George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center
Fenwick Library, MS2FL4400 University Dr.
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Business Number: 703-993-2220
Fax Number: 703-993-8911
speccoll@gmu.edu
URL: https://scrc.gmu.edu
Greta Kuriger Suiter
Administrative Information
Use Restrictions
The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions.
Preferred Citation
Garrick Players photograph collection, C0243, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.
Acquisition Information
Donated by Dr. James H. Laster in August 2013.
Processing Information
Processing and EAD markup completed by Greta Kuriger Suiter in October 2013. Finding aid updated by Amanda Menjivar in January 2023.
Historical Information
The Garrick Players began by performing at the Grace Episcopal Church (1041 Wisconsin Avenue) in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. beginning in the late 1960s. Admission to the plays was affordable, allowing for a large part of the local population to experience the performances. The group took its name after the 18th century actor David Garrick who would meet with his audience after performances. In a similar vein the Garrick Players would encourage audiences to share coffee with them after seeing one of their performances. The theatre group began in December of 1965 and was organized by Gerald (Jerry) Slavet, a graduate of Boston Latin School, Bowdoin College, and Catholic University. The Players originally consisted of Slavet and five professional actors and actresses. The group toured U.S. Army bases in Europe during the summer of 1966. In 1968, Slavet moved to Virginia to direct at the Wayside Theatre in Middletown.
Scope and Contents
28 photographs and 2 negatives that document the Garrick Players, a theatre group that performed in the 1960s at Grace Episcopal Church in Georgetown in Washington, D.C. They moved to the Wayside Theatre in Middletown, Virginia, in 1968. The photographs include images of Sylvia Soares and Chris Sarandon, two of the actors, and Gerald Slavet, the director. Photographs by George de Vincent, Carol C. Lee, Charles L. Freedman, and Dorothy L. Chace.
Arrangement
Arranged by size.
Related Material
The Special Collections Research center holds many other collections on theatre and the performing arts.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Actors -- United States
- Garrick Players
- Sarandon, Chris
- Slavet, Gerald
- Soares, Sylvia
- Theater -- Washington (D.C.)
Container List
Two 5 inch by 7 inch black and white photographs, one of a woman sitting in front of a chalkboard and holding a mug, the other is of a man and woman sitting at a table and shaking hands on a stage set.
Two magazine clippings, one of Prince Charles with the words "To My Pal the Prince" written on it, the other is a portrait of a man and a woman.
Two negatives with an envelope marked "Jerry." The negatives are images of a man, possibly Gerald (Jerry) Slavet, sitting and gesturing with his hands.
Twenty 10 inch by 8 inch, and two slightly smaller, black and white photographs featuring actors on stage and headshots. These include images of Gerald Slavet, Chris Sarandon, Chet Carlin, and others.
Two photographs (one 10 inches by 8 inches, the other 6 1/8 inches by 9 3/8 inches) with a printed out caption that states: "Sylvia Soares, who will appear in The Marriage Proposal as Natalia Stepanovna. Gerald (Jerry) Slavet, director of Garrick Players in the background."
Three small black and white photographs, each roughly 3.5 inches high by 2.5 inches wide. Two of these are portraits of young men. One is labeled Ted Walch on the verso. The third is of a man with a mask on. It is labeled "Charles Lynch Ondine 11/66" on the verso.