| Dates: | 1972-1977 |
| Size: | .5 linear feet in 1 box (including 24 photographs, 1 audiocassette) and 1 oversize folder |
| Repository: | Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections, 400 S. State Street, Chicago, IL 60605 |
| Collection Number: | spe-ctc-mct |
| Immediate source of acquisition: | Donated by Guy Giarrizzo in 1988. |
| Conditions governing use: | Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection. |
| Conditions governing access: | Materials are open without restrictions. |
| Physical location note: | Materials are stored offsite and advance notice is required for use. Please request materials at least 24-hours prior to your research visit to coordinate access. |
| Technical requirements: | Access to some audiovisual material may not be possible due to available replay equipment or to state of physical media. Please contact the archives before your visit. |
| Preferred citation: | When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is: Magic Circle Theatre Records, [Box #, Folder #], Special Collections, Chicago Public Library |
| Finding aid author: | Original author unknown. Updated and ingested into ArchivesSpace by Sarah Zimmerman, 2021. |
Abstract
The Magic Circle Theatre was founded by Goodman School alumnus Guy Giarrizo and dedicated to the investigation of innovative techniques and the development of new plays. It became one of the resident theaters at Body Politic in 1973. The collection consists of promotional and production records including programs, posters, flyers and reviews. There are also copies of several original scripts from early shows.
Biographical/Historical
The Magic Circle Theatre was founded in Seattle, Washington by Goodman Theatre School alumnus Guy Giarrizzo. The theater was dedicated to the investigation of innovative techniques and the development of new plays that were original and imaginative. Giarrizzo defined their style as “theatre that encourages a spontaneous organic and total environment between performer and audience.”
After a year in Seattle, Magic Circle moved to Chicago and became one of the resident theaters at the Body Politic in January 1973. Their first two productions, Bite On! and a Japanese Noh-style adaptation of Sophocles’ Antigone were well received and the theater decided to make Chicago its permanent home. That year, Magic Circle was also presented with the Chicago Drama Critic’s MacArthur Award for Outstanding Ensemble Work.
In September 1973, Magic Circle moved to the Wellington Avenue Church where it continued to present original work and avant-garde adaptations such as Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters set in an asylum-like atmosphere inspired by Chekhov’s short story Ward No. 6 and a science fiction musical based on Christopher Columbus called Plumed Serpent: The Fourth Voyage of Kristopher Kolumbus. Magic Circle was also host to other companies, such as the San Quentin Drama Workshop, as well as collaborating with local theaters. One such collaboration was the Jeff Award-winning Green Julia by Paul Ableman, produced with the All-Media Drama Workshop.
Magic Circle disbanded in 1977 when Giarrizzo left his role as director.
Scope and Contents
The Magic Circle Theatre Records include promotional and production files containing programs, posters, photographs, flyers, scripts and reviews for productions from 1972 through 1977. There is a single folder of general correspondence and other theater-related promotional material.
Arrangement
The folder of general correspondence and other theater-related promotional material is listed first, followed by production files arranged chronologically by theater season, and then by production title.
Separation
Videotapes have been removed to the Chicago Theater Videotape Collection.
Related Materials
Subject Headings
- Giarrizzo, Guy.
- Magic Circle Theatre – Archives.
- Body Politic Theatre.
- Theater – Illinois – Chicago – 20th Century – Sources.
- Theater Programs.
- Playbills (Posters)
- Theater Reviews.
Collection Inventory
| Box 1 | Folder 1 | General promotional material, clippings and correspondence, 1972-1977 |
| Oversize Folder 1 | Bite On! by Guy Giarrizzo. Poster for Seattle production, [1972] | |
| Box 1 | Folder 2 | Bite On! edited, scored and directed by Guy Giarrizzo. Clippings, invitation, press release and script, 1973 January |
| Box 1 | Folder 3 | Bite On! Photograph (1), 1973 |
| Bite On! Adapted and directed by Guy Giarrizzo with Timothy Ascolese, Eric Behr, Rick Betts, Dianne Couves, Joyce Glasgow, J. Gonzalez and Hugh Karraker. Videorecording (60 minutes, b/w) [See: Chicago Theater Videotape Collection, #1.1], 1973 March 10 | ||
| Box 1 | Folder 4 | Nō Antigone adapted from Sophocles’ Antigone, directed by Guy Giarrizzo. Clippings, press releases and program, 1973 March |
| Box 1 | Folder 5 | Nō Antigone. Photographs (3), 1973 |
| Oversize Folder 1 | Nō Antigone. Poster, 1973 | |
| Nō Antigone, adapted and directed by Guy Giarrizzo, costumes by Michael Bermudez with Eric Behr, Rick Betts, J. Gonzalez, Hugh Karraker, Dianne Couves, Joyce Glasgow and Timothy Ascolese. Video recording (60 minutes, b/w) [See: Chicago Theater Videotape Collection, #1.2], 1973 April | ||
| Box 1 | Folder 6 | Worms by Guy Giarrizzo and Douglas Gehr, directed by Guy Giarrizzo. Clippings, press releases, programs and script, 1973 September |
| Box 1 | Folder 7 | Worms. Photographs (4), 1973 |
| Oversize Folder 1 | Worms. Poster, 1973 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 8 | Three Sisters, by Anton Chekhov, adapted and directed by Guy Giarrizzo. Clippings, press releases and program, 1974 May |
| Box 1 | Folder 9 | Three Sisters. Script, 1974 |
| Box 1 | Folder 10 | Three Sisters. Director’s preliminary notes, 1974 |
| Box 1 | Folder 11 | Three Sisters. Rehearsal/performance notes, 1974 |
| Box 1 | Folder 12 | Three Sisters. Photographs (2), 1974 |
| Oversize Folder 1 | Three Sisters. Poster, 1974 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 13 | Red Earth: A Western Myth, written and performed by Vince Balestri. Clipping, 1974 |
| Box 1 | Folder 14 | And They Put Handcuffs on the Flowers by Fernando Arrabal, translated by Charles Marowitz, directed by Gary Houston, sets by John Paoletti and Mary Griswold, costumes by Cookie Gluck, lights by Patrick Murray. Clippings, press releases and programs, 1974 October |
| Box 1 | Folder 15 | And They Put Handcuffs on the Flowers. Photograph (1), 1974 |
| Oversize Folder 1 | And They Put Handcuffs on the Flowers. Poster, 1974 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 16 | Plumed Serpent: The Fourth Voyage of Kristopher Kolumbus by Guy Giarrizzo, directed by Guy Giarrizzo, sets and costumes by Ray Nelson, lights by Jeff Ravitz. Clippings, press releases, programs, scripts and audiocassette, 1975 April |
| Box 1 | Folder 17 | Plumed Serpent. Photograph (1), 1975 |
| Oversize Folder 1 | Plumed Serpent. Poster, 1975 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 18 | Jekyll and Hyde by Guy Giarrizzo, directed and designed by Guy Giarrizzo, lights by Brian Laczko with Yuri Rasovsky. Clippings, press releases, programs and script, 1975 December |
| Box 1 | Folder 19 | Jekyll and Hyde. Photograph (1), 1975 |
| Oversize Folder 1 | Jekyll and Hyde. Poster, 1975 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 20 | Green Julia by Paul Ableman, co-production of the Magic Circle Theatre and the All-Media Dramatic Workshop, directed by Michelle Faith with Yuri Rasovsky. Clippings, flyer, press release, 1976 February-April |
| Oversize Folder 1 | Green Julia. Poster, 1976 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 21 | Making Money and Other Short Plays by William Saroyan, directed by Diane Giarrizzo, sets by Guy Giarrizzo with Yuri Rasovsky. Clippings, flyer, press release, program and scene sketch, 1976 May |
| Box 1 | Folder 22 | Making Money and Other Short Plays. Photographs (2), 1976 |
| Oversize Folder 1 | Making Money and Other Short Plays. Poster, 1976 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 23 | The Cage by Rick Cluchey, “The Magic Circle Theatre presents the San Quentin Drama Workshop, May 18-19, 1976.” Flyer, 1976 May |
| Box 1 | Folder 24 | General Season. Promotional flyer, 1976-1977 |
| Box 1 | Folder 25 | Billy Budd by Herman Melville, adapted by Robert Perrey, directed by Guy Giarrizzo, sets by David Simon, costumes by Mary Dale. Clippings, flyers, press releases and programs, 1976 September |
| Box 1 | Folder 26 | Billy Budd. Photographs (2), 1976 |
| Oversize Folder 1 | Billy Budd. Poster, 1976 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 27 | We: The Organism by Ruby Streak, directed by Diane Giarrizzo, sets by Guy Giarrizzo, lights by David Smith. Clippings, press release and program, 1976 December-1977 January |
| Box 1 | Folder 28 | We: The Organism. Photographs (3), 1977 |
| Oversize Folder 1 | We: The Organism. Poster, 1976-1977 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 29 | The Servant of Two Masters by Carlo Goldoni, directed by Robert Perrey, sets by Ray Nelson, costumes by Ray Nelson and Rosalyn Krimmer. Clippings, flyers, press releases and programs, 1977 February-April |
| Box 1 | Folder 30 | The Servant of Two Masters. Photograph (1), 1977 |
| Oversize Folder 1 | The Servant of Two Masters. Poster, 1977 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 31 | Magus Jasmine by David Stone, directed by Guy Giarrizzo, sets by Dan Simon, lights by David Smith, costumes by Tim Stevenson. Clippings, flyers, press releases and programs, 1977 May-June |
| Box 1 | Folder 32 | Magus Jasmine. Photographs (3), 1977 |
| Oversize Folder 1 | Magus Jasmine. Poster, 1977 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 33 | General Season. Promotional flyer, 1977-1978 |
| Box 1 | Folder 34 | Trees by Darryl Boehmer. Invitation and promotional flyer, 1977 September |
| Oversize Folder 1 | Trees. Poster, 1977 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 35 | Beauty and the Beast adapted by Ruby Streak. Promotional flyer, 1977 October |
| Oversize Folder 1 | The Exercise by Lewis John Carlio, directed by Guy Giarrizzo with Nan Wade and William L. Peterson. Poster, 1977 November-December | |
| Box 1 | Folder 36 | The Princess and the Silver Screen by Darryl Boehmer, directed by Russell Fear. Flyer, 1977 November-December |
| Oversize Folder 1 | The Princess and the Silver Screen. Poster, 1977 | |
| Oversize Folder 1 | Cabaret Tuesday, a fundraiser for Magic Circle, Quicksilver and Black Ensemble presented by Coconuts Unlimited and Jack Wallace. Poster, 1977 December | |
| Box 1 | Folder 37 | Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, adapted by Magic Circle Theatre, directed by Vince Balestri, sets, lights and music by Vince Balestri, choreography by Judith Sondra Heiss. Program, undated |
