Inside the Roundabout Archives Day 1- NINE

Roundabout Theatre Company recently announced the theatre organization's permanent archives, which document the company's illustrious 46-year production history. The archives are a resource for the theatre community, Roundabout's audiences, students and researchers. The digital archives showcase selections from Roundabout's general collection, featuring items that chronicle and celebrate the company's impact on the American theatre movement, and BroadwayWorld is excited to share featured pieces from the archives. Featured today:

NINE:
Nine (circa 2003)

Caption: Feather and gold sequin dress worn by Eartha Kitt in Roundabout's 2003 production of Nine.

Maury Yeston and Arthur Kopit's musical adaptation of Mario Fratti's Nine brought Antonio Banderas to Roundabout's stage for his Broadway debut; two iconic performers - Chita Rivera and, as Chita's replacement, Eartha Kitt - as Liliane La Fleur; and Tony winner Jane Krakowski back for her second Roundabout production. Nine was a major success winning the Tony for Best Musical Revival.

Click here to explore additional objects related to Roundabout's production of Nine:

During the last 46 years Roundabout has become one of the country's largest non-profit theatre organizations yet, until 2008, had no central repository for its records. Having re-located several times since 1965, many historical documents have moved to private hands, been collected by souvenir hunters, been thrown out or given away. The materials that exist were scattered among Roundabout's buildings, theatres and off-site storage and were in need of urgent archival care and preservation.

With the establishment of the permanent archives, Roundabout documents and preserves its rich history and offers access to the collection by the theatre community and qualified researchers. Materials connected to staging live theatre, such as scripts, letters and negotiations, marketing publications, photos and memorabilia are carefully preserved and will provide valuable record of Roundabout's legacy and contribution to the American theatre movement.

The physical archives are located at Roundabout's administrative offices at 231 W. 39th Street. Appointments to access the collection must be made in advance. Tiffany Nixon is the on-staff archivist.

Click here to visit the archives.

More Articles by This Author...