Mark Taper Forum Scripts

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.