Georgia Institute of TechnologyArchives & Records Management

Inventory of the DramaTech Theatre (Georgia Institute of Technology) Records, 1947-2004

UA350


Descriptive Summary

Creator: Georgia Institute of Technology. DramaTech Theatre
Title: DramaTech Theatre Records
Dates: 1947-2004
Abstract: These records include production files and administrative materials, including programs from plays and performances as well as membership rolls, meeting minutes, correspondence, and other materials documenting the history of DramaTech.
Size: 6.5 linear feet (13 document cases, 2 oversize boxes)
Identification: UA350
Note: Part of this collection was processed in 2004, as the DramaTech Theatre Records, MS020. This collection includes the materials that were in MS020 as well as additional materials that have since been obtained by the Georgia Tech Archives. The MS020 materials comprise Series 1, Subseries 1 and Series 2, Subseries 1 of this collection. The scrapbooks that were originally processed in MS020 have been transferred to the visual materials and will be processed as VAUA350.

Administrative History of DramaTech Theatre

Founded in 1947 as the Georgia Tech Dramatic Club, DramaTech Theatre is Atlanta's oldest continuously operating theater company.

Georgia Tech had a dramatic organization as early as 1913, when a student troupe later known as the Marionettes was formed. This group disbanded during World War II and in February 1947, a group of drama enthusiasts on campus met with Glenn James and formed the Georgia Tech Dramatic Club. Their first production, The Drunkard, directed by Jack Pompan, IM '48, was so successful that the English department accredited the fledgling organization, enabling it to obtain financial aid from the university system. Members received academic credit from the English department for their involvement. With this impetus, Zenas Sears, a local Atlanta radio personality, became the first professional director of DramaTech and presented a series of one-act plays in the Tech YMCA auditorium in the spring of 1947.

For the next several years, DramaTech was a vagabond organization, presenting its plays in a variety of venues, including the YMCA and the Fowler Street School Auditorium. In 1952, with the assistance of architecture classes, DramaTech moved into a new home in the Crenshaw Field House, where it adopted a unique theatre-in-the-round. Unfortunately, this home proved to be impermanent and DramaTech was forced to move several additional times during the ensuing years, occupying temporary stages in the Community Playhouse and later in the Georgia Tech Center for the Performing Arts. In 1968, the theater troupe moved to the Church of God, which was located at the intersection of Hemphill Avenue and Ferst. A later proposal during the early 1980s to renovate a nearby school, O'Keefe Middle School, proved unsuccessful.

Prior to coeducation and continuing until 1987, Agnes Scott College students and members of the community played women's roles and those which could not logically be portrayed by Georgia Tech students. Just as the Marionettes had in previous years, DramaTech produced critically acclaimed plays that were popular with the community, particularly during the long leadership of Atlanta actress Mary Nell Ivey Santacroce. Santacroce (1918-1999) directed nearly all of DramaTech's productions from 1949 until 1966. Other directors have included Sylvia Zsuffa (1947-1948), Zenas Sears (1948-1949), Gerard Appy (1952-1953), Charles J. Pecor (1967-1971), Fergus Currie (1971-1973), Dana Ivey (1974-1977), and Becky Dettra (1977-1980). Like his predecessors, artistic director Gregory B. Abbott produced numerous critically acclaimed plays during his long tenure. Abbott directed DramaTech from 1984 until his untimely death at the age of 54 in 2006.

In 1992, DramaTech finally acquired a permanent home with the dedication of the Dean James Dull Theatre at the back of the Robert Ferst Center for the Arts (originally called the Georgia Tech Theatre for the Arts). Dull and his wife Gay, long-time supporters of DramaTech, established the Gay K. Dull Scholarship awarded to seniors who have been involved with the organization.

Description

The DramaTech Theatre records include historical information, programs, newsclippings, meeting minutes, and other materials documenting the history of the organization. The bulk of the materials are contained within files for each production that was performed (see Series 2). These files generally include programs, newspaper clippings, mock-ups of programs, scripts, and other related material regarding each production. Other materials might include public relations materials such as radio spots and articles from other publications, and sketches of blueprints of the sets. These files also included photographs, which have been transferred to the Visual Arts Collection. Many of the photographs appear to have been removed from scrapbooks.

The administrative materials include historical information such as lists of plays performed and the directors who oversaw them, as well as meeting minutes and correspondence (see Series 1, Subseries 1). Later administrative materials (Series 1, Subseries 2) contain files relating to plans during the 1980s to find a new home for DramaTech, as well as files on the move from the Church of God to the newly built Georgia Tech Theatre for the Arts in 1992. A fundraising brochure and a notebook containing minutes of the Theatre for the Arts Board and several committees document the early years of the newly built facility. Correspondence, copies of constitutions, and mock-ups of various DramaTech productions are also included in this subseries.

Four scrapbooks that were originally processed as part of MS020 have been transferred to visual arts and will be processed as VAUA350. These scrapbooks, while largely made up of photographs, also sometimes contain programs, newspaper clippings and other manuscript and printed materials.

Arrangement

The papers are arranged into two series:

Restrictions

Restrictions: Access

None.

Restrictions: Use

Permission to publish materials from this collection must be obtained from the Head of Archives and Special Collections.

Related Material

Photographs and scrapbooks will be separately arranged and described as DramaTech Theatre Photograph Collection, VAUA350.

Subject Headings

Abbott, Gregory B.,1952-2006.
College theater--Georgia--Atlanta.
Georgia Institute of Technology--Theaters.
Georgia Institute of Technology. DramaTech Theatre
Georgia Institute of Technology. Ferst Center for the Arts
Georgia Tech Theatre for the Arts.
Santacroce, Mary Nell, 1918-1999.
Theaters--Georgia--Atlanta.
Zsuffa, Sylvia Bassett.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Please cite [Item, Folder Title, Series Title,] DramaTech Theatre Records (UA350), Archives, Library and Information Center, Georgia Institute of Technology.

Provenance

DramaTech donated the initial group of records in 1985 (Accession #1985.1201). A subsequent donation was received in 2007 (Accession #2007.102).

Processing Information

Susan J. Illis processed these papers in 2004 as MS020. Christine de Catanzaro and Katherine King processed additional papers, revised the finding aid, and renumbered the collection as UA350 in October 2008.

Revision Information

March 2006: Original finding aid (MS020) converted from EAD Version 1.0 to Version 2002.

October 2008: Original finding aid (MS020) revised and reprocessed as UA350 after the addition of further materials.

Accruals

Further additions to this collection may be received in the future.

Other Finding Aids

A print copy of this finding aid is available in the Georgia Tech Archives reading room.

Folder List

SERIES 1: Administrative materials, 1948-1996
Description
  The administrative materials include historical information such as lists of plays performed and the directors who oversaw them, as well as meeting minutes and correspondence (see Series 1, Subseries 1). Later administrative materials (Series 1, Subseries 2) contain files relating to plans during the 1980s to find a new home for DramaTech, as well as files on the move from the Church of God to the newly built Georgia Tech Theatre for the Arts in 1992. A fundraising brochure and a notebook containing minutes of the Theatre for the Arts Board and several committees document the early years of the newly built facility. Correspondence, copies of constitutions, and mock-ups of various DramaTech productions are also included in this subseries.
  Subseries 1: Administrative materials, 1948-1976
These administrative materials, which were originally processed as MS020 Series 1, include historical information such as lists of plays performed and the directors who oversaw them, as well as meeting minutes and correspondence.
Folders are listed alphabetically by folder title, followed by an alphabetical list of oversize materials (Box 4).
Box Folder
1 1 History, 1963
  2 Correspondence, 1955-1975
  3 DramaTech Journal, 1970-1976
  4 Membership rolls, 1948-1975
  5 Meeting minutes, 1961
  6 Notes, 1961-1975
  7 Programs, 1973-1986
Box Folder
4 1 Correspondence, 1953-1956
  3 Secretaries' Notes notebook (minutes, notes), 1948-1952
  4 Secretaries' Notes notebook enclosures, undated
  Subseries 2: Administrative materials, 1976-1997
These administrative materials are mainly those that were acquired in 2007. They contain files relating to plans during the 1980s to find a new home for DramaTech, as well as files on the move from the Church of God to the newly built Georgia Tech Theatre for the Arts in 1992. A fundraising brochure and a notebook containing minutes of the Theatre for the Arts Board and several committees document the early years of the newly built facility. Correspondence, copies of constitutions, and mock-ups of various DramaTech productions (oversize) are also included in this subseries.
Folders are listed alphabetically by folder title, followed by an alphabetical list of oversize materials (Boxes 4 and 5).
Box Folder
14 1 Calendar re: theater move, 1992
  2 Constitutions, 1979-1991
  3 Correspondence, ca. 1984-1997
  4 DramaTech Journal issue 1, Fall 1993
  5 Finances re: theater move, 1992
  6 Fire marshall report, April 1980
  7 Flyers, brochures, ca. 1980s
  8 Flyers (other organizations), undated
  9 Forms, letterhead, undated
  10 Memo re: current state of DramaTech, October 1983
  11 Memos re: Student Center expansion, November 1984
  12 Newspaper clippings, 1981-1997 and undated
  13 O'Keefe Auditorium renovation proposal, March 1981
  14 Plays: Foolz contact list, undated
  15 Plays: Foreplay script, ca. 1993
  16 Plays: The Monkey's Paw script, undated
  17 Plays: Sylvia script (with lighting notes), undated
  18 Plays (unidentified): Props list, undated
  19 Proposal for the disposition of the Church of God, ca. 1980
  20 Specifications re: theater move, ca. 1992
  21 The Tech Commandments, undated
  22 Technical Services Committee proposal, undated
Box Folder
15 1 Theatre for the Arts fundraising brochure, ca. 1991
  2 Theatre for the Arts notebook (folder 1 of 2), ca. 1993-1996
  3 Theatre for the Arts notebook (folder 2 of 2), ca. 1993-1996
  4 Theatre for the Arts workshop operation guidelines, January 1994
Box Folder
5 1 Drawings: Georgia Tech auditorium, January 1994
Box Folder
4 5 Flyers, posters, 1980-1989
  2 Newspaper clippings, 1985
Box Folder
5 2 Posters, newspaper clippings, ca. 1980-1989
  3 Program mock-ups (folder 1 of 3), ca. 1980-1989
  4 Program mock-ups (folder 2 of 3), ca. 1980-1989
  5 Program mock-ups (folder 3 of 3), ca. 1980-1989
  6 Program mock-ups: The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, 1976
  7 Program mock-ups: Flowers for Algernon, ca. 1977
  8 Program mock-ups: Laundry and Bourbon, April-June 1988
  9 Program mock-ups: Sinfully Delightful, ca. 1990
  10 Set sketches, lighting charts: Lysistrata and other plays, ca. 1980-1985
SERIES 2: Production files, 1947-2004
Description
  The materials in this series consist of files for each production. These files generally include programs, newspaper clippings, mock-ups of programs, scripts, and other related material regarding each production. Other materials might include public relations materials such as radio spots and articles from other publications, and sketches of blueprints of the sets.
  Subseries 1: Production files, 1947-1979
This subseries contains production files for play performances from 1947 to 1979. These files were originally processed as MS020 Series 2.
Folders are arranged chronologically.
Box Folder
1 8 Three One-Act Plays, Apr 1947
  9 The Drunkard, May 1947
  10 The Male Animal, Nov 1947
  11 The Front Page, Nov 1948
  12 Petrified Forest, Feb 1949
  13 Heaven Can Wait and Room Service, May-Nov 1949
  14 See My Lawyer, Nov 1950
  15 The Traitor, Feb 1951
  16 Boy Meets Girl, May 1951
  17 The Live Wire, Nov 1951
  18 Whistling in the Dark, Feb 1952
  19 Yellow Jacket, May 1952
  20 The Milky Way, Nov 1952
  21 The Hasty Heart, Feb 1953
  22 Stalag 17, May 1953
  23 Mr. Roberts, Nov 1953
  24 Detective Story, Feb 1954
  25 The Pursuit of Happiness, May 1954
  26 Harvey, Nov 1954
  27 Key Largo, Feb 1955
  28 Charlie's Aunt, May 1955
  29 The Front Page, Nov 1955
  30 Home of the Brave, Feb 1956
  31 The Road to Rome, May 1956
  32 At War with the Army, Nov 1956
  33 Much Ado About Nothing, Nov 1957
  34 Desire Under the Elms, Feb 1958
  35 Abie's Irish Rose, May 1958
  36 What Price Glory, Nov 1958
  37 There Shall Be No Night, Feb 1959
  38 My Three Angels, May 1959
  39 Androcles and the Lion, Nov 1959
  40 Visit to a Small Planet, Feb 1960
  41 Major Barbara, May 1960
  42 The Skin of Our Teeth, Nov 1960
  43 Death of a Salesman and Rainmaker, Feb-May 1961
  44 Look Homeward Angel, Nov 1961
  45 Under the Sycamore Tree, Feb 1962
Box Folder
2 1 Saint Joan, May 1962
  2 Teahouse of the August Moon, Nov 1962
  3 Twelve Angry Men, Feb 1963
  4 Galileo, Nov 1963
  5 Time Limit, 1963-1964
  6 Sunday in New York, 1964-1965
  7 An Enemy of the People, Feb 1965
  8 See How They Run, May 1965
  9 The Mouse That Roared, Nov 1965
  10 Alas, Babylon, Feb 1966
  11 Journey's End, May 1966
  12 The Man Who Came to Dinner, Nov 1966
  13 Becket, Feb 1967
  14 The Tender Trap, May 1967
  15 John Brown's Body, Nov 1967
  16 The Crucible, Feb 1968
  17 Goodbye, Charlie, May 1968
  18 Inherit the Wind, Nov 1968
  19 The Skin of Our Teeth, Feb 1969
  20 Invitation to a March, Aug 1972
  21 The Importance of Being Earnest, Nov 1972
  22 The Crucible, Feb 1973
  23 What the Butler Saw, May 1973
  24 Feiffer's People, Aug 1973
  25 The Lion in Winter, Feb 1974
  26 The Adding Machine, Nov 1973
  27 Fantasticks, May 1974
  28 Love Rides the Rails, Jul 1974
  29 The Firebugs, Nov 1974
  30 Advise and Consent, Feb 1975
Box Folder
3 1 Physician in Spite of Himself, Nov 1969
  2 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Feb 1970
  3 Don't Drink the Water, May 1970
  4 Black Comedy, Sep 1970
  5 Orpheus Descending, Nov 1970
  6 Rhinoceros, Feb 1971
  7 Auntie Mame, Nov 1971
  8 A Streetcar Named Desire, Feb 1972
  9 Ten Little Indians, May 1972
  10 The Drunkard, May 1975
  11 Visit to a Small Planet, Nov 1975
  12 The Caine Mutiny Court Martial, Feb 1976
  13 The Rainmaker, May 1976
  14 The Proposal, and Black Comedy, Aug 1976
  15 Taming of the Shrew, Nov 1976
  16 Catch-22, Feb 1977
  17 Spoon River Anthology, May 1977
  18 Bus Stop, Aug 1977
  19 Wait Until Dark, Nov 1977
  20 A Thousand Clowns, May 1978
  21 Flowers for Algernon, Nov 1978
  22 A Man for All Seasons, Feb 1979
  23 Butterflies Are Free, May 1979
  24 The Hollow, Aug 1979
  25 The Desperate Hours, Nov 1979
  Subseries 2: Production files, 1971-2004 (bulk 1976-2003)
This subseries contains production files for play performances from 1976 to 2004. These files were obtained in the 2007 donation.
Folders are arranged chronologically.
Box Folder
6 1 Programs, 1971-1977
  2 The Caine Mutiny Court Martial, February-March 1976
  3 Inherit the Wind, January-March 1978
  4 The Desperate Hours, September-November 1979
  5 J.B., January-March 1980
  6 The Tempest, April-June 1980
  7 Who's Happy Now?, June-August 1980
  8 Lysistrata, September-November 1980
  9 Act Without Words, January-March 1981
  10 Beyond, January-March 1980
  11 Not Enough Rope, January-March 1980
  12 Pippin, January-March 1980
  13 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, April-June 1981
  14 The Merchant of Venice, September-November 1981
  15 Steambath, January-March 1982
  16 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, April-June 1982
  17 Play It Again Sam, June-August 1982
  18 As You Like It, September-November 1982
Box Folder
7 1 Jumpers, January-March 1983
  2 West Side Story, April-June 1983
  3 Godspell, June-August 1983
  4 Cyrano de Bergerac, September-November 1983
  5 Blythe Spirit, January-March 1984
  6 How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, April-June 1984
  7 You Can't Take It With You, June-August 1984
  8 No Sex Please, We're British!, September-November 1984
  9 The Dining Room, January-March 1985
  10 Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well, April-June 1985
  11 Sherlock Holmes And The Case of The Century, June-August 1985
  12 Inherit the Wind, June-august 1985
  13 Comedy of Errors, January-March 1986
  14 The Good Doctor, April-June 1986
  15 Once Upon A Mattress, June-August 1986
  16 Sly Fox, September-November 1986
  17 Rimers of Eldritch, January-March 1987
  18 Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap, June-August 1987
Box Folder
8 1 Arms and the Man, April-June 1987
  2 The Odd Couple, September-November 1987
  3 Blue Hour/Laundry and Bourbon, January-March 1988
  4 The Tempest, April-June 1988
  5 Exit the Body, June-August 1988
  6 Dark the Moon, September-November 1988
  7 The Foreigner, January-March 1989
  8 Mid-Summer Night's Dream, April-June 1989
  9 The Diviners, September-November 1987
Box Folder
9 1 How The Other Half Loves, June-August 1989
  2 A Peachtree Haunting, January-March 1990
  3 Isle of Dogs, January-March 1990
  4 Lunacy, June-August 1990
  5 Women/God in Congress, September-December 1990
  6 Seduced, January-March 1990
  7 The Memorandum, January-March 1991
  8 International Festival, January-March 1991
  9 The Lion In Winter, January-March 1991
  10 Pippin, April-June 1991
Box Folder
10 1 The Nerd, June-August 1991
  2 Fahrenheit 451, September-November 1991
  3 International Festival, January-March 1992
  4 The Illusion, January-March 1992
  5 Hunting Cockroaches, January-March 1992
  6 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, June-August 1992
  7 Major Barbara, January-March 1992
  8 Pajama Tops, June-August 1992
  9 The Taming of The Shrew, September-November 1992
  10 Open House, September-November 1992
  11 Gala Grand Opening, September-November 1992
  12 Assassins, January-March 1993
  13 Voice of the Prairie, April-June 1993
  14 The Island, April-June 1993
  15 Open House, September-November 1993
  16 Jacque and His Master, September-November 1993
  17 Late Night Special, June-August 1993
Box Folder
11 1 Boot Camp, June-August 1993
  2 The Skin of Our Teeth, September-November 1993
  3 Agnes of God, June-August 1994
  4 T-Bone n Weasel, April-June 1994
  5 The Hostage, April-June 1994
  6 The Glass Menagerie, September-November 1994
  7 Studio Shows, September-November 1994
  8 The Real Inspector Hound, September-November 1994
  9 The Loveliest Afternoon of the Year, September-November 1994
  10 Macbeth, January-March 1995
  11 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, April-June 1995
  12 Awards Banquet, April-June 1995
  13 Equus, September-November 1995
  14 Into The Woods, January-March 1996
  15 Personals, June-August 1995
  16 The Miser, April-June 1996
  17 Foul Play (Eggshell 2), April-June 1996
Box Folder
12 1 Menage a Trois, January-March 1996
  2 Godspell, January-March 1997
  3 1984, April-June 1997
  4 Demons, April-June 1997
  5 Henry V, September-November 1997
  6 Bacchae, January-March 1998
  7 The Who's Tommy, April-June 1998
Box Folder
13 1 I Hate Hamlet, June-August 1998
  2 The Fiddler On The Roof, April-June 1999
  3 Faustus, April-June 1999
  4 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, June-August 1999
  5 Frankenstein, September-December 1999
  6 Studio Shows, September-November 1999
  7 Grease, September-December 1999
  8 Electricity… We Shall Be Monsters, September-December 2000
  9 Banquet, April-June 2000
  10 Much Ado About Nothing, April-June 2000
  11 Noises OFF!, September-November 2000
  12 Bridal Terrorism, September-December 2000
  13 Open House, September-December 2000
  14 A Funny Thing Happened on The Way To The Forum, April-June 2000
  15 Arms and The Man, June-August 2001
  16 Awards Banquet, April-June 2002
  17 The Complete Works of Shakespeare(Abridged), June-August 2002
  18 Dean Dull's birthday party, April-June 2003
  19 Let's Try This! Improvisation comedy troupe, ca. 1999-2004

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2005 Georgia Institute of Technology :: Atlanta, Georgia 30332