Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Schrock, Robert
- Abstract:
- Correspondence, scripts, sheet music, contracts, production notes, photographs, clippings, publicity material, theater administration files, DVDs, audiocassettes, posters, promotional objects and other material from Naked Boys Singing!, bulk 1998-2004, an off-Broadway musical revue of gay experiences told through song and dance, co-created by Robert Schrock. The collection includes recording demos from the show's composers, as well as administrative files and promotional material from its national and international productions, including shows in Norway, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Japan, Italy and Australia.
- Extent:
- 8.8 Linear Feet 7 boxes.
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
-
[Box/folder #, or item name] Naked Boys Singing Records, Coll2013-098, ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The collection includes correspondence, scripts, sheet music, contracts, production notes, photographs, clippings, publicity material, theater administration files, DVDs, audiocassettes, posters, promotional objects and other material from Naked Boys Singing!, bulk 1998-2004, an off-Broadway musical revue co-created by Robert Schrock. The administration files include scripts, sheet music and creative notes; programs and publicity material for the show and related events; clippings and theatre reviews; and other administrative records from Naked Boys Singing! shows performed throughout the United States, and international shows in Norway, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Japan, Italy, South Africa and Australia. The DVDs and audiocassettes include video recordings of performances as well as recording demos from the show's composers. The collection also includes promotional posters and objects such as a bathrobe, hats, a duffle bag, buttons, magnets and T-shirts. The collection also includes administrative files for other theatrical productions in which Schrock worked as an actor, director, writer, production manager or production designer.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Naked Boys Singing! is a musical revue conceived and directed by Robert Schrock. It opened at The Celebration Theatre in Los Angeles in 1998. As its title suggests, the revue is performed by a cast of nude men singing about their experiences as gay men. The music and lyrics were written by Schrock, Bruce Vilanch, Stephen Bates, Marie Cain, Shelly Markham, Jim Morgan, David Pevsner, Ben Schaechter, Rayme Sciaroni, Trance Thompson, and Mark Winkler. It was originally conceived by Schrock as a way to increase waning ticket sales at the gay and lesbian playhouse, Celebration Theatre, where Schrock served as Artistic Director. Naked Boys Singing! became a success traveling around the country and running in an off-Broadway theater for eight years; and a movie version was released in 2007. The show has also played in eight countries.
Naked Boys Singing! caused an uproar during the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York when its producers offered discounts to the Republicans attending the convention. The Republicans demanded that the show be removed from New York City's official tourism website, but no action was taken. In December 2004, a production in Atlanta was halted after the police cited the production for permitting adult entertainment without a license. Atlanta's Mayor Shirley Franklin quickly asked that the charges be dropped as they were based on a misreading of the city code. In 2003 the show was forced to close and change venues in San Juan, Puerto Rico when the government's Department of Culture expressed concern for the "good name and prestige" of the theater. And in 2001 a Provincetown law stating that there cannot be any nudity within a certain number of miles from a church caused production to be halted until a legal battle resulted in the law being changed.
Sources:
Box 1, Folder 1, Naked Boys Singing records, Coll2013-098, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.
Box 1, Folder 2, Naked Boys Singing records, Coll2013-098, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.
Box 1, Folder 3, Naked Boys Singing records, Coll2013-098, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.
"Naked Boys Singing Is On Stage Once More," Out.com, http://www.out.com/entertainment/popnography/2012/03/22/naked-boys-singing-stage-once-more (accessed October 18, 2013).
- Acquisition information:
- Received by ONE board member Bill Kaiser. Exact date of acquisition unknown.
- Processing information:
-
Collection processed by Loni Shibuyama with assistance from Sarah Wilson, October 2013. The finding aid was updated in April 2016 to include an additional 1.5 linear feet of material.
- Arrangement:
-
This collection is arranged in the following series:
Series 1. Administration files
Series 2. DVDs and audiocassettes
Series 3. Posters and promotional items
Series 4. Other productions
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
- Terms of access:
-
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries 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.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Box/folder #, or item name] Naked Boys Singing Records, Coll2013-098, ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.
- Location of this collection:
-
909 West Adams BoulevardLos Angeles, CA 90007, US
- Contact:
- (213) 821-2771