ShawChicago Theater Company Records
Scope and Contents
The ShawChicago Theater Company Records include programs, promotional and marketing materials, scripts, photographs, recordings for the theater’s productions and events. The collection also includes administrative files and papers from long serving Artistic Director Robert Scogin who directed more than 60 productions over a span of 23 years.
Production and event recordings are housed in Box 10 and listed at the end of the collection inventory. The audio-video formats include cassette, VHS, betacam, mini video and DVD. The content of this media covers productions and various outreach events conducted by ShawChicago. Please note: Film video formats have not been checked to ensure content or playability.
Dates
- 1970 - 2019
- Majority of material found within 1994 - 2019
Creator
- ShawChicago Theater Company (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions
Conditions Governing Use
Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection.
Biographical / Historical
ShawChicago began in 1994 as a program of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs. In the Studio Theater at the Cultural Center, ShawChicago presented concert readings of Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries. In 2000, ShawChicago became an independent not-for-profit organization, and moved its office and productions to the Ruth Page Center for the Arts.
In 2019, the ShawChicago Board of Directors made the decision to close, after the death of 24-year long Artistic Director Robert Scogin in 2018 and a general downturn in ticket sales and subscriptions. The final performance, The Doctor’s Dilemma, was the same play ShawChicago presented as its first reading 25 years prior.
Extent
5.5 Linear Feet (in 10 boxes, plus 2544 electronic files (9.91 GB))
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
ShawChicago specialized in concert readings of works by playwright George Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries. The collection includes production records, including programs and promotional materials, in addition to scripts, photographs and papers from long serving Artistic Director Robert Scogin.
Arrangement
The ShawChicago Theater Company Records are arranged into four series:
- Series 1: Production History Files, 1994-2019, undated
- Series 2: Scripts, 1994-2019, undated
- Series 3: Artistic Director Files, 1970-2018, undated
- Series 4: Recordings, 1994-2010, undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Access to some audiovisual material may not be possible due to available replay equipment or to state of physical media. Tapes have not been checked to ensure content or playability. Titles and other descriptive information is as transcribed from packages. Please contact the archives before your visit.
Physical Location
Materials are stored offsite and advance notice is required for use. Please request materials at least 24-hour prior to your research visit to coordinate access.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated to the library by ShawChicago Managing Director, Luther Goins in 2019
- Photographs Subject Source: Local sources
- Records (Documents) Subject Source: Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms
- Scogin, Robert, 1937-2018
- Scripts (Documents) Subject Source: Local sources
- Theater -- Illinois -- Chicago Subject Source: Local sources
- Theater programs Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Video recordings. Subject Source: Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms
- Title
- Guide to the ShawChicago Theater Company Records
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Sarah Zimmerman, 2019. Updated and ingested into ArchivesSpace by Sarah Zimmerman, 2022.
- Date
- 2019
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Unit at Harold Washington Library Center Repository
Harold Washington Library Center, 9th Floor
Chicago Public Library
400 S. State Street
Chicago IL 60605 United States
(312) 747-4875
specoll@chipublib.org