The Finding Aid of the Charles Marowitz Collection of the Malibu Stage Company 0001

Alexandra Mogan and Katie Richardson
The processing of this collection and the creation of this finding aid was funded by the generous support of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
Pepperdine University. Special Collections and University Archives.
December 2011
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA, 90263-4786
kelsey.knox@pepperdine.edu


Language of Material: English
Contributing Institution: Pepperdine University. Special Collections and University Archives.
Title: Charles Marowitz Collection of the Malibu Stage Company
Identifier/Call Number: 0001
Physical Description: 3 Linear Feet (3 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1978-2003
Date (bulk): 1990-2002
Abstract: The collection includes Marowitz's files from the time he served as Artistic Director of the Malibu Stage Company from 1990 to 2002. Details of the company's stage productions, actors' resumes, script revisions, costume designs, donation lists, and correspondence are included.
Physical Location: Pepperdine University. Special Collections and University Archives.

Conditions Governing Access

Advance notice required for access.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.

Preferred Citation

[Box/folder# or item name], Charles Marowitz collection of the Malibu Stage Company, Collection no. 0001, Malibu Historical Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Pepperdine University.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

The collection was given to Pepperdine University by Charles Marowitz on November 14, 2008.

Biographical note

Charles Marowitz was born on January 26,1934 to Julius and Tillie Marowitz in New York City, New York. At an early age, Marowitz discovered his passion for theatre and moved to London, England in his late teens to pursue his interest. From 1965 to 1967, he served as the Associate Director of the London Traverse Theatre and in 1967, Marowitz and Peter Brook formed the Royal Shakespeare Company Experimental Group. A year later, he founded the Open Space Theatre in London and served as the groups Artistic Director until he moved back to the United States in the 1980s.
When Marowitz returned to the United States he settled in Los Angeles, California, working as a playwright, associate director, dramaturge, teacher, and critical writer for the Los Angeles Theatre Center. In 1984, his play, Sherlock's Last Case was presented at the Los Angeles Theatre Center. The play won the Louis B. Mayer Award and in 1987 was presented on Broadway and starred Frank Langella. During this time, he also served as an adjunct faculty member in the theater department at Pepperdine University.
In 1990, Marowitz created the Malibu Stage Company with Jaqueline Bridgeman. Established as a non-profit organization, its mission is to create a world-class professional theatre committed to involving every facet of the community in its work. That same year, the company held its first production, Dear Liar, at Pepperdine's Smothers Theatre.
In the midst of his work with the Malibu Stage Company, Marowitz left Los Angeles for Fort Worth, Texas in 1994, where he attempted to begin a new regional repertory theatre named the Texas Stage. However, due to lack of funding and support from the city, his efforts were unsuccessful. During this time he also served as the Distinguished Theatre-Artist-in-Residence at Texas Christian University until 1995. In 1996, Marowitz left Texas and returned to California where he served as the Distinguished Artist-in-Residence at California State University of Long Beach for a number of years.
That same year, the Malibu Stage Company finally found its permanent home at the disused Shepard-by-the-Sea Lutheran Church off of the Pacific Coast Highway. Before this time, the Malibu Stage Company used facilities around Malibu including Pepperdine's Raitt Recital Hall, the Jewish Center, the Old Court House, and the Serra Retreat. Fundraising efforts immediately commenced. The company relied heavily on donations from prominent people in the community such as actors and media icons. A long list boasted the support from legends such as Jack Lemmon, Tony Danza, Johnny Carson, and Dick van Dyke. In 2002, the construction work of converting the old church into a theatre was completed. The company hosted an array of well-received productions, most notably the Fellow Traveler in 2002.
Marowitz served as Artistic Director of the Malibu Stage Company and worked with the President, Board of Directors, and Advisory Board from 1990 until 2002. After facing internal conflict and financial stress, Marowitz left the company in 2002. Marowitz remains an active member in the theatre community and in 2007, he returned to the Malibu Stage company to direct the play, Entertaining Mr. Sloane.
In addition to Marowitz's work in the theatre, he is also an an accomplished writer. He co-founded Encore Magazine and has served as a critic to such leading newspapers as The New York Times and The London Times. He has published over two dozen books including two textbooks on theatre.

Scope and Content

The collection includes the files of Marowitz during his tenure as founder and artistic director of the Malibu Stage Company from 1990 to 2002. Included are correspondence, administrative records, contracts, financial records, resumes, stage production details, construction maps and designs, newspaper clippings, and public relations materials from 1978 to 2002.

Processing Information note

The collection was arranged and described by Alexandra Mogan and Katie Richardson, December 2011.

Arrangement

For the most part, the collection has been maintained in original order and original folder titles were used to describe the materials. The collection is arranged alphabetically by subject file.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Set designers -- United States
Brochures
Correspondence
Financial records
Malibu (Calif.) -- History
Press releases
Actors and actresses -- United States
Theatrical companies -- United States -- History
Theater -- California -- Malibu -- History
Dramatists, American
Plays -- Production and direction
Photographs
Shaner, John Herman -- Archives
Smothers Theatre -- Archives
Ortiz, Geoffrey -- Archives
Fry, Christopher -- Archives
Merzer, Glen -- Archives
Cowan, James -- Archives
Raitt Recital Hall -- Archives
Brustein, Robert Sanford -- Archives
Marowitz, Charles -- Archives
Malibu Stage Company (Malibu, Calif.) -- Archives
Brustein, Robert Sanford -- Archives
Pepperdine University -- Archives

box 1, folder 1-2

Actors Studio 1997-1999

box 1, folder 3

Actors Ensemble 1991 April

box 1, folder 4

Artwork

box 1, folder 5

Artistic Director 1996-2003

box 1, folder 6

Artistic Statement

box 1, folder 7

Bank 1999-2000

box 1, folder 8

Board Candidates 1999

box 1, folder 9-10

Board Crisis 1996-2002

box 1, folder 11-12

Board Letters 1991-2002

box 1, folder 13

Board Minutes 1990-2000

box 1, folder 14

Brochures

box 1, folder 15

Brunstein, Robert 2000

box 1, folder 16

Budgets 1989-2000

box 1, folder 17-18

City 1991-1999

box 1, folder 19-21

Clippings 1989-2001

box 1, folder 22

Cobb/Courtney 1999 June-November

box 1, folder 23-24

Construction 1992-1999

box 1, folder 25-27

Contracts 1986-2002

box 1, folder 28

Controversy 1996-2002

box 2, folder 1-3

Correspondence 1972-2003

box 2, folder 4

Cowan, James 1994-1999

box 2, folder 5

Credit Cards 1998-1999

box 2, folder 6

Curtains 1998

box 2, folder 7

Designers/Directors 1995-1999

box 2, folder 8

Died Laughing 1997

box 2, folder 9-10

Donations 1978-2002

box 2, folder 11

Equity 1985-2001

box 2, folder 12

E.R. Don

box 2, folder 13

Estimates and Bids 1996-1998

box 2, folder 14-15

Fellow Traveler 2002

box 2, folder 16-17

Fry, Christopher 2001

box 2, folder 18

Fundraising 1992-1999

box 2, folder 19

Grants 1998-2001

box 2, folder 20

Insurance 1996-2001

box 2, folder 21

Invoices 1997- 2000

box 2, folder 22

Job Applicants 1996-1998

box 3, folder 1

Lease 1994-1998

box 3, folder 2

Legal-Charles Marowitz 2001- 2003

box 3, folder 3

Legal-Malibu Stage Co 1991-1992

box 3, folder 4

Lighting 1997-1999

box 3, folder 5

Lucinda Party 1999

box 3, folder 6-7

Maps 1990-1998

box 3, folder 8

Merzer, Glen 1998

box 3, folder 9

Murdering Marlowe 2002

box 3, folder 10

Non-Profit 1991-1997

box 3, folder 11

Owen, Melinda 1998

box 3, folder 12

Play-Reports 1998-1999

box 3, folder 13

Post Office 1995-1998

box 3, folder 14

P.R. Contacts 1992-2001

box 3, folder 15

Productions 1990-2001

box 3, folder 16

Rentals 1997-2000

box 3, folder 17

Releases

box 3, folder 18-19

Shaner, John Herman 2002

box 3, folder 20

Shakespeare Sundae 1995-1997

box 3, folder 21

Stage Fright 2000

box 3, folder 22

Stationery

box 3, folder 23-24

Subscribers

box 3, folder 25

Subscriber Cards

box 3, folder 26

Subscriptions