Manbites Dog Theater records, 1987-2018 and undated

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Summary

Creator:
Manbites Dog Theater
Abstract:
Manbites Dog Theater was a professional non-profit theater company founded in Durham in October 1987. Manbites Dog staged a variety of theatrical productions, with a focus on premieres of new works by working closely with playwrights, directors, actors, and artists. The theater mounted over 130 productions, many of them regional or state premieres. The theater closed in 2018. Collection includes a variety of administrative documents from these productions, including marketing materials, reviews, contracts, and box-office records. Also includes administrative documents from more general theater operations.
Extent:
38 Linear Feet
Language:
Materials in English
Collection ID:
RL.11437

Background

Scope and content:

Collection includes a variety of administrative documents from the company's productions. Theater Seasons consists of marketing materials, reviews, contracts, and box-office records from individual productions. Common themes throughout productions include AIDS and sexual health advocacy, sex positivity, and LGBTQ acceptance and advocacy. Some productions include photographs, scripts, and DVD and VHS recordings. Arranged chronologically by season and chronologically by production within each season. Materials from multiple or unknown seasons appear in the "Assorted seasons" sub-series. Administrative Files comprises materials more broadly related to running the theater company, including receipts, contracts, fundraising materials, and financial records. Includes some videocassettes. Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

Biographical / historical:

Manbites Dog Theater was a professional non-profit theater company founded in Durham in October 1987. Manbites Dog staged a variety of theatrical productions, with a focus on premieres of new works by working closely with playwrights, directors, actors, and artists. The theater mounted over 130 productions, many of them regional or state premieres. In March 1997, Manbites Dog purchased a building near downtown Durham to serve as a permanent performance space for the company. The building opened to the public in fall 1998. Original production included Indecent Materials, Hotline, Walking Miracles, A Tune for Tommy, Plays Well With Others, Bucknaked: A Love Story, Caleb Calypso and the Midnight Marauders, and Now You See Me. The theater ceased productions in 2018 and transitioned to becoming an organization serving Triangle-area theater artists and companies.

Jeff Storer and Edward Hunt are gay men and theater professionals who co-founded Manbites Dog Theater. They married each other in 2013. Storer is Professor of the Practice of Theater Studies at Duke University and the Artistic Director of Manbites Dog Theater. Hunt is the Managing Director and Associate Artistic Director of Manbites Dog Theater.

Acquisition information:
The Manbites Dog Theater Records were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift from Manbites Dog Theater in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020.
Processing information:

Processed by Paul Sommerfeld, May 2017.

Addition 2018-0073 processed by Andie Adkins and Alice Poffinberger, October 2018

Addition 2019-0189 processed by Jasmine Alexander-Greene and Alice Poffinberger, February 2020

Addition 2020-0097 processed by Leah Tams, May 2023

Accessions described in this collection guide: 2017-0044, 2017-0064, 2018-0073, 2019-0189, 2020-0097.

Arrangement:

Arranged into two series: Theater Seasons and Administrative Files.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Access note. Collection contains fragile audiovisual formats that may need to be reformatted before use. Contact Research Services for access.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Manbites Dog Theater Records, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Permalink:
https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1v34k