notice is required for use. Please contact tamiment.wagner@nyu.edu at least two days prior to research visit.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by the Actors' Equity Association, 2002. The accession number associated with this gift is 2002.006.

Related Material at the Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives

Actors' Equity Association: Records (Wagner 011)

Collection processed by

K. Kevyne Baar, 2006-2007

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-20 16:37:36 -0400.
Language: Description is in English.

Edition of this Guide

This version was derived from AEA Theatrical Programs.doc

Repository

Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
2nd Floor
New York, NY 10012