Segal (Lewis) Collection of Dance and Theater Materials, 1902-2011, bulk 1970-2009

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Summary

Title:
Lewis Segal collection of dance and theater materials
Dates:
1902-2011, bulk 1970-2009
Creators:
Segal, Lewis
Abstract:
Lewis Segal is a performing arts critic who has written on various topics related to the performing arts, from ballet to contemporary dance and musicals. He began working as a freelance writer in the 1960s for a number of publications, including the Los Angeles Times, Performing Arts magazine, the Los Angeles Free Press, Ballet News, and High Performance magazine. He joined the staff of the Los Angeles Times in 1976. From 1996 to 2008 he held the full-time position of chief dance critic, writing full features and reviews on dance companies and performing arts organizations from around the world. Included in the collection are programs Segal collected from the various dance shows, movies, and musicals he has attended, as well as a set of 8mm early film reels, and VHS/DVD recordings of concerts and television features on dance-related topics.
Extent:
24 linear feet (24 record cartons)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Lewis Segal Collection of Dance and Theater Materials (Collection 1890). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection primarily consists of programs and promotional materials from dance companies and performing arts venues from around the world, spanning the years 1922 to 2011. In addition to the vast collection of materials from ballet companies, international folk ensembles, and contemporary dance groups, there are souvenir programs from both movies and musicals, often containing detailed cast lists, production credits, and synopses. The video recordings include 8mm films from as far back as 1902, as well as VHS and DVD recordings of dance concerts and television features on performing arts groups and individual artists.

Biographical / historical:

Lewis Segal was born in Los Angeles in 1941. He attended UCLA and graduated with a BA in Language/Arts, an MA in Theatre History and Criticism, and an MFA in Theatre Directing. After graduating, he began working as a freelance writer for a number of publications, including the Los Angeles Times, Performing Arts magazine, the Los Angeles Free Press, Ballet News, and High Performance magazine. During the first half of the 1970s, he worked as a music publicist, first at Mercury Records, and later at ABC and Capitol Records. In 1976, he joined the staff of the Los Angeles Times as an assistant editor in the Book Review section, while continuing his freelance work for Calendar, the arts and entertainment section. In 1984, he was promoted to the position of Dance Writer, eventually becoming the chief dance critic for the newspaper in 1996. Regarding his professional accolades as a writer, he was one of two American critics participating in the 1990 India International Dance Festival, one of five American critics dubbed "Lord of the Dance" in Brills Content magazine in 2001, and the only American critic invited to submit a critical essay to Nina Alovert's exhaustive study of Bolshoi Ballet star Nikolai Tsiskaridze, published in Moscow in 2010.

Although the Los Angeles Times downsized its arts section in 2008, Segal has continued to publish performing arts features and reviews as a freelancer. Aside from his work as a writer, he taught as an adjunct professor in the Department of Theater at the University of Southern California (USC) from 1999-2008.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Lewis Segal, 2011.
Processing information:

Preliminary processing by Andrea Wang; fully processed by Mike D'Errico in 2012 in the Center for Primary Research and Training (CFPRT), with assistance from Jillian Cuellar. The processing of this collection was generously supported by Arcadiafunds.

Collections are processed to a variety of levels depending on the work necessary to make them usable, their perceived user interest and research value, availability of staff and resources, and competing priorities. Library Special Collections provides a standard level of preservation and access for all collections and, when time and resources permit, conducts more intensive processing. These materials have been arranged and described according to national and local standards and best practices.

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Arrangement:

Arranged in two series:

  • 1. Programs, 1922-2011
  • 2. Video Recordings, 1902-2011.

All series are arranged alphabetically.

Physical / technical requirements:

CONTAINS UNPROCESSED DIGITAL MATERIALS: Digital materials are not currently available for access and will require further processing and assessment. If you have questions about this material please email spec-coll@library.ucla.edu.

Physical location:
Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Mike D'Errico, 2012.
Sponsor:
The processing of this collection was generously supported by Arcadia funds.
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-07-08 12:34:50 -0700 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

Terms of access:

Copyright to portions of this collection has been assigned to the UCLA Library Special Collections. The library can grant permission to publish for materials to which it holds the copyright. All requests for permission to publish must be submitted in writing to Library Special Collections. Credit shall be given as follows: The Regents of the University of California on behalf of the UCLA Library Special Collections.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Lewis Segal Collection of Dance and Theater Materials (Collection 1890). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
Website