Henry May Theater and Costume Design Files, 1955-1991

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
May, Henry
Abstract:
Set and costume designs primarily for theater and dance productions at the University of California, Berkeley
Extent:
8 boxes, 41 oversize folders, 5 framed items (9 linear ft.)
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

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.

Biographical / historical:

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.)

Acquisition information:
Gift of Henry May, 1992
Physical location:
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.

Access and use

Location of this collection:
University of California, Berkeley, University Archives, The Bancroft Library
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000, US
Contact:
(510) 642-6481