Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title 99¢ Floating Theatre Festival Records Creator
99¢ Floating Theatre Festival
Collection Number CTC.1987.01 Extent
5 Linear Feet
Date 1971-1981 Abstract The 99¢ Floating Theatre brought remarkable diversity to the local theater scene by importing small performance groups such as unusual professional theater, dance, and music troupes or individuals to Pittsburgh. This collection documents the activities of the organization and the performers that it presented. General Physical Description note (11 boxes) Language
English
. Author Finding aid prepared by William Daw. Publisher ULS Archives & Special Collections Address University of Pittsburgh Library Systemhttp://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections Access Restrictions
No restrictions.
Copyright
The University of Pittsburgh holds the property rights to the material in this collection, but the copyright may still be held by the original creator/author. Researchers are therefore advised to follow the regulations set forth in the U.S. Copyright Code when publishing, quoting, or reproducing material from this collection without the consent of the creator/author or that go beyond what is allowed by fair use.
History
The 99¢ Floating Theatre was a University of Pittsburgh affiliated organization, founded by Professor Richard Mennen, and brought remarkable diversity to the local theater scene by importing small performance groups such as unusual professional theater, dance, and music troupes or individuals to Pittsburgh. For the first few years Mennen was the entire staff of the organization. The name is based on the 99¢ price of a ticket and the fact that the performances were held at a variety of spaces and locations such as gyms, dance studios, churches, etc., avoiding the high prices of many theaters. The group presented dozens of eclectic groups and performers between the years 1973-1983. All the companies or performers could be considered avant-garde or experimental in nature. In 1977, Professor Leon Katz replaced Mennen as director.
Previous Citation
99¢ Floating Theatre Festival Records, CTC.1987.01, Curtis Theatre Collection, Special Collections Department, University of Pittsburgh
99¢ Floating Theatre Festival Collection, CTC.19, Curtis Theatre Collection, Special Collections Department, University of Pittsburgh
Acquisition Information
Gift of University of Pittsburgh Theatre Arts Department.
Preferred Citation
99¢ Floating Theatre Festival Records, CTC.1987.01, Curtis Theatre Collection, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Gina Eckert in 1988.
Arrangement
The collection is organized into three series:
Series I. Season Operation Files, 1974-1981
Series II. Other Operation Files, 1971-1981
Series III. Scrapbooks, 1974-1981
Scope and Content Notes The 99¢ Floating Theatre Festival Records are arranged into three series. All the materials are paper-based and include correspondence, memos, grant applications, budget reports, photographs, etc. The Season Operation Files series is divided into several subseries for each season starting with 1973/1974 through 1981/1982. There is also one oversized scrapbook that contains newspaper clippings, small posters, programs, etc.
Subjects Corporate Names 99¢ Floating Theatre Festival Bread and Puppet Theater. Illusion Theater Company. Organic Theatre Company. Performance Group. Red Clay Ramblers. Ridiculous Theatrical Company. San Francisco Mime Troupe. Theatre Rhinoceros (San Francisco, Calif.). Three Rivers Shakespeare Festival (Pittsburgh, Pa.). University of Pittsburgh. Department of Theatre Arts Personal Names Carroll, Pat, 1927- Chew, Martha Chong, Ping Feit, Ken, 1940-1981 Fratti, Mario, 1927- Grotowski, Jerzy, 1933-1999 Ludlam, Charles Mayer, Jerry Genres Theater programs Clippings (Information artifacts) Correspondence Financial records Photographs Scrapbooks Other Subjects Experimental theater -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh Mime Performance art -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh Performing arts -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh Puppet theater -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh Puppet theater companies -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh Theater Theater -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh Container List Series I. Season Operation Files , 1974-1981 Scope and Content Notes The Season Operation files are broken down into nine subseries. Each subseries contains the files associated with a given theatre season of the 99¢ Floating Theatre Festival. Within each subseries, the files are arranged alphabetically by title. Nearly every season has financial information, grant applications, correspondence, etc.
Subseries 1. 1973-1974 Season Financial records , November 1974 Containers box 1 , folder 1 Subseries 2. 1974-1975 Season Correspondence , 1974-1975 Containers box 1 , folder 2 Financial records , 1974-1975 Containers box 1 , folder 3 Grotowski, Jerzy – Lecture , 1973-1975 Containers box 1 , folder 4 Nationality Room members , 1974-1976 Containers box 1 , folder 5 Subseries 3. 1975-1976 Season Appeal for funding Containers box 1 , folder 6 Correspondence , 1975-1976 Containers box 1 , folder 7 Financial records , 1975-1976 Containers box 1 , folder 8 Kuku Ryku , 1975-1976 Containers box 1 , folder 9 National Endowment for the Arts - Grant application , 1975-1976 Containers box 1 , folder 10 Pennsylvania Council on the Arts – Calendar of theater performances , 1976 Containers box 1 , folder 11 Performing artists requested by PA sponsors for 1975/76 season , 1975 Containers box 1 , folder 12 Proposals (unused) Containers box 1 , folder 13 Theatre workshops Containers box 1 , folder 14 Subseries 4. 1976-1977 Season Alternate Theatre Companies Containers box 1 , folder 15 Correspondence , 1976 Containers box 1 , folder 16 Cynkutis, Zbigniew , 1976-1977 Containers box 1 , folder 17 Financial records , 1976-1977 Containers box 1 , folder 18 National Endowment for the Arts - Expansion arts , 1976-1977 Containers box 1 , folder 19 Subseries 5. 1977-1978 Season Correspondence , 1977-1978 Containers box 1 , folder 20 Financial records , 1977-1978 Containers box 1 , folder 21 Mabou Mines , 1978 Containers box 1 , folder 22 Medicine Show , 1978 Containers box 1 , folder 22 Mayer, Jerry in "Taudshow" , 1978 Containers box 1 , folder 23 National Endowment for the Arts - Narrative report Containers box 1 , folder 24 National Endowment for the Arts - Proposal , 1977 Containers box 1 , folder 25 National Endowment for the Arts - Revised project grant application , 1978 Containers box 1 , folder 26 National Endowment for the Arts - List of recipients for 1977/78 , 1978 Containers box 2 , folder 1 Pennsylvania Council on the Arts - Grant application , 1977-1978 Containers box 2 , folder 2 Pennsylvania Council on the Arts – Guidelines for Grant application , 1976-1977 Containers box 2 , folder 3 Phone records print-outs , 1977-1979 Containers box 2 , folder 4 Pitt news – Tear sheets and billing1978 Containers box 2 , folder 5 Ridiculous Theatrical Company – the Ventriloquist's Wife , 1977-1978 Containers box 2 , folder 6 Space confirmations , 1977-1978 Containers box 2 , folder 7 Squat Theatre , 1978 Containers box 2 , folder 8 Subseries 6. 1978-1979 Season Accounts payable check procedure , 1978 Containers box 2 , folder 9 Alternate Roots , 1979 Containers box 2 , folder 10 Correspondence , 1978-1979 Containers box 2 , folder 11 F.E.D.A.R.T. conference , 1978 Containers box 2 , folder 12 Financial Records , 1978-1979 Containers box 2 , folder 13 The Four Horsemen , 1978 Containers box 2 , folder 14 Graduate student task force - policy statement on TA's and TF's; admission requirements , February 1979 Containers box 2 , folder 15 Heinz endowment fund , 1978-1979 Containers box 2 , folder 16 Mabou mines , 1979 Containers box 2 , folder 17 National Endowment for the Arts – Grant , 1978 Containers box 2 , folder 18 National Endowment for the Arts – Proposal , 1976-1977 Containers box 2 , folder 19 National endowment for the Arts – Revised grant , 1978 Containers box 2 , folder 20 Pennsylvania Council on the Arts – Grant (N.E.A. & P.A.C. Pilot touring project) , 1977-1980 Containers box 2 , folder 21 Pennsylvania Council on the Arts – "Arts to the People" Conference , November 1978 Containers box 2 , folder 22 The Performance Group , 1978-1979 Containers box 3 , folder 1 Pitt Union Program Council (P.U.P.C.) , 1978-1979 Containers box 3 , folder 2 Provisional Theatre Company , 1978-1980 Containers box 3 , folder 3 Ridiculous Theatrical Company – Camille , 1978 Containers box 3 , folder 4 Schedule of events - partial Containers box 3 , folder 5 Theatre of Mistakes , 1978 Containers box 3 , folder 6 Three Rivers Arts Festival , 1979 Containers box 3 , folder 7 University of Pittsburgh – Faculty Development Grant Information Containers box 3 , folder 8 National Endowment for the Arts – Work experience internship grant (Don Marinelli) , 1978-1979 Containers box 3 , folder 9 Subseries 7. 1979-1980 Season Correspondence , 1979 Containers box 3 , folder 10 Dance Council of central Pennsylvania – The Danceletter , March 1980 Containers box 3 , folder 11 Financial Records , 1978-1980 Containers box 3 , folder 12 Heinz endowment – grant request , 1979-1980 Containers box 3 , folder 13 Little Nell - from the Rocky Horror Picture Show , 1980 Containers box 3 , folder 14 Meredith Monk , 1978-1980 Containers box 3 , folder 15 National Endowment for the Arts – Grant application , 1979-1980 Containers box 3 , folder 16 National Endowment for the Arts – Grant , 1978-1980 Containers box 3 , folder 17 National Endowment for the Arts – Institutional advancement grants Containers box 3 , folder 18 National Endowment for the Arts – Revised grant, #AO61994-79 , 1979-1981 Containers box 3 , folder 19 New York City tour , 1980 Containers box 3 , folder 20 Pennsylvania Council on the Arts – Dance touring grant for Meredith Monk , 1978-1980 Containers box 4 , folder 1 Pennsylvania Council on the Arts – Grant #5-37955 , 1979-1980 Containers box 4 , folder 2 Pittsburgh news items on arts , 1980 Containers box 4 , folder 3 Possible groups , 1978 Containers box 4 , folder 4 The Ravine 1978-1980 Containers box 4 , folder 5 Ridiculous Theatrical Company – Bluebeard (The Enchanted Pig) , 1979 Containers box 4 , folder 6 Royal Dancers and Musicians from the Kingdom of Bhutan – Clippings , 1980 Containers box 4 , folder 7 Royal Dancers and Musicians from the Kingdom of Bhutan - Correspondence , 1979-1980 Containers box 4 , folder 8 Royal Dancers and Musicians from the Kingdom of Bhutan – Miscellaneous , 1980 Containers box 4 , folder 9 Royal Dancers and Musicians from the Kingdom of Bhutan – Photos Containers box 4 , folder 10 Royal Dancers and Musicians from the Kingdom of Bhutan – Program and marketing information , 1979-1980 Containers box 4 , folder 11 Teaching development grant from the Office of Faculty Development , 1980 Containers box 4 , folder 12 Three black and three white refined jubilee minstrels , 1979 Containers box 4 , folder 13 Subseries 8. 1980-1981 Season Arden, Marty - Alternate Roots, Zimbabwe Project – Correspondence , 1980 Containers box 4 , folder 14 Facets Performance Ensemble , 1978-1980 Containers box 4 , folder 15 Financial records , 1980-1981 Containers box 4 , folder 16 Fujian Puppet theatre from the People's Republic of China , 1980 Containers box 4 , folder 17 Independent Eye – T.A.P. Grant for $700.00 , 1980 Containers box 5 , folder 1 National Endowment for the Arts – Special Projects (Presenting organization grant) , 1980-1981 Containers box 5 , folder 2 Pennsylvania Council on the Arts – Financial and narrative reports for grant , 1980 Containers box 5 , folder 3 Pennsylvania Council on the Arts – Jeff Weiss proposal to P.C.A. , 1980 Containers box 5 , folder 4 Pennsylvania Council on the Arts – Project Grant , 1978-1981 Containers box 5 , folder 5 Squat Theatre , 1980-1981 Containers box 5 , folder 6 Theatre Association of Pennsylvania – Contract , 1980 Containers box 5 , folder 7 Warsaw Mime Theatre , 1980 Containers box 5 , folder 8 Subseries 9. 1981-1982 Season Pennsylvania Council on the Arts – Guide to programs Containers box 5 , folder 9 Series II. Other Operation Files , 1971-1981 Scope and Content Notes This series contains files that were not attributed to a specific season in the history of the 99¢ Floating Theatre Festival. Most of the files in this series contain information on various national and international theatre companies that were considered or presented by the 99¢ Floating Theatre. The files are arranged in alphabetical order by subject.
Account #4-24930 , 1978-1981 Containers box 5 , folder 10 Account #4-25388 – Bills and printouts , 1977-1978 Containers box 5 , folder 11 Actors lab – Hamilton, Ontario , 1976-1977 Containers box 5 , folder 12 Akjalaaitis, JoAnne/Southern Exposures Containers box 5 , folder 13 American Revolutionary Road Company , 1975-1976 Containers box 5 , folder 14 American Theatre , 1978-1980 Containers box 5 , folder 15 Amitin, Mark , 1978-1980 Containers box 5 , folder 16 Arthur Cantor, Inc. , 1976-1980 Containers box 5 , folder 17 Arthur Shafman International Ltd. , 1979-1980 Containers box 5 , folder 18 Artservices , 1980 Containers box 5 , folder 19 Asia Society – Performing Arts Program , 1978-1980 Containers box 5 , folder 20 Awasthi, Dr. Suresh , 1978 Containers box 5 , folder 21 American Theatre Association Placement Service Bulletin , January 1980 Containers box 6 , folder 1 Bicentennial proposals , 1974 Containers box 6 , folder 2 Body Politic Dream Theatre , 1976-1977 Containers box 6 , folder 3 Bread and Puppet Theatre , 1977-1980 Containers box 6 , folder 4 Brochure for Floating Theatre – Technical information , 1979-1980 Containers box 6 , folder 5 Burmese National Theatre – Burmese music and Anyein Containers box 6 , folder 6 Business committee for the Arts , 1980 Containers box 6 , folder 7 Carroll, Bob , 1978 Containers box 6 , folder 8 Carroll, Pat as Gertrude Stein , 1979-1980 Containers box 6 , folder 9 Celebrations Mime Theatre , 1977 Containers box 6 , folder 10 Chew, Martha , 1980 Containers box 6 , folder 11 City University of London – Arts Management Program , 1979 Containers box 6 , folder 12 Collaborative for the Arts in Pittsburgh Education or C.A.P.E. , 1979 Containers box 6 , folder 13 Collaboratory Theatre , 1977 Containers box 6 , folder 14 Commedia del'Pinky – Photos Containers box 6 , folder 15 Companhia de Teatre de Lisboa - International Theatre Exchange , 1980 Containers box 6 , folder 16 Court Dance Theatre and Music - Okinawa, Japan , 1981 Containers box 6 , folder 17 Cricot 2 Theatre Company , 1975-1976 Containers box 6 , folder 18 Dandelion Productions , 1976-1977 Containers box 6 , folder 19 Daniel Lewis Dance Repertory Company , 1980-1981 Containers box 6 , folder 20 Entourage Containers box 6 , folder 21 Feit, Ken - Ken the Fool , 1975-1977 Containers box 6 , folder 22 Fiji Company , 1975-1979 Containers box 6 , folder 23 Financial - Miscellaneous reports Containers box 6 , folder 24 Fine Line Actor's Theatre , 1979-1980 Containers box 6 , folder 25 Floating Theatre facts and history – For use in grant application Containers box 6 , folder 26 Florida Studio Theatre , 1976 Containers box 6 , folder 27 Fools Company , 1976-1979 Containers box 6 , folder 28 Fratti, Mario , 1977-1979 Containers box 6 , folder 29 Future ideas for 99cent Floating Theatre Containers box 6 , folder 30 Group listing (Experimental theatre companies available for touring) , 1975 Containers box 6 , folder 31 Group Motion Media Theatre , 1975-1976 Containers box 6 , folder 32 Harry - Dance Company , 1976-1978 Containers box 6 , folder 33 Harvey, John , 1974-1975 Containers box 6 , folder 34 Heinz Endowment budget and account #5-35898 , 1979-1980 Containers box 7 , folder 1 Heinz Foundation report on 99¢ Floating Theatre activities , 1977 Containers box 7 , folder 2 History of the 99¢ Floating Theatre Containers box 7 , folder 3 Hoechstetter, Harvey – Printing , 1979 Containers box 7 , folder 4 Hu Hung-Yen – Peking Opera performer , 1979 Containers box 7 , folder 5 Hughes, Richard and Walter Scott , 1971 Containers box 7 , folder 6 Illusion Theatre , 1977 Containers box 7 , folder 7 Independent Eye , 1975-1981 Containers box 7 , folder 8 International Ballet and Festival Corporation , 1979-1981 Containers box 7 , folder 9 International Communication Agency – Educational and cultural affairs , 1978 Containers box 7 , folder 10 International Theatre Institute – Newsletters , 1979-1980 Containers box 7 , folder 11 Iowa Theatre Lab , 1979 Containers box 7 , folder 12 Janus Film Company , 1980 Containers box 7 , folder 13 Japan Arts , 1979-1981 Containers box 7 , folder 14 Korea National Classical Institute – AAK Korean Court Music and Dance Containers box 7 , folder 15 Kornfield, Larry – "Dr. Faustus lights the light" , 1979 Containers box 7 , folder 16 Kraken , 1976-1977 Containers box 7 , folder 17 Lawrence, Dan , 1973-1976 Containers box 7 , folder 18 Le Plan K , 1977 Containers box 7 , folder 19 Library display cases – Forms , 1978 Containers box 7 , folder 20 Little Marrowbone , 1979 Containers box 7 , folder 21 Lost Nation Theatre Containers box 7 , folder 22 Mailers – Forms for printing and mail , 1977 Containers box 7 , folder 23 The Manhattan Project , 1976-1977 Containers box 7 , folder 24 Marcus, Linda , 1979-1980 Containers box 7 , folder 25 Mellon Educational Grant printouts #5-37058 , 1976-1977 Containers box 7 , folder 26 Melpo , 1980 Containers box 7 , folder 27 Metropolitan Cultural Alliance , 1973-1974 Containers box 7 , folder 28 Miscellaneous , 1975-1977 Containers box 7 , folder 29 Movement work center , 1975 Containers box 7 , folder 30 National Endowment for the Arts – Joint N.E.A. Pilot touring grant, proposal with Walter Arts Center , 1979 Containers box 7 , folder 31 National Endowment for the Arts – Supply grant print-outs , 1975-1976 Containers box 7 , folder 32 National Artists Management Company , 1979-1980 Containers box 7 , folder 33 National Dance Company of Senegal - International Ballet Festival , 1979-1980 Containers box 7 , folder 34 NDWT Company - Canadian , 1976-1979 Containers box 8 , folder 1 New Directions in the Performing Arts - Canadian conference Containers box 8 , folder 2 New Theatre Festival - Baltimore , June 1979 Containers box 8 , folder 3 Organic Theatre Company , 1977 Containers box 8 , folder 4 Otrabunda Company , 1977 Containers box 8 , folder 5 Outreach possibilities Containers box 8 , folder 6 Passaro, Bob - Fisher Scientific , 1978 Containers box 8 , folder 7 Pennsylvania Council on the Arts – Advisory Panel with Dr. Richard Mennen of Theatre Arts Department , 1976-1977 Containers box 8 , folder 8 Pennsylvania Council on the Arts – General information , 1978 Containers box 8 , folder 9 Pennsylvania Council on the Arts – Grant #5-36954 , 1975-1976 Containers box 8 , folder 10 Pennsylvania Council on the Arts – Groups , 1975-1977 Containers box 8 , folder 11 Palisades Theatre Company , 1977 Containers box 8 , folder 12 Pentacle Dance Management , 1977-1980 Containers box 8 , folder 13 People Energy - based with the Wilma Project in Philadelphia Containers box 8 , folder 14 People Show , 1979 Containers box 8 , folder 15 Performing arts for children , 1978 Containers box 8 , folder 16 Peripatetic Task Force , 1974-1975 Containers box 8 , folder 17 Philadance / Philadelphia Dance Company , 1979-1980 Containers box 8 , folder 18 Philly Rep. Co. Containers box 8 , folder 19 Phoenix Dance Theater , 1977-1978 Containers box 8 , folder 20 Pieces Company , 1976 Containers box 8 , folder 21 Pigeon Drop Theatre , 1979-1980 Containers box 8 , folder 22 Pilato, Joe , 1976-1979 Containers box 8 , folder 23 Ping Chong , 1977-1978 Containers box 8 , folder 24 Pittsburgh Laboratory Theatre – Theatre space , 1975 Containers box 8 , folder 25 Pittsburgh Regional Committee for the Arts , 1977 Containers box 8 , folder 26 Play Group , 1976-1977 Containers box 8 , folder 27 Posnak, Paul , 1975-1976 Containers box 8 , folder 28 Printouts #5-38691 , 1976-1977 Containers box 8 , folder 29 Provisional Theatre , 1978 Containers box 8 , folder 30 Public service announcements and press releases , 1974 Containers box 8 , folder 31 Quena , 1976-1977 Containers box 8 , folder 32 The Ramayana , 1975-1978 Containers box 8 , folder 33 Red Clay Ramblers Containers box 8 , folder 34 Red Mole Enterprise , 1979-1980 Containers box 8 , folder 35 Resumes Containers box 9 , folder 1 Rhode Island Feminist Theatre , 1978-1980 Containers box 9 , folder 2 Sachiyo Ito – Japanese Kabuki Containers box 9 , folder 3 Saeko Ichinohe – Japanese dancer Containers box 9 , folder 4 San Francisco Mime Troupe , 1976-1980 Containers box 9 , folder 5 Shaliko Company , 1976-1977 Containers box 9 , folder 6 Shankar, Ravi Containers box 9 , folder 7 Sherman, Robert Containers box 9 , folder 8 Sherman, Stuart , 1979 Containers box 9 , folder 9 Siamsa - National Folk Theatre of Ireland , 1976-1980 Containers box 9 , folder 10 Smithsonian Performing Arts , 1979 Containers box 9 , folder 11 Sponsors in Western Pennsylvania , 1976-1977 Containers box 9 , folder 12 Sports Pages , 1976-1979 Containers box 9 , folder 13 Stage One Theatre Lab , 1974-1977 Containers box 9 , folder 14 Stephen Foster Memorial Space , 1978-1979 Containers box 9 , folder 15 Studio Theatre Task Force Containers box 9 , folder 16 The Talking Band , 1977-1980 Containers box 9 , folder 17 T.A.P. / Theatre Association of Pennsylvania , 1977-1980 Containers box 9 , folder 18 T.C.G. / Theatre Communications Group , 1973-1975 Containers box 9 , folder 19 T.R. Uthco , 1976-1977 Containers box 9 , folder 20 El Teatro Campesino Theatre Group , 1979 Containers box 9 , folder 21 Telephone bill print-outs , 1975-1977 Containers box 9 , folder 22 Theatre de l'arbre , 1976 Containers box 9 , folder 23 Theatre Express , 1980 Containers box 9 , folder 24 Theatre Lab Project print-outs #4-24930 , 1975-1976 Containers box 9 , folder 25 Theatre Project - Baltimore , 1979-1980 Containers box 9 , folder 26 Theatre Project Grant , 1975-1977 Containers box 9 , folder 27 Theatre Rhinoceros / Gay Theatre San Francisco , 1978-1980 Containers box 9 , folder 28 Theatre X , 1976-1979 Containers box 10 , folder 1 TNT Festival information , 1977 Containers box 10 , folder 2 Tom Johnson - Trinity Dance Management , 1972-1978 Containers box 10 , folder 3 Travel , 1978 Containers box 10 , folder 4 Universal Movement Theatre Repertory , 1972-1976 Containers box 10 , folder 5 Vanaver, Bill and Livia Drapkin , 1975 Containers box 10 , folder 6 Well Diggers Experimental Theatre Company , 1979 Containers box 10 , folder 7 Western Penitentiary – Contacts and information form , 1978-1980 Containers box 10 , folder 8 The Wilma Project , 1979 Containers box 10 , folder 9 Wimmer, Wimmer & Dancers , 1980 Containers box 10 , folder 10 Series III. Scrapbooks , 1974-1981 Scope and Content Notes This one oversized scrapbook encompasses the entire history of the 99¢ Floating Theatre Festival. Within it are newspaper clippings about the organization, reviews, small posters, marketing materials, programs, etc.
Scrapbook , 1974-1981 
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