Description
New York theater producer and director Geraldine Lust (1920-1987) began her career in modern dance and choreography. She later
studied acting and directing. In the 1950s, Lust established Stella Adler's drama classes and produced and directed off-Broadway.
She also directed plays and developed an Artaud Workshop for the Living Theatre. In 1960, Lust obtained the American rights
to Jean Genet's
The Blacks, which ran for four years off-Broadway. In 1963, she conducted workshops and directed for the Open Theater. In 1967, Lust
unsuccessfully attempted to produce a college tour revival of
The Blacks and a film version of Genet's
The Screens. The Geraldine Lust Papers (1959-1972, bulk 1960-1969) primarily relates to
The Blacks and includes correspondence, investor information, contracts, programs, clippings, and photographic prints.
Background
New York theater producer and director Geraldine Lust (1920-1987) began her career in modern dance and choreography. The daughter
of theater chain owner Sydney Lust, she studied acting and directing. She then worked for producer Dale Wasserman on Broadway,
a connection she maintained. In 1950, Lust established classes for Stella Adler's drama school. For the next ten years, she
produced and directed off-Broadway plays. She also directed plays for Julian Beck and Judith Malina, founders and directors
of the Living Theatre, and created a school for the company. While at the Living Theatre, Lust developed an Artaud Workshop
based on Antonin Artaud's "Theater of Cruelty."
Restrictions
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.
Availability
Collection is open for research under regular Reading Room rules and copyright restrictions.