Smallbeer Theatre Company records
Collection
2019-SCPA-0083
The Smallbeer Theatre Company was a non-profit organization dedicated to the development of new playwrights in the DC area. This collection contains the records of the company before it disbanded, including scripts of various playwrights that were workshopped through the organization.
The collection is open for research use. Materials from this collection must be used in the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library's Irving and Margery Morgan Lowens Special Collections Room during SCPA’s operating hours. Please contact the curator for an appointment or if you have questions related to digital access of the materials.
Copyright was not transferred to the University of Maryland with the physical gift of any copyrighted materials. The copyright holder maintains possession of any copyrighted materials in the collection. The University of Maryland Libraries is granted permission for the use in scholarly research by the Libraries’ patrons under fair use in Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act.
To inquire about duplication of materials for research or for publication, please contact SCPA’s curator.
6.50 Linear Feet
The Smallbeer Theatre Company records cover the period from 1986 to 2009; the bulk of the materials date from 1986 to 1998. The records consist of scripts of commissioned works and premieres, as well as fundraiser, showcase, and workshop details. The records also include founding details of the organization. The records reflect Smallbeer's goals of supporting local playwrights and the development of members' skills, in addition to the work the company did with different organizations in the Metro DC area.
Founded in 1986, the Smallbeer Theatre Company was recognized one year later as a non-profit Metro DC theatre collective dedicated to the development and production of new work - with an emphasis on local playwrights - and the development of new skills by the company's members. Smallbeer was a member of The League of Washington Theatres and The Cultural Alliance. Smallbeer ceased operations after their final full production of "Shamanism in New Jersey" by Rosemarie Caruso and their last event, "Rising Tide," circa 2009.
Smallbeer Theatre Company worked in collaboration with other like-minded area theatre groups, including the Playwrights' Unit and Forum and the Black Women Playwrights' Group. Smallbeer commissioned and premiered works by various playwrights, as well as produced public readings, showcases, fundraisers, workshops, and developmental processes for playwrights.
This series is organanized into a single series.
Gift of Lynnie Raybuck , co-artistic director of Smallbeer Theatre Company, received in one shipment in April 2019.
Part of the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library