Archives and Special Collections
92 Snell Library
360 Huntington Ave.
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 373-2351
archives@neu.edu

Archives and Special Collections Finding Aids

Printable Finding Aid. Back to Browsing Version.
Collection Overview
Title:	The Theater Offensive records
Dates:	1987-2005
Location:	64/3-4
Call Number:	M82
Volume:	6.30 cubic ft. (7 boxes, 3 flat file folders)
Scope and Content Abstract:	The collection documents the artistic and administrative processes of The Theater Offensive. Individual productions and festivals are documented by publicity materials, press coverage, programs, scripts, and budget. Education and outreach programs are documented by correspondence, scripts, surveys, meeting notes, and publicity materials. The Theater Offensive's relationship with the queer performance community is documented by submissions and offers of potential collaborations. Administrative processes are documented by board minutes, financial reports, extensive grant files, strategic planning documents, and newsletters. Of particular interest is the Photographs series, which includes portraits, publicity photographs, and performance photographs.
Historical Abstract:	The Theater Offensive was founded in 1989 by Abraham Rybeck "to form and present the diverse realities of queer lives in art so bold it breaks through personal isolation and political orthodoxy to help build an honest, progressive community." The Theater Offensive mounts and produces festivals and individual productions by national and local queer performers, and also serves as a development environment for new theatrical work. In addition, The Theater Offensive works to build community through education, outreach, and political activism.
Arrangement:	Arranged into 9 series: 1. Administration; 2. Early and In-House Productions; 3. Education and Outreach; 4. Grants; 5. OUT On The Edge; 6. Other Festivals and Productions; 7. Plays At Work; 8. Submissions and Potential Collaborations; and 9. Photographs.
Subjects and Contributors:	Rybeck, Abraham P. The Theater Offensive. Drama festivals. Theater and youth—Massachusetts—Boston. Theater management—Massachusetts—Boston. Theater—Gay theater—Massachusetts—Boston. Theater—Political aspects—Massachusetts—Boston. Theater—Production and direction. Theatrical companies.
Restrictions:	Access to the collection is unrestricted. Special copyright restrictions may apply.

Processor:	Finding aid prepared by Molly Overholt, June 2003

Scope and Content Note
The collection documents the artistic and administrative processes of The Theater Offensive. By documenting the premier queer theater company in New England, the collection also documents queer and progressive theater in Boston and nationwide in the 1990s and into the 21st century. The collection is of particular interest to researchers considering the development of theater as a forum for political activism and personal expression, especially in the queer community. Individual productions and festivals are documented by publicity materials, press coverage, programs, scripts, and other material. Education and outreach programs are documented by correspondence, scripts, surveys, meeting notes, and publicity materials. The Theater Offensive's relationship with the queer performance community is documented by submissions and offers of potential collaborations. Administrative processes are documented by board minutes, financial reports, extensive grant files, strategic planning documents, and newsletters. Of particular interest is Series 9, which includes portraits, publicity photographs, and performance photographs. The most extensive documentation is from 1990-1998; because The Theater Offensive is still an active and operating theater company, material from the last several years is still largely at their offices.

Historical Note
The Theater Offensive was founded in 1989 by Abe Rybeck "to form and present the diverse realities of queer lives in art so bold it breaks through personal isolation and political orthodoxy to help build an honest, progressive community." The Theater Offensive grew out of Rybeck's involvement with the United Fruit Company, a guerrilla street theater company based in Boston. The United Fruit Company was created out of the desire for "no more boring demonstrations!" The company agitated against apathy towards AIDS, rampant consumerism, homophobia and homophobic social policy, the war in Nicaragua, and other right-wing political positions with pointedly funny musical sketches. Rybeck saw further potential for activist theater beyond the scope of what the United Fruit Company was able to produce and created The Theater Offensive as an incubator for that theater. The Theater Offensive seasons initially centered around the OUT On The Edge festival and performance pieces developed by Abe Rybeck himself. OUT On The Edge was conceived as a showcase for the state of current queer theater, and each festival has hosted a number of different local, national, and international performers. As The Theater Offensive became more established, yearly seasons began to include stand-alone runs of single plays and performances, as well as pieces developed by local artists. From the beginning, The Theater Offensive mixed in-house productions with touring productions of nationally known queer performers. As a result, it has become the premier showplace for queer theater in New England, and has hosted a number of world as well as regional premieres. The Theater Offensive has been strongly committed to fostering the creation of new work by underserved and marginalized groups. Through several channels, principally the annual Plays At Work festival, The Theater Offensive has provided workshop environments for budding playwrights and performers to see their developing work through to the performance stage, and to receive feedback and support to improve the nascent productions. In addition to serving as a political force within and without the queer community, The Theater Offensive also conducts outreach and educational programs. Programs and collaborations they have created have been recognized by artists, activists, and local leaders as models of community organizing through artistic expression. The Theater Offensive continues to be in residence at the Boston Center for the Arts.

Bibliography
The Theater Offensive. http://www.thetheateroffensive.org/


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Series:	1. Administration, 1989-2001
Volume:	0.66 cubic ft.
Arrangement:	Alphabetical
Summary:	The series documents the administrative activities of The Theater Offensive. Included in the series are bylaws, the articles of organization, and the mission statement. The Theater Offensive board is actively involved in the day-to-day and long-term operations of the company; a nearly complete set of minutes documents the plans and procedures of the board. Financial information includes annual financial reports, fund raising materials, and marketing and advertising records. Long-range plans are documented by lists of goals and objectives, strategic planning documents, and a formal ten-year plan. Of particular interest are video tapes and transcripts of three focus group meetings from 1998, convened in order to assess The Theater Offensive's place in the Boston theater marketplace. The series also documents The Theater Offensive as a resident company of the Boston Center for the Arts with plans for the physical plant, guidelines for resident companies, theater and studio rental agreements, box office and ticketing procedures and issues, and other materials.
Box	Title			Date
1	Administrative Tasks			n.d., 1993, 1999
1	Articles of Organization			1989
	Boston Center for the Arts
1		Box Office and Ticketing Issues		1991-1996
1		Floor and Lighting Plans		n.d.
1		Flyers		1993-1996
1		Handbook for Theatre Renters		1998
1		Residency		1993-1997
1		Studio Program		1993
1		Theater Rentals		n.d., 1997
	Board of Directors
1		Members and Duties		n.d., 1996-1997
1		Minutes (3 folders)		1993-1999
1		Retreats		1994-1999
1	Bylaws			n.d.
1	Correspondence			n.d., 1994-1997
1	Financial Reports (9 folders)			1989-1999
	Fund raising
1		Business Donations		1996-1998
1		Drives		1993-1996
1		Letters		1989-2001
1	Legal Issues			1994-1998
1	Marketing and Advertising			n.d., 1996-1998
1	Mission Statement			n.d.
	Personnel
1		Board/Staff Handbook		1996
1		Managing Director		n.d., 1997
1		Positions		n.d., 1990-2001
1		Sample Show Contracts		1998
	Planning
1		10 Year Plan		1998
1		Demographic Survey		1996
		Focus Group
1			Transcripts (3 folders)	1998
1			Videotapes (3 VHS tapes)	1998
1		Goals and Objectives		1991-1998
1		Strategic Planning		1997
	Public Relations
1		General		n.d., 1996, 2000
		Newsletters
1			dishrag (2 folders)	1993-1996
1			On The Offensive	2000-2001
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Series:	2. Early and In-House Productions, 1986-2005
Volume:	1.00 cubic ft.
Arrangement:	Alphabetical
Summary:	The series documents The Theater Offensive's first non-festival productions as well as productions by the Artistic Director, Abe Rybeck and the United Fruit Company. Many early The Theater Offensive productions and collaborations were based on the work of Rybeck. In addition to being an active performer, Rybeck is also a playwright and songwriter, and he created several full-scale works with The Theater Offensive, as well as numerous solo works, short pieces for United Fruit Company, and the queer cabaret band Adult Children of Heterosexuals. Blame It On The Big Banana, Dirt, and Pure PolyESTHER are Rybeck's original works of musical theater, workshopped and produced in several iterations in conjunction with The Theater Offensive. All three are documented by several script drafts, as well as performance programs, press materials, publicity, and other materials. Material about Rybeck includes interviews and documentation of his solo work. This Is Not A Test is Rybeck's full-length one-man cabaret act about living in the AIDS pandemic. It is documented by script drafts, performance programs, press materials, publicity, and stage designs. United Fruit Company activities are documented by scripts, reviews, publicity materials, and the pamphlet "Hunks of Nicaragua," protesting US support of the Sandinista government. The series also documents Motherlands, the first full-length production not written by Rybeck that was developed and staged through The Theater Offensive.
Box	Title			Date
	Adult Children of Heterosexuals
1		Lyrics and Sheet Music		n.d.
1		Press and Publicity (2 folders)		n.d., 1991-1994
1		Recruiting		n.d.
1		Scripts		n.d., 1993
	Blame It On The Big Banana
1		Budget		1990
1		Logistics		n.d., 1988
1, FF5/D3		Press and Publicity		1990
1		Programs		n.d.
1, 2		Scripts (5 folders)		1989
2		Sheet Music		n.d.
	Dirt
2		Budget		1997
2		Logistics		1997
2		Outlines and Development		n.d., 1996
2, FF5/D3		Press and Publicity		n.d., 1994-1997
2		Programs		n.d., 1997
2		Reviews		1997
2		Scripts (7 folders)		1995
	Motherlands
2		Budget		1997
2		Fund Raising and Marketing		1997
2		Logistics		1997
2		Performance and Discussion		1997
2, FF5/D3		Press and Publicity		1997
2		Reviews		1997
	Pure PolyESTHER
2		Budget		1991-1999
2		Fund Raising and Marketing		1991-1992
2		Logistics		n.d., 1991-1997
2, FF5/D3		Press and Publicity		n.d., 1991-1997
2		Programs		1991-1999
2		Reviews (2 folders)		1991-1999
2		Scripts (3 folders)		1991-1995
	Rybeck, Abe
2		Interviews		1990-1997
2, FF5/D3		Performances		n.d., 1990-1995
2		Workshops		n.d., 1997
	This Is Not A Test
2		Correspondence		n.d., 1990-1991
2		Fund Raising and Marketing		n.d., 1991
2, FF5/D3		Logistics		n.d., 1990-1994
2, FF5/D3		Press and Publicity		n.d., 1990-1993
2		Program		1991
2		Reviews		1991-1993
2		Scripts (5 folders)		n.d., 1991-1993
2	Too Tall Blondes in Love: Script			2005
	United Fruit Company
2		Logistics		n.d., 1990
2		Hunks of Nicaragua Calendar		1986
2		Press and Publicity		n.d., 1985-1990
2		Programs		n.d., 1988
2		Reviews (2 folders)		1987-1988
		Scripts
2			I Am What I Wear	n.d.
2			Other Sketches	n.d.
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Series:	3. Education and Outreach, 1990-2000
Volume:	0.66 cubic ft.
Arrangement:	Alphabetical
Summary:	The series documents the educational and outreach activities of The Theater Offensive. The majority of these activities are directed toward youth, centering around opportunities for young queer actors to develop their own work and voices and also serve as peer educators. The True Colors OUT Youth Theater troupe (formerly Teen Theater Works) generates original productions written and performed by its young actors. It is documented by scripts, meeting notes, correspondence, news clippings, and publicity materials. The series also documents The Theater Offensive's youth outreach programs, including the Safe Schools project. The Safe Schools project in particular was a collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Education to promote tolerance and acceptance of queer students and raise AIDS/HIV awareness among high school students.
Box	Title			Date
2	Boston Living Center Collaboration			n.d., 1995, 1997
2	Boston Teen Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Theater			n.d., 1994
	Dramatic Writing Workshop
2		Planning		1996
2		Submissions		1996
2	High School Workshop: Audience Evaluations			n.d.
2	Living With AIDS Theater Project: Lessons From the Heart, Scripts and Programs (4 folders)			n.d., 1990-1996
2	Peer Leadership Conference			1995
2	Safe Neighborhoods Youth Fund			1996
	Safe Schools
2		Reports		n.d., 1994
2		Workshop Outlines		n.d., 1997
	Straight Out Of High School
2		Audience Surveys		n.d.
2		Script Outlines and Notes		n.d., 1994
2	Street Theater Project			n.d., 1994
2	Theater of Action Workshop			n.d.
	True Colors
2		Administrative		n.d., 1996-1997
2		Budget		n.d., 1994-2000
2		Correspondence		n.d., 1996
2		Curriculum Resources		n.d., 1977, 1994, 1997
2		Grants		1996-1997
3		Marketing		n.d., 1996-1998
3		Participant Biographies		n.d.
3		Planning Notes and Reports		n.d., 1996-1998
		Productions
3			Love and Mosquitoes	1998
3			Performance Slams	1997-1998
3			Straight Out Of High School	n.d., 1994
3, FF5/D3		Publicity		n.d., 1997-1999
3		School Contracts		n.d., 1996
3		Workshop Questionnaires		1997
3		Workshops and Residency		n.d., 1996-1997
3	Youth Pride Retreat			1995-1996
	YouthReach
3		Initial Planning		n.d., 1996-1998
3		Massachusetts Cultural Council		1997-1998
3		Structure and Activities		n.d., 1996-1998
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Series:	4. Grants, 1988-1998
Volume:	0.33 cubic ft.
Arrangement:	Alphabetical
Summary:	The series documents The Theater Offensive's efforts to obtain grant funding. The applications document proposed projects and describe the nature of the business operations of The Theater Offensive. The grant proposals also offer insight into goals and planning efforts. Correspondence between The Theater Offensive staff members and philanthropists provides insight into the difficulties of funding radical and progressive theater in the 1990s.
Box	Title	Date
3	AIDS Action Committee	1993-1996
3	Anheuser-Busch Companies	1995
3	Art Matters	1988-1990
3	Associated Grant Makers	1996
3	AT&T	1991
3	Ben & Jerry's Foundation	1992
3	Beth El Fund	1991
3	Boston Council for the Arts/Boston Cultural Council	1994-1997
3	The Boston Foundation	1997-1998
3	The Boston Globe Foundation	1995
3	Boston Women's Fund	1995
3	The Arch and Bruce Brown Foundation	1995-1998
3	Cambridge Arts Council	1994-1998
3	Cambridge Cares About AIDS	1990
3	Chicago Resource Center	1992-1995
3	The Nathan Cummings Foundation	1995
3	Draper Laboratory	1996
3	First Night Boston	1995
3	Fleet Financial Group	1996
3	Fund for the Arts	1991
3	Funding Exchange	n.d., 1992
3	Grass Roots Gay Rights Fund	1997
3	Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation	1996
3	John Hancock Financial Services Community Relations	1997
3	Haymarket People's Fund	1991-1998
3	High Meadow Foundation	1994
3	Houghton Mifflin	1991
3	The Jaffe Foundation	1991
3	The Kongsgaard-Goldman Foundation	1994
3	LEF Foundation	1991-1996
3	Leo Model Foundation	1993
3	The Little Family Foundation	1995
3	Local Cultural Council	1995
3	Lotus Philanthropy Program	1995
3	Massachusetts Cultural Council	1993-1997
3	Joyce Mertz-Gilmore Foundation	1993-1995
3	National Endowment for the Arts	1994
3	The Needmor Fund	1995
3	New England Foundation for the Arts	1995
3	New England War Tax Resistance	1992
3	Open Meadows Foundation	1995
3	The Scott Opler Foundation	1997
3	The OUT Fund for Lesbian and Gay Liberation	1992
3	Amelia Peabody Foundation	1995
3	Playboy Foundation	1994
3	Polaroid Foundation	1997
3	A.C. Ratshesky Foundation	1995
3	Religious Society of Friends	ca. 1989
3	Resist, Inc.	1989-1990
3	The Riley Foundation	1995
3	Safe Neighborhoods Youth Fund	1996
3	Safe School Family Outreach	1997
3	State Street Foundation	1996
3	Stop & Shop Foundation	1996
3	Tides Foundation	1998
3	Very Special Arts	1997
3	Unidentified	n.d., 1988, 1998
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Series:	5. OUT On The Edge, 1992-2001
Volume:	0.66 cubic ft.
Arrangement:	Chronological and alphabetical
Summary:	The series documents the annual OUT On The Edge theater festival. Held annually in the fall, OUT On The Edge is considered to be among the world's premier queer theater series. The first festival was held in 1992, spread across three different venues; subsequent festivals have been held entirely at the Boston Center for the Arts. The Theater Offensive has made a concerted effort to represent underserved and marginalized communities in the festival, and a considerable number of the performances are by artists of color, the differently abled, and transgendered artists. The festivals are documented by press and publicity materials, including reviews, press kits, and flyers; logistical materials, including floor plans, lighting designs, technical specifications, and performer arrangements; programs; budget figures; and materials documenting individual productions within each festival, including scripts. None of the festivals and productions are documented by all of the same types of records.
Box	Title			Date
3	OUT On The Edge 1
3		Budget		1992
3		Fund Raising and Marketing		1992
3		Logistics		1992
3, FF5/D3		Press and Publicity		1992
		Productions
3			Downs, Randa: In My Father's Bed	1992
3			Greg-Eugene: You Gotta Keep On Dancin'	1992
3			Gunter, Gregory: Parents' Day	1992
3			Harrison, Catherine: Permission	1992
3			Pomo Afro Homos: Dark Fruit	1992
3			Through The Fire	1993
3		Programs		1992
	OUT On The Edge 2
3		Budget		1993
3		Fund Raising and Marketing		1993
3		Logistics		1992-1993
3		Press and Publicity		1993
3		Programs		1993
		Productions
3			Alfaro, Luis, Alberto Araiza, and Monica Palacios: Deep in the Crotch of My Latino Psyche	1993
3			Consenting Adults: Her Aching Heart	1993
3			Hughes, Holly: Clit Notes	1993
3			Sneed, Pamela: Imagine Being More Afraid of Freedom Than Slavery	1993
3			Thomas, John, and Joe Byers: Tight-Ass Androgynous	1993
3			Thibodeaux, Damien: Tutu	1993
	OUT On The Edge 3
3		Budget		1994
3		Fund Raising and Marketing		1994
3		Logistics		1994
3, FF5/D3		Press and Publicity		1994
		Productions
3			4 Big Girls: Bigger Than A Breadbox	1994
3			Alfaro, Luis: downtown	1994
3			Bornstein, Kate: The Opposite Sex is…Neither!	1994
3			Miller, Tim: Naked Breath	1994
3		Programs		1994
	OUT On The Edge 4
4		Fund Raising and Marketing		1995
4		Logistics		1995
4		Press and Publicity		1995
		Productions
4			Arete Theater Company: Strawberry and Chocolate	1995
4			Bonin-Rodriguez: Love In The Time of College	1995
4			Consenting Adults: Three More Sisters	1995
4			Hickman, Craig: skin & ornaments	1995
4			Shaw, Peggy: You're Just Like My Father	1995
4		Programs		1995
	OUT On The Edge 5
4		Budget		1996
4		Fund Raising and Marketing		1996
4		Logistics		1996
4, FF5/D3		Press and Publicity		1996
		Productions
4			5 Lesbian Brothers: Brides of the Moon	1996
4			Hughes, Holly: On All Fours	1996
4			Jones, Daniel Alexander: Blood: Shock: Boogie	1996
4			Miguel, Muriel: Hot 'n Soft	1996
4			Miller, Tim: Fruit Cocktail	1996
4			root wy'mn: no mo' blues	1996
4		Programs		1996
4		Workshops		1996
	OUT On The Edge 6
4		Budget		1997
4		Logistics		1997
4, FF5/D3		Press and Publicity		1997
		Productions
4			DeLaria, Lea: Eager Beaver	1997
4			Freeman, Brian: Civil Sex	1997
4			Keegan & Lloyd: Bed of Roses	1997
4			Outlaw, Paul: Here Be Dragons	1997
4			Shaw, Peggy: Menopausal Gentleman	1997
4			Tropicana, Carmelita: Chicas 2000	1997
4			Walloch, Greg: White Disabled Talent	1997
4		Programs		1997
	OUT On The Edge 7
4		Budget		1998
4		Logistics		1998
4, FF5/D3		Press and Publicity		1998
		Productions
4			Bloolips: BLOOReview: A Retrospectacle—BLOOLIPS"	1998
4			Miller, Tim: Shirts & Skins	1998
4			Sneed, Pamela: Something Else	1998
4			The Yale School of Drama: The People vs. The God of Vengeance	1998
4		Programs		1998
	OUT On The Edge 8
4		Logistics		1999
4		Press and Publicity		1999
4		Productions		1999
4		Program		1999
4, FF5/D3	OUT On The Edge 9: Press Releases and Flyers			2000
4	OUT On The Edge 10: Press Releases and Flyers			2001
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Series:	6. Other Festivals and Productions, 1987-2003
Volume:	0.33 cubic ft.
Arrangement:	Alphabetical
Summary:	The series documents The Theater Offensive productions outside of the OUT On The Edge festivals. In addition to showcasing national artists during OUT On The Edge and developing in-house productions, The Theater Offensive has also been a partner with or presenter of many other established or up-and-coming performers and productions. Of particular note is the ¡Spic Out! festival, the first festival in the country showcasing only Latino/a queer performers. The productions are documented by press and publicity materials, including reviews, press kits, and flyers; logistical materials, including technical specifications and performer arrangements; programs; budgets; and materials documenting individual productions within festivals or showcases, including scripts.
Box	Title			Date
4, FF5/D3	A-Z			n.d., 2000-2003
4, FF5/D3	Bloolips and Split Britches: Belle Reprieve			1991
4	Body Rock/It			1997
	Chesley, Robert: Jerker
4		Budget		1993
4		Fund Raising and Marketing		1993
4		Logistics		1993
4, FF5/D3		Press and Publicity		1987-1993
4		Programs		1993
4		Reviews		1987-1993
4, FF5/D3	Cotto Escalera, Brenda, Noelia Ortiz Cortés, & Abe Rybeck: Immaculate Infection			2000
	Dress Codes: Fear and Clothing
4		Fund Raising and Marketing		1993
		Performers
4			Bright, Susie	1993
4			Mars, Shelley	1993
4			Vaginal Creme Davis	1993
4, FF5/D3		Press and Publicity		1993
4		Programs		1993
4		Reviews		1993
4		Scripts		n.d.
	Emma Goldman Gypsy Players
4, FF5/D3		Fairy Tales, Faerie Tails		1991
4		Queens are Wild!		1991
4, FF5/D3	Martin, Renata: Five Bottles In A Six-Pack			2000
	Pomo Afro Homos: Fierce Love
4		Fund Raising and Marketing		1991
4		Logistics		1991
4, FF5/D3		Press and Publicity		1991
4		Programs		1991
4		Reviews		1991
	¡Spic Out!
4		Fund Raising and Marketing		1994
4		Logistics		1994
4, FF5/D3		Press and Publicity		1994-1995
		Productions
4			Araiza, Albert Antonio (Beto): Meat My Beat	1994
4			Areté Theater Company: El Hombre Nuevo	1994
4			Bonin-Rodriguez, Paul: The Bible Belt and Other Accessories	1994
4			Marga Gomez: Marga Gomez is Pretty, Witty, and Gay (2 folders)	1994
4			Oliver, Enrique: Castro's Child	1994
4			Tropicana, Carmelita: Milk of Amnesia (2 folders)	1994
4		Programs		1994
	The Theater Offensive Sells Out!
4		Fund Raising and Marketing		1998
		Performers
4			Alfaro, Luis: Politicized Body	1998
4			Shaw, Peggy: Menopausal Gentleman	1998
4, FF5/D3		Press and Publicity		1998
4		Programs		1998
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Series:	7. Plays At Work, 1995-1999
Volume:	0.33 cubic ft.
Arrangement:	Chronological and alphabetical
Summary:	The series documents The Theater Offensive's annual series, Plays at Work. Plays at Work develops and presents new, local theatrical productions in staged readings and workshops. Some Plays at Work titles have become fully-staged productions, including Dirt, Motherlands, Hamartia Blues, and Oklahoma City. The productions are documented by press and publicity materials, including reviews, press kits, and flyers; logistical materials, including technical specifications and performer arrangements; programs; budgets; and materials documenting individual productions within festivals or showcases, including scripts.
Box	Title			Date
	Plays At Work 1
4		Fund Raising and Marketing		1995
4. FF5/D3		Press and Publicity		1995
		Productions
4			Burton, Gail and Diane Beckett: Muses	1995
4			Passos, Edir: Oh! La La	1995
4			Rybeck, Abe: Dirt	1995
4		Programs		1995
	Plays At Work 2
4		Budget		1996
4		Logistics		1996
4, FF5/D3		Press and Publicity		1996
		Productions
4			Cotto, Brenda and Noelia Ortiz: Motherlands	1996
4			White, Robin G.: Panty Liners	1996
4		Programs		1996
	Plays At Work 3
4		Budget		1997
4		Press and Publicity		1997
		Productions
4			Cole, Tom: Oklahoma City	1997
4			Neely, Letta: Hamartia Blues	1997
4			Sign Language Theater: Meet Me In The Light	1997
	Plays At Work 4
4		Budget		1998
4, FF5/D3		Press Releases and Flyers		1998
		Productions
5			Tocci, Mirta: Tongues of Fire	1998
5			True Colors OUT Youth Theater: Love and Mosquitoes	1998
	Plays At Work 5
5		Budget		1999
5, FF5/D3		Press Releases and Flyers		1999
5		Programs		1999
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Series:	8. Submissions and Potential Collaborations, 1988-1996
Volume:	1.50 cubic ft.
Arrangement:	Alphabetical
Summary:	The series documents The Theater Offensive's relationship with prospective collaborators and new artists. The majority of the materials are scripts or plot treatments in various stages of development submitted to be produced by The Theater Offensive, or to establish a mentor relationship with staff, particularly Abe Rybeck. The remainder of the materials are from other established queer groups and performers, who address the possibility of joint presentation of existing productions, particularly current traveling shows.
Box	Title	Date
5	A-Z (2 folders)	ca. 1990s
5	Above Average Players	1994
5	Abrams, Ann Carol	n.d.
5	Adair, Drew	1992
5	Alice B. Theatre	1993
5	Alves, Michael	n.d., 1994
5	Araiza, Alberto Antonio (Beto)	ca. 1995
5	Arroyo, Rene	n.d.
5	Beigel, Ann, and Jerry James	ca. 1994
5	Bell, Neil	1995
5	Berg, Paula	1992
5	Binnie, John (2 folders)	n.d., 1991
5	Birimisa, George	ca. 1994
5	Bonin-Rodriguez, Paul	1996
5	Boutin, Jim	1992
5	Branner, Djola	ca. 1994
5	Breen-Green, Carla	1993
5	Carilli, Theresa	1993
5	Carmichael, John and Edward Langlais	1988
5	Casner, Howard	1992
5	Chin, Justin	1993
5	Cinque, Chris	1992
5	Cloutier, Martin	1996
5	Cole, Tom (2 folders)	n.d., 1995
5	Corcoran, Jay	ca. 1996
5	Corriveau, Art	1995
5	Couillard, Paul	ca. 1992
5	Crabtree, Brian	n.d., 1995
5	Croal, Ada	n.d.
5	DeChristopher, D.J.	1996
5	Downey, Rod	1993
5	Edmondson, Andrew	1994
5	Eldridge, Mike	1993
5	Elovich, Richard	1991
5	Emery, Drew and Lewis Merkin	1995
5	Ensler, Eve and William Harper	1994
5	Gammons, David R.	n.d.
5	Greenwood, David Valdes	ca. 1995
5	Grygo, Eugene	1995
5	Harrison, David (same as Catherine Harrison)	1995
5	Henry, Imani	n.d.
5	Hicks, Sherry	n.d., 1993
5	Houston, Sterling	1992-1995
5	Jaffe, Daniel (2 folders)	1995-1996
5	Jones, Daniel Alexander	1996
5	Kasten, Kate and Sondra de Helen	1993
5	Kelly, Tom	1995
5	King, Kevin	1995
5	Kingsbury, Marty (2 folders)	n.d., 1994
5	Krause, Timothy	1996
5	Kuntze, Tilly	1988
5	Long, Brien	1996
5	Lerner, Lisa	1992-1994
5	Miller, Susan	1993
5	Mills, David	n.d., 1993
5	Morgan, Marjorie	1996
5	Normandy, Michael	1994
5	Olnek, Madeleine (2 folders)	n.d., 1992
5	Palacios, Monica
5	Queen, Carol
6	Rangdale, Thomas	1994
6	Reyes, Guillermo	1994-1995
6	Ronis, Eric	1994
6	Rosenfield, James	1994
6	Sacred Naked Nature Girls	1995
6	Schulman, Sarah	n.d., 1994
6	Scully, David	1992-1993
6	Senouf, Yan and Jean Genet	1991
6	Simpatico, David	1994
6	Sloin, Hilary (2 folders)	1995
6	Smith, Animal J.	1994
6	Somsen, Pennell	1992
6	Stanley, David Arthur	1994
6	Stewart-Brown, Christi	1991
6	Tama, Jose Torres	1996
6	Tec, Roland	1994
6	Thomas, Colin	1995
6	Thorburn, Adam	1995
6	Tom, John	n.d.
6	Tradup, Troy (2 folders)	1991-1993
6	Trahan, Julia/dolphin	1995
6	Tucker, Corey	ca. 1993
6	Ward, Bruce	1992
6	Wertheim, Aubrey	1993
6	Wilkie, Marcia	1993
6	Wise, Eric	1994
6	Wolf, Laurie	1995
6	Wong, Patrick	n.d.
6	Wright, Deborah	1996
6	Yew, Chay (2 folders)	1992, 1994
6	Unidentified	n.d.
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Series:	9. Photographs, 1990-2000
Volume:	0.80 cubic ft.
Arrangement:	Arranged to correspond to series arrangement; alphabetical within series arrangement.
Summary:	The series provides visual documentation of The Theater Offensive productions and personnel. Many of the photographs were taken for publicity purposes, although some are more informal snapshots. Due to the absence of video or audio recordings of The Theater Offensive productions, these photographs provide the only documentation of the look and feel of those productions.
Box	Title			Date
	Administration
6		Board Meetings (2 folders)		n.d., 1998
6		Public Relations: Boston Pride Parade and Party		n.d., 2000
	Early and In-House Productions
6		Adult Children of Heterosexuals		ca. 1991-1993
6		Blame It On The Big Banana		1990
6		Dirt		n.d., 1995, 1997
6		Motherlands		1997
6		Pure PolyESTHER (4 folders)		n.d., 1991-1999
6		Abe Rybeck		n.d., 1991
6		United Fruit Company		n.d.
	Education and Outreach
6		Lessons From The Heart		n.d.
		True Colors
6			Clear The Floor	1999, 2000
6			Love and Mosquitos	1998
6			Performance Slam	n.d.
6			Publicity Photographs (2 folders)	n.d.
	OUT On The Edge
6, 7		Festivals 1-7 (7 folders)		1992-1998
7		Thank You Parties		n.d., 2000
	Other Festivals and Productions
7		Chesley, Robert: Jerker		n.d., 1993
7		Cole, Tom: Oklahoma City		n.d.
7		Cotto Escalera, Brenda, Noelia Ortiz Cortés, & Abe Rybeck: Immaculate Infection		2000
7		Emma Goldman Gypsy Players		n.d.
7		Fear and Clothing		1993
7		Hanbury, David: Personal Instrument		2000
7		Pomo Afro Homos: Fierce Love		1991
7		¡SpicOut!		1994-1995
7		Split Britches and Stacy Makishi: Salad of the Bad Café		2000
7		The Theater Offensive Sells Out!		1999
7	Plays At Work 1-4 (4 folders)			1995-1998
7	Unidentified			n.d.
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Archives and Special Collections 92 Snell Library 360 Huntington Ave. Boston, MA 02115 (617) 373-2351 archives@neu.edu

Archives and Special Collections Finding Aids

Printable Finding Aid. Back to Browsing Version.

Series:

1. Administration, 1989-2001

Series:

2. Early and In-House Productions, 1986-2005

Series:

3. Education and Outreach, 1990-2000

Series:

4. Grants, 1988-1998

Series:

5. OUT On The Edge, 1992-2001

Series:

6. Other Festivals and Productions, 1987-2003

Series:

7. Plays At Work, 1995-1999

Series:

8. Submissions and Potential Collaborations, 1988-1996

Series:

9. Photographs, 1990-2000

Archives and Special Collections
92 Snell Library
360 Huntington Ave.
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 373-2351
archives@neu.edu