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Inventory of the Universal Movement Theatre Repertory Archives, 1942-1978
D-145
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Table of contents
Title: Universal Movement Theatre Repertory Archives,
Date (inclusive): 1942-1978
Collection number: D-145
Creator:
Universal Movement Theatre Repertory
Extent:
20.1 linear feet
Repository:
University of California, Davis. General Library. Dept. of Special Collections.
100 North West Quad
Davis, California, 95616-5292
Abstract: 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.
Physical location: Researchers should contact Special Collections to request collections, as many are stored offsite.
Language:
English.
Collection is open for research.
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.
[Identification of item], Universal Movement Theatre Repertory Archives, D-145, Department of Special Collections, University
of California Library, Davis, California.
Acquired in 1975-1977 from the company's executive director, Mark Hall Amitin.
Arranged and described by Levi Damon Phillips in 1994. EAD finding aid created by Sara Gunasekara in 2004.
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.
The purpose of the Universal Movement Theatre Repertory 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.
Thus, the Universal Movement Theatre Repertory provided a central clearing bureau for booking and information on, about, from,
to, and between all the member groups and individuals. In addition, it organized performances, festivals, tours, lectures,
demonstrations, and workshops.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Universal Movement Theatre Repertory Archives offers extensive documentation of Mark Hall Amitin's activities as booking
agent for experimental theatre groups from 1970-1976. The Archives also includes items relating to its predecessor, the Radical
Theatre Repertory.
The audiovisual items include interviews with such notables as Julian Beck, Joseph Chaikin, Andre Gregory, John Lion, Charles
Ludham, Judith Malina, Richard Schechner, and Luis Valdex, among others.
The client files, taken together with the contract files, cover all aspects of agent/client relationships from pre-production
to post production concerns. The correspondence files further reveal booking strategy as well as day to day business practices.
Organized into eleven series: 1. Radical Theatre Repertory, 2. Business Correspondence, 3. Promotional Correspondence, 4.
Client Files/U.S., 5. Contracts, 6. Client Files/International, 7. Promotional Material, 8. Research Files, 9. Vital Records,
10. Audiovisual Material, 11. Festivals.
Bread and Puppet Theatre Archives, D-136
Davis, Ronald G. Papers, D-065
Living Theatre Archives, D-187
San Francisco Mime Troupe Archives, D-061
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Universal Movement Theatre Repertory
Bread and Puppet Theater
Living Theatre (New York, N.Y.)
San Francisco Mime Troupe
Amitin, Mark Hall
Experimental theater
Theatrical agencies