Robert Cohen papers, 1966-2014

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Summary

Creators:

Abstract:

This collection comprises papers of Robert Cohen, a professor of drama and founding faculty member at the University of California, Irvine. Fifty-three production books, which include scripts, reviews, photographs and stage directions, document Cohen's work as director for theater productions at UCI and the Utah and Colorado Shakespeare Festivals. The collection also includes reviews, correspondence, and information about UCI Drama Department alumni, as well as textbooks and articles written by Cohen and issues of theater publications.

Extent:

8.7 Linear Feet (20 boxes and one oversized folder) and 2.3 unprocessed linear feet

Language:

English .

Preferred citation:

Robert Cohen Papers. MS-P069. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California. Date accessed.

For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection comprises papers of Robert Cohen, a drama professor at the University of California, Irvine. The collection spans his career at UCI, beginning with the opening of the campus in 1965. Fifty-three production books, which include scripts, reviews, photographs and stage directions, document Cohen's work as director for theater productions at UCI and the Utah and Colorado Shakespeare Festivals. The collection also includes reviews, correspondence, information about UCI Drama Department alumni, an unpublished manuscript titled Edwin Booth in Performance, various textbooks and articles written by Cohen, issues of theater publications, and a film reel of John M. Whiteley.

Biographical / historical:

Robert Cohen is the founding chair of the University of California, Irvine Drama Department and a renowned professor, director, translator, playwright, essayist, and drama critic. In 2001 he was named Claire Trevor Professor of Drama at UCI.

Cohen was born in Washington, D.C. in 1938. As an undergraduate he studied at Dartmouth College and UC Berkeley. After earning his Doctor of Fine Arts at Yale University in 1965, he joined the faculty at UCI.

Over the course of his career, Cohen has directed over 70 stage productions at UCI. He is also the author of many books on theatre, including Acting One/Acting Two, Acting Professionally, Acting Power, Acting in Shakespeare, Theatre, More Power To You, Creative Play Direction, Giraudoux: Three Faces of Destiny, two dramatic anthologies, and many plays, translations, scholarly articles, and reviews. He has frequently directed productions for the Utah and Colorado Shakespeare Festivals. In 1993 he was awarded the UCI Medal, UCI's highest honor, and in 1999 he received the Career Achievement Award from the Association for Theatre in Higher Education.

Chronology
Date	Event
1938	Born in Washington, D.C.
1965	Received Doctor of Fine Arts from Yale School of Drama.
1965	Appointed founding chair of UCI's Drama Department.
1967	Founded the Student Repertory Theatre at UCI.
1990	Stepped down as Chair of the Drama Department.
1993	Awarded the UCI Medal.
1999	Received the Career Achievement Award from the Association for Theatre in Higher Education.
2001	Named Claire Trevor Professor of Drama.
2005	Re-appointed Chair of the Drama Department.

Acquisition information:

Gifts of Robert Cohen, 2005 and 2013. Additions are expected.

Processing information:

Processed by Audrey Pearson, 2007. Accession added by Alix Norton, 2013.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into 3 series:

Series 1. Production books, 1966-2007
Series 2. Subject files, 1966-2010
Series 3. Textbooks and journals, 1970-2011

This collection also contains 1 unprocessed addition:

Accession 2018.021. Unprocessed addition 2018, 1984-2014. 2.3 linear feet

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:: Drama -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- 20th century
College theater -- California -- Irvine -- History -- Sources
Scripts (documents) -- 20th century.
Costume design drawings -- 20th century.
Theater programs -- 20th century.
Photographic prints -- 20th century.
Names:: University of California, Irvine. Student's Repertory Theatre -- Archives
University of California, Irvine -- Faculty -- Archives
University of California, Irvine -- Archives
University of California, Irvine. Department of Drama -- Archives
Cohen, Robert -- Archives

Access and use

Restrictions:: The collection is open for research. Access to original film is restricted; researchers may request viewing copies.
Terms of access:: Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives.