Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Mark Taper Forum Scripts
mssMTF
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Mark Taper Forum Scripts
Identifier/Call Number: mssMTF
Physical Description:
160.42 Linear Feet
(377 boxes)
Approximately 4000 items
Date (inclusive): 1967-2014
Abstract: This collection consists primarily of
photocopies of scripts for plays performed at the Mark Taper Forum and the Center Theatre
Group in Los Angeles, California, from 1967 to 2014, as well as production files, programs,
and a set of periodicals related to the dramatic arts. In addition to the Mark Taper Forum,
the collection includes plays from other Center Theatre Group theaters including The
Improvisational Theatre, New Theatre for Now, and The Lab.
Language of Material: English.
The scripts cannot be copied or published for any reason.
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department.
For more information, contact Reader Services.
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from
or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The
responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining
necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
[Identification of item]. Mark Taper Forum Scripts, The Huntington Library, San Marino,
California.
Ongoing gift of the Mark Taper Forum, 1967-
The Mark Taper Forum, part of the Center Theater Group which also includes the Ahmanson and
the Kirk Douglas Theater, is a non-profit arts institution dedicated to theater production.
The theater opened in Los Angeles, California, in 1967 and is known for its development of
new plays and voices for the theatre. Located at the Performing Arts Center (formerly The
Music Center) in downtown Los Angeles, the Taper has received virtually every theatrical
award including the 1977 special Tony for theatrical excellence. It is one of America's top
regional theatres, and a number of the plays presented on and off-Broadway and across the
country began at the Taper. The Taper and the Ahmanson have presented a variety of
theatrical productions, including drama, comedies, musicals, classic revivals, and
world-premieres. The Kirk Douglas theater, an intimate venue, opened in 2002.
This collection consists primarily of photocopies of scripts for plays performed at the
Mark Taper Forum and the Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles, California, from 1967 to 2014,
as well as production files, programs, and a set of periodicals related to the dramatic
arts. In addition to the Mark Taper Forum, the collection includes plays from the following
Center Theatre Group theaters and programs: the Ahmanson, the Kirk Douglas Theater, Itchey
Foot, Improvisational Theatre Project/Performing for Los Angeles Youth (ITP/PLAY), TaperLab,
Next Step, New Theater For Now (NTFN), New Work Festival (NWF), Readings Workshops and
Special Events (RWSE), Taper Radio Program, and Taper, Too.
Plays
The bulk of this collection consists of photocopies of scripts, with new scripts are added
to the collection at the conclusion of each season. The play facsimiles sometimes include
multiple drafts of plays, with and without autograph notes. Some published plays are also
included. The photocopies are from the archive of the Mark Taper Forum and the Center
Theatre Group.; the originals are maintained by the Center Theater Group.
Because the plays have been collected over a period of years, they have no single clear
arrangement. The first group of plays, representing seasons from 1967-1984, is arranged
alphabetically by author. More plays were added beginning in 1985 through 1997 and the plays
are then arranged largely chronologically by season and thereafter alphabetically by author.
Due to a break in collection, another large section of plays is not arranged chronologically
by season, but is arranged wholly by author. These plays overlap with seasonally arranged
plays from 1985-1997 and cover the same time period. Seasonal arrangement resumes with the
1997-98 season. Plays from 2011-2014 are organized alphabetically by author but some of the
dates could be outside the listed range. There are also two boxes of oversize materials: Box
43 and Box 296.
Production Files
The production files consist of original and photocopied materials and include research,
notes, reviews, scripts and script changes, production notes and program materials. The
files are in their original order and maintain their original file names. Where folders were
part of a larger file, a series title is included on the folder, followed by a colon and the
folder title. No other arrangement or indexing of this series has been done.
Periodicals
This series contains a group of approximately 125 issues of periodicals chiefly related to
the dramatic arts and theater, including a run of The Drama Review from 1962 to 2004.
Programs
This series contains more than 150 programs. The programs are arranged
chronologically.
The materials are arranged intellectually in the following series:
- I. Plays (Boxes 1-296, 330-377)
- Plays, 1967-1984, arranged by season (Boxes 1-43)
- Plays, 1985-1997, arranged by season (Boxes 44-78)
- Plays, 1985-1997, plays arranged alphabetically by author (Boxes 79-158)
- Plays, 1997-2007, arranged by season (Boxes 159-296)
- Plays, 2008-2014, arranged by season (Boxes 330-377)
- II. Production Files (Boxes 297-312)
- III. Periodicals (Boxes 313-321)
- IV. Programs (Boxes 323-329)
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Drama -- Periodicals.
Theaters -- California -- Los Angeles
Scripts (documents) -- California -- Los Angeles -- 20th
century
Scripts (documents) -- California -- Los Angeles 21st
century