ATAP is sponsoring a working session at the American Society for Theatre Research/Theatre Library Association conference at the Fairmont Dallas Hotel this coming November 7-10:
Expanding Scholarship Through the American Theatre Archive Project (3 Hour Session)
Conveners: Susan Brady, Yale University (susan.brady@yale.edu) and Ken Cerniglia, Disney Theatrical Group (ken.cerniglia@gmail.com)
ATAP is seeking volunteers interested in helping theatres across the country establish and preserve their archives. Theatre scholars, archivists, librarians, students, historians, dramaturgs, and anybody with an interest in preserving theatre materials are welcome.
A free ATAP training session will take place on Saturday, May 4th, 2013 from 9am-1pm at the Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116. It will take place in the Mezzanine Conference Room, located on the mezzanine level of the Johnson Building.
This training session will cover:
AMERICAN THEATRE ARCHIVE PROJECT
www.americantheatrearchiveproject.org
Fall 2012 Progress Report
29 October 2012
This progress report includes information on ATAP team activity, funding pursuits, and training development from the past quarter as well as fall objectives. Please send fall updates to ken.cerniglia@gmail.com by January 15 for inclusion in the Winter 2013 Progress Report.
Teams
Northwest – Helice Koffler, chair
Check out the ATAP Member Handbook under RESOURCES -- the all-in-one place for theatre scholars, archivists, dramaturgs, and students to get oriented to the work we're doing.
by Martha Wade Steketee
The American Theatre Archive Project New York City (ATAP NYC) team members have been meeting for a year at the New Amsterdam Theatre scheming ways to instill archival instincts in the American theatre world. Team members are dramaturgs and archivists (and some are both) with a range of job situations. Some work full time at area theatres as literary staff or archivists, some are freelance dramaturgs or other theatre professionals, and some are archivists who have a personal interest in the theatre arts while being employed at non-theatre organizations.
As an intern in the Media Library and Archives of Boston's WGBH, watching the Elliot Norton Reviews and writing summaries of them for the FileMaker database every Friday afternoon never gets boring. Just last week, I came across a massive ¾ inch tape with a title that caught my attention immediately: Al Pacino [!].
As I watch and catalog the Elliot Norton Reviews as part of my internship in the WGBH Archives, I am constantly reminded of the ephemeral nature of theater. One of the distinguishing aspects of theater, and of the performing arts in general, is its willingness to change and grow every night, as each new audience fills the room.
Last Monday night, the Boston theater community gathered at the Paramount Theatre to celebrate an impressive season of groundbreaking theater and honor the designers, playwrights, choreographers, actors, and directors that made it such a success. The 29th annual Elliot Norton Awards, originally known as the Norton Medal, were founded in honor of respected Boston theater critic, Elliot Norton, upon his retirement in 1982, after 48 years in the biz.
Stay up to date by subscribing to the ATAP national announcements listserv. If you'd like to participate in discussion about issues and resources related to the project, also subscribe to the ATAP national discussion listserv.