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Boston Conservatory Theater Department collection, 1952-2013

 Collection
Identifier: BCB-010

Dates

  • Creation: 1952-2013

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research by appointment. Advance notice is required for access because materials are stored offsite. Use of audiovisual materials may require production of listening or viewing copies.

Administrative History

The Theater Department is one of the three main divisions of the Boston Conservatory. It developed out of basic acting classes for the music students of the conservatory, but soon expanded to offer theater training to a limited number of accepted students. The program was created and conceived by Harlan Grant, who was brought on by Albert Alphin after he became president in the early 1930s. The program during these early years was largely directed toward plays, with some light musical theater, and courses taught acting, directing, scenic design, and other theater management principles. The program developed in the 1950s and 60s to involve more musical theater productions. By the end of Grant’s tenure as chair and into subsequent department leadership, the program directed the majority of instruction and mainstage performances towards musical theater, teaming up with the vocal teachers of the music department to provide dedicated voice instruction in the style of musical theater. For much of the 1990s and early 2000s, the department was led by Neil Donohoe, who maintained the focus on musical theater, which has produced many graduates that have had successful careers on Broadway and other stages internationally. In 2015, the department added a major in Contemporary Theater, which focuses instruction on acting, directing, writing, and producing experimental and multidisciplinary theater works.

Extent

5 boxes

Language of Materials

English

Acquisition History

Compiled from materials previously housed in the Albert Alphin Library and materials donated by the theater division and faculty.

Processing Information

Processed by Brendan Higgins, May 2016-June 2017; prepared for ArchivesSpace by Ashley Gray and Thomas Wandborg, 2021

Title
Boston Conservatory Theater Department collection, 1952-2013
Status
Under Revision
Author
Brendan Higgins; prepared for ArchivesSpace by Ashley Gray and Thomas Wandborg, 2021
Date
2017/12/12
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Berklee Archives Repository

Contact:
Berklee College of Music
1140 Boylston St
Boston MA 02215 USA
617-747-8001