Description
The San Francisco Mime Troupe Archives consist of unique items relating to the
forty year existence of the Troupe. The collection contains original and adapted
scripts, financial papers, photographs, audio visual items, promotional
material, correspondence, clippings, and office files. The bulk of the material
is from the 1970s but there is a substantial portion from the first ten years of
the Troupe as well as the years up until 2000.
Background
The San Francisco Mime Troupe is San Francisco's critically acclaimed and oldest
professional political musical theater. It began in 1959 when Ronald G. Davis
formed the R.G. Davis Mime Troupe while affiliated with the San Francisco
Actor's Workshop. Initially, the Troupe improvised silent mime performance
"events," but soon added sound, music, and dialogue. In 1962 they began
producing free shows in San Francisco parks and moved from mime into other forms
of drama: first adaptations of commedia dell'arte, then vaudeville, melodrama,
and other American theater. In 1963, they severed connections with the Workshop,
and changed the group's name to the San Francisco Mime Troupe.
Restrictions
The library can only claim physical ownership of the San Francisco Mime Troupe
Archives. Users are responsible for satisfying any claimants of literary
property.
Availability
Collection is open for research.