Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. Sears, David, 1948-1992.
2. La Mama Experimental Theatre Club.

Description

1. 1 sound disc (ca. 62 min.) : digital; 4 3/4 in.

Summary

1. John Vaccaro speaks with David Sears about directing the upcoming production of a musical version of Shakespeare's A midsummer night's dream [at La Mama Experimental Theatre Club; first performance on Feb. 28, 1980]; the cast, including Ruby Lynn [Reyner]; the reasons Vaccaro chose A midsummer night's dream; his choice of [Steven] Margoshes as the composer; more on the reasons Vaccaro was drawn to A midsummer night's dream, including its relationship to the concept of a cosmic net as described in Robert Anton Wilson's book Cosmic trigger: Final secret of the illuminati (c. 1977); Vaccaro reads aloud briefly from Wilson's book; speaks further about the cosmic net and the illuminati; the circumstances of his first moving to New York City; his involvement with jazz music, including in his first play, Shower; his professional relationship with Ellen Stewart, including his first production at La Mama, the play, Cocks drawn; Stewart as a theater manager; La Mama Amsterdam [short gap]; Vaccaro and Sears discuss the artistic merits of various works and composers, including John Braden(?); Vaccaro quotes Timothy Leary and Wilson regarding the concept of a network of love; sexuality in A midsummer night's dream; Vaccaro's conception of Oberon's character; more on his beliefs regarding a cosmic network; his concept of the ridiculous [at ca. 16:40 on track 2, the interview ends abruptly, and resumes as a recorded telephone interview]; Vaccaro speaks further about A midsummer night's dream, including the reasons it has taken him over twelve years to get it produced; his work Persia [at ca. 23:00 on track 2, the interview ends; for the remaining ca. 8 min. of the recording, an unidentified male speaks with Sears about a work titled A theatrical party].

Donor/Sponsor

1. National Endowment for the Arts, 2002-2003.
2. Oral History Archive.

Subject

1. Vaccaro, John
2. Margoshes, Steven
3. Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616
4. Stewart, Ellen, 1919-2011
5. Off Off-Broadway theater
6. Experimental theater > New York (State) > New York

Call number

1. *MGZTL 4-1592

Note

1. Interview with John Vaccaro conducted by David Sears, at Vaccaro's home, in New York City, probably in Feb., 1980.
2. The sound quality is good, but the recording is marred by extraneous noise.

Funding (note)

1. Preservation was funded in part with public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, 2002-2003.

Author

1. Vaccaro, John. Interviewee

Title

1. Interview with John Vaccaro [sound recording].

Imprint

1. [1980?]

Funding

1. Preservation was funded in part with public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, 2002-2003.

Local note

1. Dubbing master: *MGZTD 4-1592.
2. Preservation master: *MGZTP 4-1592.
3. Archive original: *MGZTCO 3-1592

Local subject

1. Audiotapes -- Vaccaro, J.

Added author

1. Sears, David, 1948-1992. Interviewer
2. La Mama Experimental Theatre Club.

Research call number

1. *MGZTL 4-1592 [sound disc]