Guide to the Henry May Theater and Costume Design Files

Processed by The Bancroft Library staff.

University Archives

The Bancroft Library

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, California, 94720-6000

Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu

URL: https://www.lib.berkeley.edu/visit/bancroft/university-archives

Guide to the Henry May Theater and Costume Design Files

Collection number: CU-36.2

University Archives, The Bancroft Library

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, California

Contact Information:

University Archives
The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California, 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-2933
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: https://www.lib.berkeley.edu/visit/bancroft/university-archives/

Processed by:: The Bancroft Library staff
Date Completed:: March 2004
Encoded by:: James Lake

Collection Summary

Collection Title: Henry May Theater and Costume Design Files,

Date (inclusive): 1955-1991

Collection Number: CU-36.2

Creator: May, Henry

Extent: 8 boxes, 41 oversize folders, 5 framed items (9 linear ft.)

Repository: The Bancroft Library. University Archives.

Berkeley, California 94720-6000

Abstract: Set and costume designs primarily for theater and dance productions at the University of California, Berkeley

Physical Location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.

Languages Represented: English

Information for Researchers

Access

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library 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 reader.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Henry May Theater and Costume Design Files, CU-36.2, University Archives, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

Gift of Henry May, 1992

Biographical Sketch

Henry May taught in Berkeley's Dept. of Dramatic Art from 1963 to 1991. He received his BFA in landscape architecture from the University of Illinois in 1943, and after service in the Navy worked in various theater and television positions on the east coast before coming to Berkeley. He won an Emmy for his artistic direction of "Boswell's Life of Johnson" for the "Omnibus" program in 1958. He designed all major theater productions and dance performances on the UC Berkeley campus for some twenty-five years. He won a bronze medal at the Sixth Triennale of Theatre Set and Costume Design in 1981 ("As You Like It") and a Bay Area Theatre Critic's Award and a West Coast Theater Critic's Award for his design work on Noel Coward's "Tonight at 8:30" in 1982. (Unfortunately only the latter is represented in this collection by some oversize photographs.)

Scope and Content Note

The collection contains photographs and slides of productions by Henry May, and original and copies of designs for both theater and dance productions. Most of the productions represented were presented at UC Berkeley, although productions for a few other theaters may be found.

Boxes 1-5

Series 1: Production Photograph Files

Scope and Content Note

This series is arranged alphabetically by name of production; because of size and storage considerations oversize materials (Boxes 4-5) have been separated from somewhat smaller materials (Boxes 1-3). Some productions are represented by both sizes, but a few productions are represented only by oversize photographs. The files consist of both black and white and color photographic prints. The few negatives that came with these files are stored with University Archives pictorial collection negatives.

box-folder 1:1

Ah, Wilderness (1976)

box-folder 1:2

Antigone (1965)

box-folder 1:3-4

As You Like It (1977)

box-folder 1:5

Big Blonde (1980, WNET) (see also oversize photographs in Box 4)

box-folder 1:6

Bonjour la Bonjour(?)

box-folder 1:7

Changing Room (University Dance Theatre)

box-folder 1:8

Cherry Orchard (1980)

box-folder 1:9

The Devil and the Good Lord (1977)

box-folder 1:10

Electra (1988?)

box-folder 1:11

Electra (1973)

box-folder 1:12

Epicoene (1978)

box-folder 1:13

Fallen Angels (1979)

box-folder 2:1

Ghost Sonata (see also oversize photographs in Box 4)

box-folder 2:2

Government Inspector

box-folder 2:3

Henry IV, part I

box-folder 2:4

High Tor (1 photo, showing Garff Wilson in balloon basket)

box-folder 2:5

Histoire du Soldat (opening production, Zellerbach Auditorium)

box-folder 2:6

Holiday (H. May's first production, U. of Illinois, 1941?)

box-folder 2:7

Holiday

box-folder 2:8

Horace (Corneille)

box-folder 2:9

In the Glade (Univ. Dance Theatre and B.A.R.D.)

box-folder 2:10

Jieux (Debussy: Jeux, Univ. Dance Theatre)

box-folder 2:11

King Lear

box-folder 2:12

Machinal (see also oversize photographs in Box 4)

box-folder 2:13

Measure for Measure

box-folder 2:14

Le Misanthrope

box-folder 2:15

A Month in the County (ACT) (see also oversize photographs in Box 5)

box-folder 2:16

Mrs. Stowe's Cabin

box-folder 2:17

Narrow Road to the Deep North

box-folder 2:18

Orestes

box-folder 2:19

Peer Gynt

box-folder 2:20

Pelleas et Melisande (Depts. of Music and Dramatic Art)

box-folder 2:21

Phaedra (see also oversize photographs in Box 5)

box-folder 2:22

Prometheus (Univ. Dance Theatre)

box-folder 3:1

Recruiting Officer

box-folder 3:2

The Rehearsal

box-folder 3:3

Revenger's Tragedy

box-folder 3:4

Rim of Heaven (University Dance Theatre)

box-folder 3:5

The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny

box-folder 3:6

The Skin of our Teeth

box-folder 3:7

Three Sisters

box-folder 3:8

A Touch of the Poet

box-folder 3:9

Uncle Vanya

box-folder 3:10

National Theatre, 1983 (Unid. productions)

box-folder 4:1

Big Blond

box-folder 4:2

Don't Invite Bears to Tea

box-folder 4:3

Ghost Sonata

box-folder 4:4

Going Potty

box-folder 4:5

Jeanne d'Arc au Bucher

box-folder 4:6

Machinal

box-folder 4:7

Medea (Seneca)

box-folder 5:1

Midsummer Night's Dream

box-folder 5:2

Month in the Country

box-folder 5:3

Much Ado about Nothing

box-folder 5:4

Phaedra (Racine)

box-folder 5:5

Red Peppers (National Theatre of Great Britain)

box-folder 5:6

Spring Awakening

box-folder 5:7

Tonight at 8:30 (includes unit set and photgraphs of Brief Encounters, Family Portrait, We Were Dancing, Shadow Play)

box-folder 5:8

Treats (National Theatre of Great Britain)

box-folder 5:9

Wars of the Roses

Box 6

Series 2: 35mm Slides of Productions

Scope and Content Note

Two slide storage cases; productions are listed as they occur in the cases.

Additional Note

Listed in order as stored in slide boxes

box-case: 6:1

Dance, Jieux

box-case: 6:1

Peer Gynt

box-case: 6:1

Medea (Seneca)

box-case: 6:1

Wars of the Roses

box-case: 6:1

Chekov season drop

box-case: 6:1

The Seagull

box-case: 6:1

Uncle Vanya

box-case: 6:1

The Cherry Orchard

box-case: 6:1

The Three Sisters

box-case: 6:1

Chekov season construction

box-case: 6:1

A Touch of the Poet

box-case: 6:1

Ghost Sonata

box-case: 6:1

Masque of Barbara Blomberg

box-case: 6:1

Henry IV, pt. 1

box-case: 6:1

Recruiting Officer

box-case: 6:1

Narrow Road to Deep North

box-case: 6:1

Electra (Giraudoux)

box-case: 6:1

The Rehearsal

box-case: 6:1

Dance, Rim of Heaven

box-case: 6:1

Absurd Person Singular

box-case: 6:1

The Blacks

box-case: 6:1

Idomeneo

box-case: 6:1

The Circle

box-case: 6:1

Fallen Angels

box-case: 6:1

One unidentified slide lying on top of others

box-case: 6:2

Measure for Measure

box-case: 6:2

Antigone (Greek Theatre)

box-case: 6:2

Epicoene

box-case: 6:2

Mahagonny

box-case: 6:2

Dance, Prometheus

box-case: 6:2

Love's Labours Lost

box-case: 6:2

As You Like It

box-case: 6:2

The Devil and the Good Lord

box-case: 6:2

Restoration

box-case: 6:2

Midsummer Night's Dream

box-case: 6:2

Machinal

box-case: 6:2

Joan at the Stake

box-case: 6:2

Mrs. Stowe's Cabin

box-case: 6:2

Bajazet

box-case: 6:2

Holiday

box-case: 6:2

Don't Invite Bears to Tea

box-case: 6:2

Going to Pot

box-case: 6:2

Dance, After Dusk

box-case: 6:2

Dance, Persephone

box-case: 6:2

A Month in the Country

box-case: 6:2

Dance, In the Glade

box-case: 6:2

Pelleas (added to empty spaces from separate box)

Box 7-8; oversize drawers; framed items

Series 3: Production Design Files

Scope and Content Note

In chronological order as received, consisting of original sketches and reproductions in various processes. Again, because of size and storage considerations, smaller materials have been put in boxes, while larger materials are stored in map cases. Five framed items, some in watercolor or oil, are stored separately.

Additional Note

Productions in Wheeler Hall, Durham Studio Theatre, Hertz Hall, Greek Theatre.

Oversize folders filed separately in map drawers (Oversize folders filed separately?)

Undated

Oversize folder 1

Old Met Opera plan

1963

box-folder 7:1

Merchant of Venice

box-folder 7:2

Hamlet

1964

box-folder 7:3

Saint Joan

box-folder 7:4

A Passage to India

box-folder 7:5

Three Against Christmas (2 items shelved in oversize folder 2A); The Impressario (with Dept. of Music)

Oversize folder 2

King Lear

1965

box-folder 7:6

Antigone

box-folder 7:7

The Crucible; Pelleas and Melisande; Don Giovanni (for San Francisco Opera)

Oversize folder 3

French Classical Season: Horace, Le Misanthrope, Phedre

1966

box-folder 7:8

The Caretaker

box-folder 7:9

The Lower Depths

1967

box-folder 7:10

The Empire Builders

Oversize folder 4

Alumni Repertory Theatre: Recruiting Officer, Romeo and Juliet, The Visit

1968

box-folder 7:11

Orestes

Oversize folder 5

Histoire du Soldat (Opening of Zellerbach Hall)

1969

Oversize folder 6

Idomeneo

Oversize folder 7

Mourning Becomes Electra

Oversize folder 8

Hotel Paradiso

Oversize folder 9

Measure for Measure

1970

box-folder 7:12

Hercules (w/ Dept. of Music)

box-folder 7:13

Heartbreak House

box-folder 7:14

Henry IV, part I

Oversize folder 10

Narrow Road to the Deep North

1971

box-folder 7:15

Cyrano de Bergerac

Oversize folder 11

A Touch of the Poet

1972

box-folder 7:16

Masque of Barbara Blomberg

box-folder 7:17

In the Jungle of Cities

box-folder 7:18

The Blacks

Oversize folder 12

Peer Gynt

1973

box-folder 7:19

Electra

box-folder 7:20

Mahagonny

box-folder 7:21

A Dream Play

Oversize folder 13

Electra

Oversize folder 14

Mahagonny

Oversize folder 15

Cyrano de Bergerac

Oversize folder 16

A Month in the Country

1974

Oversize folder 17

Streetcar Named Desire

Oversize folder 18

The Rehearsal

1975

Oversize folder 19

Old Chestnut Drama Guild: High Tor, The Cat and the Canary, Holiday, Fallen Angels

Oversize folder 20

José

Oversize folder 21

Richard II

Oversize folder 22

Untitled dance by David Wood

Oversize folder 23

Mrs. Stowe's Cabin

1976

Oversize folder 24

Ah Wilderness

Oversize folder 25

Old Chestnut Drama Guild: The Circle, Rain, Anna Christie, Life with Father, The Guardsmen

Oversize folder 26

Griselda

Oversize folder 27

The Skin of our Teeth

Oversize folder 28

The Devil and the Good Lord

Oversize folder 29

Metamora

1977

box-folder 8:1

Epicoene

box-folder 8:2

OCDG: Boy Meets Girl; Dulcy; The Animal Kingdom; Admiral Criton[!]

Oversize folder 30

As You Like It

Oversize folder 31

The Devil and the Good Lord

1978

box-folder 8:3

Jieux; Circus; untitled dance by Carol Murota

box-folder 8:4

Gamester

box-folder 8:5

OCDG: Barretts of Wimpole Street; Sherlock Holmes; The Amazon; The Green Goddess

Oversize folder 32

Tonight We Improvise

1979

box-folder 8:6

The Revenger's Tragedy

Oversize folder 33

Old Chestnut Drama Guild: The Late Christopher Bean, Springtime for Henry, Merton of the Movies, Night Must Fall

1979/80

Oversize folder 34

Chekov season: The Seagull, Uncle Vanya, The Cherry Orchard, The Three Sisters

1981

box-folder 8:7

Absurd Person Singular; After Magritte

Oversize folder 35

Absurd Person Singular; After Magritte

1982

box-folder 8:8

Medea (Seneca)

1982

box-folder 8:9

Feydeau: Going to Pot; I Don't Invite Bears to Tea

box-folder 8:10

A Ghost Sonata

box-folder 8:11

Much Ado About Nothing

Oversize folder 36

UC Dept of Dramatic Art and National Theatre of Great Britain at Santa Fe: Treats, The Faith Healer, China Man, The Village Wooing

Oversize folder 37

Madwoman of Chaillot

1984

box-folder 8:12

Jeanne d'Arc au Bucher; Rim of Heaven by John Thow

Oversize folder 38

A Midsummer Night's Dream

1986

box-folder 8:13

Peter and the Wolf (dance)

1987

box-folder 8:14

Restoration

box-folder 8:15

She Stoops to Conquer

box-folder 8:16

War of the Roses

Oversize folder 39

War of the Roses

1988

box-folder 8:17

Alcestra; Electra

box-folder 8:18

The Beggar's Opera

Oversize folder 40

Persephone; untitled dance by John Thow

1989

box-folder 8:19

Saved

box-folder 8:20

Urban Renewal; If a Body (dance)

1990

box-folder 8:21

Camillo's Cabalistic Theatre

box-folder 8:22

A Night in the Old Market

box-folder 8:23

Pelleas and Melisande

1991

box-folder 8:24

Ellis' Trellis; Genesis (dance)

Undated

Oversize folder 41

Dance: The Changing Room; painter's elevation

Framed Items

A Touch of the Poet, 1971: design sketch in pastels

Chekov season, 1979/80: backdrop elevation; watercolor

3-4

Handel's Hercules, 1970: costumes; oil

Idomeneo, 1969: principal costumes; oil