CHICAGO, OCTOBER 2, 2008 - In its October 2008 spotlight exhibit, All the World's a Stage: Hope Abelson's Life in Theatre, the Newberry invites visitors to view a selection of the papers of one of Chicago's strongest supporters of theatre during the last 50 years of the twentieth century. Hope Abelson's influence and support sustained large and small theatres in the city throughout the post-war period and into the late twentieth century; and her legacy continues through the Lester and Hope Abelson Fund for the Performing Art at the Chicago Community Trust, which annually awards two small Chicago performing arts groups for their artistic excellence and innovation. The Newberry Library holds the Abelson papers in its Midwest Manuscript Collection.
This exhibition contains approximately 60 items related to Hope Abelson's theatre career, philanthropy, and personal life, including scripts, production diaries, playbills, correspondence, administrative materials, photographs, awards, and other mementos.
Kelly Kress, Newberry processing archivist, added, "The Abelson collection complements the other performing arts-related holdings in the Newberry Midwest Manuscript Collection, including the papers of theatre critic Claudia Cassidy, filmmaker Ben Hecht, and Kenneth Sawyer Goodman, Chicago playwright, poet, and leader of the "little theatre" movement in the early 20th century."
Our Spotlight Exhibit Series introduces visitors to the Newberry's collections with small displays that explore a wide range of humanities topics through rare books, original manuscripts, maps, and archival materials. The Newberry Library gratefully acknowledges the Lester S. Abelson Foundation and Katherine A. Abelson for their generous support of this exhibition.
RELATED PANEL DISCUSSION ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 5:30 PM
Hope Abelson's Life and Legacies in Chicago Theatre
Panelists: Jonathan Abarbanel, Chicago Public Radio (moderator); Rachel E. Kraft, Lookingglass Theatre Company; Roche Schulfer, Goodman Theatre; and Jamil Khoury, Silk Road Theatre Project.
Join the executive directors from two of Chicago's leading theatre companies, and an artistic director from one of the city's young, avant-garde theatre companies, as they talk with theatre critic Jonathan Abarbanel about Hope Abelson.
Admission is free, but reservations are required (please call (312) 255-3720 in advance). For more information about using the Library's collections, call (312) 255-3506 or visit our Web site at www.newberry.org.
Location and Travel Information
The Newberry Library is at 60 West Walton Street, on CTA bus lines #22 and #70, and close to several "L" stops. For more travel information, call the RTA Travel Center Hotline, (312) 836-7000, or visit www.transitchicago.com.
ABOUT THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY
The Newberry Library, a preeminent humanities research and reference institution, is home to a world-class collection of books, manuscripts, maps, music, and other printed materials related to the history and culture of Western Europe and the Americas. The collections span many centuries and feature items such as illuminated medieval manuscripts, rare early maps, rich genealogical resources, and the personal papers of Midwest authors. The Newberry offers exhibitions based on its collections, musical and theatrical performances, lectures and discussions with today's leading humanists, seminars and workshops, and teacher programs. Visit us online at www.newberry.org or in person at 60 W. Walton St., Chicago, IL.