Inside the Roundabout Archives Day 6- CABARET

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:

CABARET:

Gorilla Mask and Suit used in Roundabout's award winning production of Cabaret. Roundabout Theatre Company Archives.

Cabaret (circa 1998)

Of all the productions in Roundabout's history the revival of Cabaret stands alone, not only for its longevity (running from 1998 to 2004) but because it spanned two of their premiere venues (Studio 54 and the Henry Miller's Theatre (now known as the Stephen Sondheim Theatre), sustained Roundabout's first Broadway national tour, received numerous industry awards, and virtually changed the face of Roundabout as a company. Over its long run, Cabaret showcased the talents of numerous artists (Alan Cumming, Natasha Richardson, Denis O'Hare and many more) and placed Roundabout front and center in Broadway's limelight.

Click here to explore additional objects related to Roundabout's production of Cabaret.

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 Having re-located several times since 1965, many historical documents have moved to private hands, been collected by souvenir hunters, been thrown out or given away.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.

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