Guide to the Robert Cohen Papers MS.P.069

Finding aid prepared by Audrey Pearson, 2007. Accessions added by Alix Norton in 2013 and Zoe MacLeod in 2018.
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries
(cc) 2018
The UCI Libraries
P.O. Box 19557
University of California, Irvine
Irvine 92623-9557
spcoll@uci.edu


Contributing Institution: Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries
Title: Robert Cohen papers
Creator: Cohen, Robert
Identifier/Call Number: MS.P.069
Physical Description: 8.7 Linear Feet (20 boxes and one oversized folder) and 2.3 unprocessed linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1966-2014
Abstract: This collection comprises papers of Robert Cohen, a professor of drama and founding faculty member at the University of California, Irvine. Fifty-three production books, which include scripts, reviews, photographs and stage directions, document Cohen's work as director for theater productions at UCI and the Utah and Colorado Shakespeare Festivals. The collection also includes reviews, correspondence, and information about UCI Drama Department alumni, as well as textbooks and articles written by Cohen and issues of theater publications.
Language of Material: English .

Access

The collection is open for research. Access to original film is restricted; researchers may request viewing copies.

Publication Rights

Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives.

Preferred Citation

Robert Cohen Papers. MS-P069. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California. Date accessed.
For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Acquisition Information

Gifts of Robert Cohen, 2005 and 2013. Additions are expected.

Processing History

Processed by Audrey Pearson, 2007. Accession added by Alix Norton, 2013.

Biography

Robert Cohen is the founding chair of the University of California, Irvine Drama Department and a renowned professor, director, translator, playwright, essayist, and drama critic. In 2001 he was named Claire Trevor Professor of Drama at UCI.
Cohen was born in Washington, D.C. in 1938. As an undergraduate he studied at Dartmouth College and UC Berkeley. After earning his Doctor of Fine Arts at Yale University in 1965, he joined the faculty at UCI.
Over the course of his career, Cohen has directed over 70 stage productions at UCI. He is also the author of many books on theatre, including Acting One/Acting Two , Acting Professionally, Acting Power, Acting in Shakespeare, Theatre, More Power To You, Creative Play Direction, Giraudoux: Three Faces of Destiny , two dramatic anthologies, and many plays, translations, scholarly articles, and reviews. He has frequently directed productions for the Utah and Colorado Shakespeare Festivals. In 1993 he was awarded the UCI Medal, UCI's highest honor, and in 1999 he received the Career Achievement Award from the Association for Theatre in Higher Education.

Biographical/Historical note

Chronology

1938 Born in Washington, D.C.
1965 Received Doctor of Fine Arts from Yale School of Drama.
1965 Appointed founding chair of UCI's Drama Department.
1967 Founded the Student Repertory Theatre at UCI.
1990 Stepped down as Chair of the Drama Department.
1993 Awarded the UCI Medal.
1999 Received the Career Achievement Award from the Association for Theatre in Higher Education.
2001 Named Claire Trevor Professor of Drama.
2005 Re-appointed Chair of the Drama Department.

Collection Scope and Content Summary

This collection comprises papers of Robert Cohen, a drama professor at the University of California, Irvine. The collection spans his career at UCI, beginning with the opening of the campus in 1965. Fifty-three production books, which include scripts, reviews, photographs and stage directions, document Cohen's work as director for theater productions at UCI and the Utah and Colorado Shakespeare Festivals. The collection also includes reviews, correspondence, information about UCI Drama Department alumni, an unpublished manuscript titled Edwin Booth in Performance, various textbooks and articles written by Cohen, issues of theater publications, and a film reel of John M. Whiteley.

Collection Arrangement

This collection is arranged into 3 series:
  • Series 1. Production books, 1966-2007
  • Series 2. Subject files, 1966-2010
  • Series 3. Textbooks and journals, 1970-2011
This collection also contains 1 unprocessed addition:
Accession 2018.021. Unprocessed addition 2018, 1984-2014. 2.3 linear feet

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Scripts (documents) -- 20th century.
Costume design drawings -- 20th century.
Drama -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- 20th century
Theater programs -- 20th century.
College theater -- California -- Irvine -- History -- Sources
Photographic prints -- 20th century.
Cohen, Robert -- Archives
University of California, Irvine. Student's Repertory Theatre -- Archives
University of California, Irvine -- Faculty -- Archives
University of California, Irvine -- Archives
University of California, Irvine. Department of Drama -- Archives

 

Production books Series 1. 1966-2007

Physical Description: 5.6 Linear Feet

Series Scope and Content Summary

This series contains production books, including both hardbound and unbound, for plays directed by Cohen. Most of the plays were staged at UCI, but a few were at other institutions and Shakespearean festivals, as indicated in the inventory. Each book includes some or all of the following: programs, production and publicity photographs, reviews, director's notes, scripts, rehearsal schedules, costume lists, and other details of stage production.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by date of production.
box 1

The Night of the Iguana 1966

box 19, folder 2

Repertory Theatre at Irvine 1967

box 1

Oedipus Tyrannos 1967 February

box 1

The Apollo of Bellac, Play, and The Death of Morris Biedermann 1967 March

box 2

Six Characters in Search of an Author 1967 April

box 2

The Hostage 1968 April

box 2

The Good Woman of Setzuan 1968

box 2

The Madwoman of Chaillot 1969 May

box 3

Waiting for Godot 1969

Scope and Contents note

Notebook contains production photographs only. A handwritten note by Cohen indicates that the original production book disappeared in 1970.
box 3

Cabaret 1971 January

box 3

Othello 1971 February

box 4

The Möbius Strip 1971 April

box 4

Ondine 1972 November

box 5

After the Fall 1973 December

box 5

Our Town 1974 November

Scope and Contents note

Production staged at the Repertory Company of the Virginia Museum Theatre.
box 5

Misalliance 1975 May

box 6

Guys and Dolls 1976 November

box 6

Butley 1977 February

box 6

The Three Sisters 1977 June

box 6

Richard III 1978 May

box 7

Equus 1980 February

box 7

Three Penny Opera 1980 November

box 7

Bourgeois Gentlemen 1982 February

box 19, folder 4

Golden Opinions, Sound and Fury 1983

box 8

Betrayal 1983 February

box 8

Tokyo Bar 1984 April

box 8

The Plaie Called Corpus Christi 1985 October

box 8

Hamlet 1986 February

box 9

The Plaie Called Corpus Christi Part II: The Nativity 1986 September

box 9

King Lear 1986 July

Scope and Contents note

Production staged at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival.
box 9

Much Ado About Nothing 1987 August

Scope and Contents note

Production staged at the Utah Shakespeare Festival.
box 10

The Concluding Episodes of the Plaie Called Corpus Christi: "The Passion," "The Ressurection," "The Judgement" 1987 September

box 10

A Midsummer Night's Dream 1988 July

Scope and Contents note

Production staged at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival.
box 10, box 11

The Magic Flute 1989 November

box 11

The Winter's Tale 1989 July

Scope and Contents note

Production staged at the Utah Shakespeare Festival.
box 11

The N-Town Passion 1990

Scope and Contents note

Production of The Plaie Called Corpus Christi, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
box 12

Much Ado About Nothing 1991 August

Scope and Contents note

Production staged at the Beverly Hills Repertory at Theatre Forty.
box 12

Romeo and Juliet 1992 May

box 12

Macbeth 1996 June

Scope and Contents note

Production staged at the Utah Shakespeare Festival.
box 13

King Lear 1989 January

box 13

Dangerous Liaisons 1993 April

box 13

As You Like It 1994 November

box 13

Suburbia 1996 May

Scope and Contents note

Production staged at the Graduating Acting Students at the Queensland University of Technology.
box 14

The Misanthrope 1997 January

box 14

Measure for Measure 1998 July

Scope and Contents note

Production staged at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival.
box 14

Carmen 1999 February

box 14

Oklahoma! 1999 April

box 19, folder 8

Castle 2000 May

box 19, folder 9-11

My Fair Lady 2002 October

box 20, folder 2

Pedro Gynt 2004 February

box 20, folder 3-5

Timon at Athens 2005 April

box 20, folder 6-7

Kiss Me, Kate 2006 February

box 20, folder 8

Blue Shade 2007 April

box 20, folder 9

Rabbit Hole 2007 September

 

Subject files Series 2. 1966-2010

Physical Description: 1.5 Linear Feet

Series Scope and Content Summary

This series comprises subject files accumulated by Cohen throughout his career at UCI. Files include correspondence and clippings, articles, materials from the Student Repertory Theatre, and information on the careers of past students. Also included is an unpublished manuscript titled Edwin Booth in Performance and accompanying illustrations and research materials. Booth (1833-1893) was a celebrated American stage actor and brother of the assassin of Abraham Lincoln, John Wilkes Booth.

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject or format.
box 15, folder 1

Advertisements and order forms for Cohen books and productions 1985-1993

 

Articles by Cohen

box 15, folder 2

"Acting at University of California, Irvine" undated

box 15, folder 3

"Acting power ou la puissance creatrice de l'acteur" 1992

box 19, folder 1, box 15, folder 4

"Coming of Age in Elsinore" 1988

box 15, folder 5

"Dragging Carcasses to the Firepit: Acting Theory, Practice, and Pedagogy" undated

box 19, folder 2

"Golden Opinions, Sound and Fury" 1983

box 19, folder 3

"Living Under Tibi's Law" 2004

box 15, folder 6

"Quince's Moon--Disfiguring Reality in A Midsummer Night's Dream " 1989

box 19, folder 4, box 15, folder 7

"Repertory Theatre at Irvine" 1967

box 15, folder 8

"Shakespeare's Sixteen-Year-Old Hamlet" 1973

box 15, folder 9

"Some Political Implications of The Madwoman of Chaillot " 1968

box 15, folder 10

"Spoken Dialog in Written Drama" 1984

box 15, folder 11

"Tears (and Acting) in Shakespeare" 1995

box 15, folder 12

Miscellaneous 1976, 1987, undated

box 15, folder 13

Articles on distancing actors from their roles 1999, undated

box 15, folder 14

Biographical information 1986-1992, undated

box 15, folder 15-20

Clippings 1967-2004

box 15, folder 21

Conferences and symposiums 1983-1988, 1999

box 15, folder 22-27

Correspondence 1967-1999, undated

box 19, folder 5

Dramaturg notebooks and scripts 1993-2010

 

Edwin Booth in Performance

box 15, folder 28

Bibliography and chronology 1967

box 15, folder 29-21

Manuscript 1967

box 15, folder 32

Offprint: "Hamlet as Edwin Booth" 1969

box 15, folder 33-34

Plates 1967

box 15, folder 35

Plate captions 1967

box 15, folder 37

Lectures and talks 1987, undated

box 15, folder 36

McCulloch, Samuel: interview transcript 1990

box 19, folder 8-9, box 15, folder 38

Photographic materials 2008 and undated

Scope and Content note

Includes photographic prints, slides, and digital images on CD.

Access

Original CDs with digital files are restricted. Researchers should request that use copies be made.
box 15, folder 39

Play reviews 1986-1989

box FB-063, folder 4

Poster: The Prince 2001

box 15, folder 40-41, box 19, folder 6

Programs 1962-2005 and undated

box 15, folder 42

Reviews and citations lists 1986-1992

 

Student's Repertory Theatre (UCI)

box 16, folder 1

Audition materials 1967

 

Clippings

box 16, folder 2

General 1967

box 16, folder 3

Oedipus 1967

box 16, folder 4

One acts 1967

box 16, folder 5

Six Characters 1967

box 16, folder 6

Tours 1967

box 16, folder 7

Exercises 1967

box 16, folder 8

Photographs 1967

box 16, folder 9, box FB-063, folder 4

Posters 1967

box 16, folder 10

Press releases 1966-1967

box 16, folder 11

Schedules 1966-1967

box 16, folder 12

Tour business materials 1967

box 19, folder 7

UCI Drama Alumni Newsletter 1987-2004

 

UCI graduates

box 16, folder 13-15

Filmographies, headshots, and other materials 1997-2003, undated

box 16, folder 16

Photographs undated

box 16, folder 17

Writings dedicated to Cohen 1983-1984

 

Textbooks and journals Series 3. 1970-2011

Physical Description: 1.5 Linear Feet

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of drama and theatre textbooks authored by Cohen, as well as journals that contain articles written by Cohen. Some books are in languages other than English.

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by title of book or journal.
box 17

Acting in Shakespeare, second edition (A Smith and Kraus Book) 2005

box 17

Acting One (Mayfield Publishing Company) 1984

box 17

Acting One, fifth edition (McGraw-Hill) 2008

box 17

Acting One/Acting Two, fifth edition (McGraw-Hill) 2008

box 17

Acting Power (Mayfield Publishing Company) 1978

box 17

Advanced Acting Style, Character, and Performance (McGraw-Hill Higher Education) 2002

box 17

A Jatek Hatalma (ALFA Studio Budapest) 1993

box 17

A Szinesz-mesterseg Alapjai (Jelenkor Kiado) 1998

box 18

The Drama Review: a Journal of Performance Studies 1991 Spring

box 17

Educational Theatre Journal 1973 May

box 18

Enjoy the Play (McGraw-Hill) 2003

box 17

Essays in Theatre, volume 4 number 2 1986 May

box 17

Giraudoux: Three Faces of Destiny (The University of Chicago Press) 1968

box 17

Journal of Dramatic Theory and Criticism, volume 10 number 1 (the University of Kansas) 1995 Fall

box 17

More Power To You (Applause Theatre & Cinema Books) 2002

box 17

Oedipus Tyrannus, A Norton Critical Edition (W.W. Norton & Company, Inc) 1970

box 18

Pamietnik Teatralny (Warszawa) 2001

box 18

Puterea Interpretarii Scenice (Anca Maniutiu) 2007

box 18

Slavic and East European Performance, volume 20 number 2 (Institute for Contemporary East European Drama and Theatre) 2000 Summer

box 18

Stanislavski-Symposium I Stockholm 1986

box 18

Theatre, fifth edition (Mayfield Publishing Company) 1999

box 18

Theatre, ninth edition (McGraw-Hill) 2011

box 18

Theatre Brief Edition, seventh edition (McGraw-Hill) 2005

box 18

Theatre Brief Version, ninth edition (McGraw-Hill) 2010

box 18

Theatre Topics, volume 5 number 2 (The John Hopkins University Press) 1995 September

box 18

Twelve Plays for Theatre (Mayfield Publishing Company) 1994

 

Unprocessed addition 2018 Accession 2018.021 1981-2014

Physical Description: 2.3 Linear Feet(2 record cartons, 1 film reel)

Access

Access to original film is restricted; researchers may request viewing copies.

Series Scope and Centent Summary

This addition to the Robert Cohen papers contains issues of theater publications, mainly issues of "Plays International," slides of UCI theater performances, and a film reel of John M. Whiteley, a UCI professor.
box accn2018.021 001

Box 1 1981-2014

Scope and Contents Note

issues of Plays International
box accn2018.021 002

Box 2 1981-2014

Scope and Contents Note

issues of Plays International; theater publications, including UCI Drama publications; slides of UCI theater productions
box accn2018.021 003

Box 3 1981-2014

Scope and Contents Note

film reel titled "Inside Looking In - John M. Whiteley"