Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions on personal use. Permission to publish material from the Virginia Nelson playbills collection must be obtained from Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Preferred Citation

Virginia Nelson playbills collection, C0015, Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University Libraries.

Acquisition Information

Collection donated by Virginia Nelson in 2007.

Processing Information

Processed by Special Collections Research Center staff. EAD markup completed by Eron Ackerman and Jordan Patty in August 2009. Contents list added and finding aid updated by Amanda Brent in 2017.

Historical Information

Following World War II, Washington, D.C. gradually acquired a vibrant theatre and performing arts scene, due in large part to the population growth as the federal government expanded. In particular the opening of John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in the early 1970s signaled the great importance of performing arts for the citizens of the Washington, D.C. metro area.

Scope and Content

The Virginia Nelson playbills collection represents the rise and expansion of theatre and the performing arts in the Metro D.C. area, including a variety of performances at a multitude of venues over the course of eight decades, beginning in the 1930s and ending in the early 2000s. From plays and musical theatre, to opera, ballet, and musical acts, the gamut of the performing arts is represented within the collection. This collection contains playbills for performances at a variety of D.C. area venues, including the National Theatre, Arena Stage, the New Gayety Theatre, the Warner Theatre, Wolf Trap, Signature Theatre, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, as well as other theatres across the nation and abroad, including those from Broadway in New York and the West End in London. Many of the playbills come from renowned "classic" performances of certain works, many starring famous actors. Also represented in the collection are smaller, local theatrical venues, companies, and performances. Note: Included in the collection were a number of Arena Stage Playbills, which were removed except for one that was not already included in the Arena Stage records. All other Arena Stage playbills (before the 2006/2007 season) are available in the Arena Stage records.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Related Material

Special Collections Research Center also holds many other performing arts and theatre collections.

Index Terms

Geographical Names:

• London, England.
• New York (City)
• United States.
• Washington (D.C.)

Corporate Names:

• Arena Stage (Organization : Washington, D.C.)
• John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (U.S.)
• National Theatre (Washington, D.C.)
• New Gayety Theatre (Organization : Washington, D.C.)
• Warner Theatre (Washington, D.C.)
• Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts (Va.)

Subjects:

• Ballet.
• Musical theater
• Musical theater--England--London.
• Musical theater--New York (State)--New York.
• Musical theater--Washington (D.C.)
• Opera.
• Performing arts.
• Plays.
• Theater--New York (State)
• Theater--Washington (D.C.)

Adjunct Descriptive Data