Finding aid for the USC School of Dramatic Arts records 5287
Beth McDonald
USC Libraries Special Collections
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California 90089-0189
213-740-5900
specol@usc.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Title: USC School of Dramatic Arts records
creator:
University of Southern California
creator:
University of Southern California. School of Dramatic Arts
Identifier/Call Number: 5287
Physical Description:
7.28 Linear Feet
11 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1941-2007, undated
Abstract: The University of Southern California's School of Dramatic Arts began as the Department of Drama within the School of Speech
in 1945. It was part of several other departments before it became an independent school in 1990. The records in the collection
document many of the activities of the School in the second half of the 20th century and the early part of the 21st century.
Included are programs and photographs from theatrical productions, photographs and documents from events including commencement
and the department’s annual awards ceremony, issues of the school’s newsletter, letters from alumni, promotional materials
for the school, and press clippings about faculty, alumni, and students.
Historical Note
The USC School of Dramatic Arts is one of the top-ranked dramatic arts schools in the world and counts among its alumni many
notable television and film actors, including John Ritter, Forest Whitaker, Swoosie Kurtz, Ally Sheedy, and LeVar Burton.
Though the study of the dramatic arts began with the establishment of the University of Southern California in 1880, with
drama courses offered by the School of Speech, the USC School of Dramatic Arts as an independent entity is one of the youngest
schools at the university. The school’s first incarnation was as part of the College of Liberal Arts. The Department of Drama
was created in 1945 under the direction of William C. de Mille (the older brother of noted director Cecil B. de Mille). Classes
were taught in the Touchstone Theatre of the Old College until 1948, when the building was torn down. The Department of Drama
was moved to a building which had previously belonged to the Red Car Line and was christened the Stop Gap Theatre, in part
because de Mille regarded the building as a “stop gap” measure until a better building for the theatre was available. In 1949,
the department moved out of the theatre and into a five-room house, where they remained until 1966. In addition to the Stop
Gap Theatre, the Department of Drama shared the Bovard Auditorium with the College of Music for performances. In 1950, the
department was renamed the Division of Drama and moved under the jurisdiction of the Division of Communications, which also
included the departments of Cinema, Journalism, Speech, and Telecommunications.
When de Mille retired in 1953, Dr. James Butler, a former student of de Mille’s and faculty member of the department, served
as chair. Butler founded the Experimental Theatre Workshop, a program which has continued to this day, as well as expanded
the school’s course offerings and number of theatrical productions.
In 1966, the Department of Drama was moved to new, larger headquarters that allowed the entire department to be housed together.
The same year, USC created the School of Performing Arts, which included the Division of Drama, the Division of Cinema, and
the School of Music. Raymond Kendall, former Dean of the School of Music, became the first Dean of this new school.
Also in 1966, faculty member Professor John E. Blankenship created Festival Theatre USC-USA, a theatrical troupe of students
and faculty which performed productions at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for 21 seasons between 1966 and 2001, putting the
USC theatre program on the international map.
Grant Beglarian came on as Dean of the School of Performing Arts in 1969 and director Alex Segal became Chair of the Division
of Drama in 1970. While chair, Segal oversaw the development of the Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts degree programs
as well as the building of the Bing Theatre, which opened in 1976. Bing Theatre was the first and only building to date to
be constructed solely for the use of the theatre program. It became the site of all of the school’s mainstage theatrical productions
and remains so today. The former Fine Arts studio was turned over to the Division of Drama and turned into its final incarnation
as the Greenroom Theatre. In 1977, Segal was succeeded by Distinguished Visiting Professor John Houseman. He was followed
as Chair and Artistic Director by W. Duncan Ross in 1979. Ross convinced the university to give the drama department the building
used as a communications center during the 1984 Olympic Games. This building, known as the Drama Center, now houses the Dean’s
Office, several faculty offices, Academic Services, and the “black box” Massman Theater. Under Ross’s direction, the USC undergraduate
drama program rank rose from thirteen to fifth in the country.
In 1983, Beglarian retired, and after an unsuccessful search for a new dean, the School of Performing Arts was dissolved.
The university formed two new schools, the School of Music and the School of Cinema-Television. Drama, a division once again,
was relegated to the latter.
In 1986, Duncan Ross retired due to illness and Richard Toscan, who had joined the drama faculty in 1976, was made Chair of
the Division of Drama and Associate Dean of the School of Cinema-Television.
1990 was a year of changes for the Drama program. In the early part of the year, the Department of Dance was absorbed into
the Division of Drama, which allowed the school to expand into the Physical Education (PED) Building. The Stop Gap Theatre,
which had failed to meet earthquake codes, was demolished. And finally, the Division of Drama finally became an independent
school, the USC School of Theatre.
Richard Toscan left USC in 1992. For a year, Dr. Barbara Solomon served as Interim Dean until the appointment of Dr. Robert
Scales in 1993. Under Dean Scales, Minor degrees in Dance and Performing Arts were established as part of the school programming.
The costume shop, costume storage, and classes were moved into the PED Building and additional office space was secured for
faculty and graduate assistants in the Childs Way Two Building (CWT). This period also saw the beginning of a series of visiting
Senior Lecturers and several notable new faculty members were added, including Dr. Meiling Cheng and Pulitzer Prize winner
Dr. Endesha Ida Mae Holland.
In 1996, the Greenroom Theatre was destroyed by a fire. To replace it, the Scene Shop was moved into a building closer to
the Performing Arts Annex and the old scene shop building was turned into the Scene Dock Theatre, which opened in 1997.
In 2002, Dean Scales retired and Madeline J. Puzo was appointed Dean. Working with the faculty, Dean Puzo, developed a plan
to revise the undergraduate curriculum and further grow the graduate programs, including an MFA degree in Dramatic Writing,
which began in 2004, and a new MFA Acting program which began in 2006. In 2007, the school held the inaugural MFA Festival
of Plays, featuring works by students from the MFA Dramatic Writing program. Dean Puzo brought a continuing stream of Visiting
Artists such as Jason Alexander, Twyla Tharp, and Maximilian Schell to teach at the school.
In 2005, the School of Theatre launched two new partnerships. The first, with Los Angeles’ Center Theatre Group, allowed fourteen
theatre students to perform with the professional company at the Ahmanson Theatre. The second, with the USC Rossier School
of Education, led to the creation of a degree in Applied Theatre Arts with an emphasis on theatre education. The CWT building
was given over in its entirety to the School of Theatre, bringing more of the faculty, staff and classrooms together. Puzo
also added a Student Design Lab and the Village Gate Theatre to the school’s roster.
In 2012, the USC Board of Trustees formally voted to change the name of the USC School of Theatre to the USC School of Dramatic
Arts. The decision was made so that the school’s name described all majors within the program.
Scope and Content
The records of the USC School of Dramatic Arts consist of photographs, slides, programs, clippings, press releases, publications,
and printed ephemera that document much of the School's activities from its beginnings in 1945 and into the early part of
the 21st century. Included are programs and photographs of many of the school’s mainstage and student productions; articles
and clippings on some of the School's notable personnel, including John Blankenchip, William White, and Endesha Ida Mae Holland;
records of academic activities and events; materials related to the business of the School; School publications and publicity
materials; and press clippings and press releases documenting the activities of the School's faculty, alumni, and students.
Conditions Governing Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder# or item name], USC School of Dramatic Arts records, Collection no. 5287, University Archives, Special Collections,
USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Organization
The records are organized into the following series: 1. Administration; 2. Alumni; 3. Events; 4. Faculty; 5. Performance;
6. Press and Publicity; 7. Publications; 8. Students.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Acting -- Instruction and study -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Drama teachers -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Musical theater -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Performing Arts -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Theater -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Universities and colleges -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Universities and colleges -- California -- Los Angeles -- History -- Archival resources
Universities and colleges -- Faculty -- Archival resources
Clippings
Photographs
Correspondence
Reports
Theater programs
University of Southern California
University of Southern California. School of Dramatic Arts
Apostolos, Margo K. -- Archives
Beglarian, Grant -- Archives
Blankenchip, John Edward -- Archives
De Mille, William C. (William Churchill) -- Archives
Gray, Spalding -- Archives
Holland, Endesha Ida Mae -- Archives
Roberts, Eve -- Archives
Scales, Robert -- Archives
Tharp, Twyla -- Archives
Toscan, Richard -- Archives
White, William C. (William Conrad) -- Archives
University of Southern California -- Archives
University of Southern California. School of Dramatic Arts -- Archives
University of Southern California. School of Dramatic Arts -- Faculty
Administration
1988-2007
Scope and Content
Information about the organization and administration of the School of Dramatic Arts. The records consist of historical information
about the school, correspondance, and some materials on the most recent search for a new Dean.
Box 1, Folder 2
Alan Neal Hubbs: 2005 Theatre Photo Cribsheet
2005
Box 1, Folder 3
Dean Search Info
2001-2002
Box 1, Folder 4
Ellen Ketchum Correspondance
1990-1991
Box 1, Folder 6
School of Theatre Strategic plans
1993-2004
Alumni
1957-2006
Scope and Content
Most of the records are correspondance and materials relating to specific alumni. Also included are clippings and promotional
materials regarding notable alumni of the School of Dramatic Arts.
Box 1, Folder 9
Babs (Barbara) Kennedy
1985-2005
Box 1, Folder 12
Notable Alumni
circa 1990
Box 1, Folder 13, Box 10, Folder 16
Box 1, Folder 14
School of Theatre Tony Award nominees
1965-1987
Box 1, Folder 15
Whitney Sponsler
circa 2006
Box 11
Yu Feng Huang in Qi Pen: A Mountain
undated
Events
1985-2005
bulk
Scope and Content
Programs, photographs and planning materials for events held by the School of Dramatic Arts. Icludes annual events, such the
Awards Dinner and Commencement; visits by notable individuals such as Twyla Tharp; and memorial services for faculty and alumni
of the School.
Box 1, Folder 16
50th Anniversary Committee
1994
Box 1, Folder 17
All-School Picnic
1993-1994
Box 1, Folder 18
Annual Awards ceremony
1990
Box 1, Folder 19
Annual Awards ceremony
1993
Box 1, Folder 20
Annual Awards ceremony
1995-2003
Box 1, Folder 21
Annual Awards ceremony
2001
Box 1, Folder 22
Annual Awards ceremony
2002
Box 1, Folder 23
Annual Awards ceremony
2005
Box 1, Folder 25
David Dukes Memorial
2001 March 8
Box 1, Folder 26
Friends of Drama: Tribute to John Blankenchip and William C. White
1986 April 13
Box 1, Folder 27
John Blankenship Golden Anniversary celebration
2005 May 21
Box 1, Folder 28
John Ritter Event
2004 May 6
Box 1, Folder 29
Jason Robert Brown luncheon
2005 March 5
Box 2, Folder 2
Orange County Trojan League fundraiser
1996 March
Box 2, Folder 3
Spalding Gray
2001 January 17
Box 2, Folder 4
School of Theatre Commencement
1988
Box 2, Folder 5
School of Theatre Commencement
1989
Box 2, Folder 6
School of Theatre Commencement
1990
Box 2, Folder 7
School of Theatre Commencement
1991
Box 2, Folder 8
School of Theatre Commencement
1992
Box 2, Folder 9
School of Theatre Commencement
1993-1994
Box 2, Folder 10
School of Theatre Commencement
1995
Box 2, Folder 11
School of Theatre Commencement programs
1998-2005
Box 2, Folder 12
Special Events programs
1985-2002
Box 2, Folder 14
USC Division of Drama 40th Anniversary
1986
Box 2, Folder 15
US Institute of Theatre Technology conference
2001
Box 2, Folder 16
William C. White Memorial
1996
Faculty
1980-2006
Scope and Content
This series contains photographs, resumes, press clippings, and correspondance regarding some of the faculty, including Deans,
of the School of Dramatic Arts.
Box 2, Folder 17
Margo Apostolos
circa 1991
Box 2, Folder 18
Grant Beglarian
circa 1982
Box 2, Folder 19
John Blankenchip
circa 2005
Box 2, Folder 21
Tad Danielewski
1987-1992
Box 2, Folder 22
Endesha Ida Mae Holland
1994-2006
Box 2, Folder 25
Headshots of Robert Scales
1993
Box 3, Folder 3
William C. White
1991-1996
Performance
1941-2006
bulk
Scope and Contents
This series is comprised of photographs, slides, and programs from many of the theatrical productions put on by the School
of Dramatic Arts. These productions include mainstage plays, student produced plays, and plays by guest directors.
Performance photographs
1949-2005
bulk
Box 3, Folder 6
King Oedipus
1949 January
Box 3, Folder 7
The Braggart Warrior
1951 May
Box 3, Folder 8
Life with Father
1952 November
Box 3, Folder 9
Darkness at Noon
1952 December
Box 3, Folder 10
The Farce of Master Peter Patelin
1953 March
Box 3, Folder 12
Death of a Salesman
1953 May
Box 3, Folder 13
Berkeley Square
1953 October
Box 3, Folder 14
The Country Girl
1953 December
Box 3, Folder 15
Beyond the Horizon
1954 November
Box 3, Folder 16
Twin Manaechmi
1956 March
Box 3, Folder 17
Damn Yankees
1958 November
Box 3, Folder 18
Finnegan's Wake
1959 December
Box 3, Folder 20
A Clearing in the Woods
1960 April
Box 3, Folder 21
The Theater of Bertolt Brecht
1961 July
Box 3, Folder 22
The Cherry Orchard
1964 March
Box 3, Folder 23
The American Dream
1964 July
Box 3, Folder 24
A Thurber Carnival
1964 August
Box 3, Folder 26
Skin of Our Teeth
1966 March
Box 3, Folder 27
The Importance of Being Earnest
1967 March
Box 3, Folder 28
The Imaginary Invalid
1968 December
Box 3, Folder 29
Performances
circa 1950-1965
Box 4, Folder 1
This Agony, This Triumph
1970 March
Box 4, Folder 2
She Stoops to Conquer
1975 April
Box 4, Folder 5
The Undiscovered Country
1983
Box 4, Folder 6
Buried Child
1984 February
Box 4, Folder 7
Pride and Prejudice
circa 1986
Box 4, Folder 11
Nicholas Nickelby
1989 November
Box 4, Folder 12, Box 10, Folder 2
Box 4, Folder 13
The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus
1990 February
Box 4, Folder 14
The Dining Room
1990 April
Box 4, Folder 15
Goldberg Street
1990 April
Box 4, Folder 16
American Clock
1990 October
Box 4, Folder 18
The Hostage
1991 February
Box 4, Folder 19
The Lady is Not For Burning
1991 April
Box 10, Folder 5
The Trojan Women
1991 May
Box 4, Folder 22
Asa Ga Kimashita
1991 October
Box 4, Folder 24
The Cherry Orchard
1991 November
Box 4, Folder 25
Orchids in the Moonlight
1991 November
Box 4, Folder 26
When You Comin' Back Red Ryder?
1991 December
Box 4, Folder 27
The Suicide
1992 February
Box 4, Folder 28
Taming of the Shrew
1992 February
Box 4, Folder 29
Into the Woods
1992 March
Box 4, Folder 32
Street Scene
1992 October
Box 4, Folder 33
A Raisin in the Sun
1992 November
Box 4, Folder 34
The Country Wife
1992 November
Box 4, Folder 35
The Crucible
1993 February
Box 4, Folder 36
The Importance of Being Earnest
1993 February
Box 4, Folder 37
A Midsummer Night's Dream
1993 February
Box 4, Folder 38
The Imaginary Invalid
1993 March
Box 4, Folder 39
Side by Side with Sondheim
1993 March
Box 4, Folder 40
Cave Dwellers
1993 October
Box 4, Folder 43
Spring Awakening
1993 November
Box 5, Folder 1
Green Stockings
circa 1994
Box 5, Folder 2
Caucasian Chalk Circle
1994 February
Box 5, Folder 4
Kimchee and Chitlins
1994 March
Box 5, Folder 5, Box 10, Folder 6
Box 5, Folder 7
West Side Story
1994 October
Box 5, Folder 8
Les Liasons Dangereuses
1994 November
Box 5, Folder 9
As You Like It
1994 December
Box 5, Folder 10
Six Characters in Search of an Author
1994 November
Box 5, Folder 13
A Flea in Her Ear
1995 February-March
Box 5, Folder 15
Merry Wives of Windsor
1995 April
Box 5, Folder 16
A Midsummer Night's Dream
1995 October
Box 5, Folder 18
The Cherry Orchard
1995 November
Box 5, Folder 19
Twelfth Night
1995 November
Box 5, Folder 20, Box 10, Folder 7
Guys and Dolls
1996 February
Box 5, Folder 21, Box 10, Folder 8
Box 5, Folder 22, Box 10, Folder 9
Mystery Plays
1996 October
Box 5, Folder 23, Box 10, Folder 10
Box 5, Folder 24, Box 10, Folder 11
The Rimers of Eldritch
1996 November
Box 5, Folder 25
An Push the Wind Down
1996 December
Box 5, Folder 27
Saturday-Sunday-Monday
1997 February-March
Box 5, Folder 28
The Threepenny Opera
1997 April
Box 5, Folder 29
The Killing Game
1997 October
Box 5, Folder 30
The Bacchae
1997 November
Box 5, Folder 32
Macbeth
1998 February-March
Box 5, Folder 34
Pride and Prejudice
1998 April
Box 5, Folder 35, Box 10, Folder 12
Ain't Nothin' But a Thang
1998 October
Box 5, Folder 36, Box 10, Folder 13
Diary of a Scoundrel
1998 October
Box 5, Folder 38
Jerusalem Son
1998 October
Box 5, Folder 39
Blues for Mr. Charlie
1998 November
Box 5, Folder 40
Female Transport
1998 November
Box 5, Folder 42
USC Dance Concerts
circa 1999
Box 5, Folder 43
Love's Labours Lost
1999 February
Box 5, Folder 46
Learned Ladies
1999 November-December
Box 10, Folder 14
Angels in America
1999 October
Box 6, Folder 1
Spring Dance Concert
2000
Box 6, Folder 4
The Children's Hour
2000 October
Box 6, Folder 5
Tale of the Lost Formicans
2000 October
Box 6, Folder 6
Null Hypothesis
2000 November
Box 6, Folder 7
On the Razzle
2000 November
Box 6, Folder 8
Getting Married
2000 November-December
Box 6, Folder 9
Fall Dance Concert
2000 December
Box 6, Folder 10
The Innocent Mistress
2001 February
Box 6, Folder 12
Spring Dance Concert
2001 April
Box 6, Folder 14
What We're Up Against
2001 April
Box 6, Folder 15
Still Life with Parrot and Monkey
2001 October
Box 6, Folder 16
Picnic at Hanging Rock
2001 November
Box 6, Folder 17
Fall Dance Concert
2001 December
Box 6, Folder 18
Spring Dance Concert
2002
Box 6, Folder 19
Ring Around the Moon
2002 February
Box 6, Folder 20
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
2002 March-April
Box 6, Folder 21
Love of the Nightingale
2002 March-April
Box 6, Folder 23
The Wedding (Les Noces)
2002 April
Box 6, Folder 26
The Fifth of July
2005 November
Box 6, Folder 27
Photographs
circa 1980s-2000s
Box 7, Folder 1
Festival Theatre USC-USA
1978-2002
Box 8, Folder 5
ISP (Independent Student Productions)
1977
Box 8, Folder 6
ISP (Independent Student Productions)
1980s
Box 8, Folder 7
ISP (Independent Student Productions)
1990-1992
Box 8, Folder 8
ISP (Independent Student Productions)
1993-1994
Box 8, Folder 9
ISP (Independent Student Productions)
1995-1996
Box 8, Folder 10
ISP (Independent Student Productions)
1997-1999
Box 9, Folder 1
ISP (Independent Student Productions)
2000s
Box 3, Folder 5
Production Listings
1941-1969
Box 11
Moises Kaufman The Laramie Project
2004
Press and Publicity
1971-2007
bulk
Scope and Content
Clippings and press releases compiled by School of Dramatic Arts personnel, documenting the activities of the students and
faculty at the school.
Box 9, Folder 3
Press Clippings
1989-1996
Box 9, Folder 4
Press Clippings
1992-1995
Box 9, Folder 5
Promotional Materials
1971-2004
Box 10, Folder 15
Eugene O'Neill Festival Poster
1965
Publications
1960-2004
Scope and Content
This series consists of materials published by the School of Dramatic Arts, primarily their newsletter Callboard.
Box 9, Folder 7
Season Subscriptions
1992-1995
Students
1984-1994
Scope and Content
This series contains material documenting the activities of School of Dramatic Arts students, particularly classwork and student
groups.
Box 9, Folder 9
Eve Roberts' MFA class
1992-1993
Box 9, Folder 10
Peacock Players
circa 1991
Box 10
Bailey Williams Directed Research Portfolio
1984 May
