The Universal Movement Theatre Repertory (U.M.T.R.), originally the Radical Theatre Repertory, was a New York based booking agency. The purpose of this non-profit organization was to assist theatrical groups and individuals in finding outlets for the presentation of their art and to encourage developments in new and experimental forms which did not find a place in the commercial theatre. The Archives contain correspondence, financial papers, legal documents, photographs, programs, promotional materials, scripts pertaining to U.M.T.R. and its predecessor, the Radical Theatre Repertory; and extensive documentation of Mark Hall Amitin's activities as booking agent for experimental theatre groups during the 1970's.

The Radical Theatre Repertory, first envisioned by Ronald Davis of the San Francisco Mime Troupe and founded by Saul and Oda Gottlieb in 1968, was a cooperative consisting of several American experimental theatre groups. Gottlieb concentrated his efforts on the Living Theatre's 1968-1969 tour of the United States and was therefore unable to focus as much on the cooperative. In 1970, after the Radical Theatre Repertory had ceased to function, Mark Hall Amitin, who had been the Living Theatre's road manager, seeing the need for the work to continue, reorganized and incorporated it as a non-profit organization under the name Universal Movement Theatre Repertory. Amitin expanded operations, encompassing not only American but also European groups with high artistic standards and strong political commitment.

20.1 linear feet

Copyright is protected by the copyright law, chapter 17 of the U.S. Code. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections, General Library, University of California, Davis 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 by the researcher.

Collection is open for research.