Scope and Content Note
The collection documents the artistic and administrative processes of The Theater Offensive. It also documents queer and progressive theater in Boston and nationwide from the 1990s through 2006. 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 primarily documented by publicity materials, programs, and scripts. 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. Its administrative processes are documented by board minutes, financial reports, extensive grant files, strategic planning documents, and newsletters. Of particular interest is Series 10: Photographs, which includes portraits, publicity photographs, and performance photographs. Series 9: General Press contains press materials from a later addition to the collection.
Dates
- Creation: 1977-2012
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1989-2011
Creator
- The Theater Offensive (Organization)
Language of Materials
The majority of the materials are in English. Some materials are in Spanish.
Conditions Governing Access:
Personnel records (box 8, folder 9 and 32; box 9, folder 7, 18 and 19; box 10, folder 28; box 11, folder 2, 15, 23, 29 and 39; box 12, folder 9 and 42; box 14, folder 14-17, 19-20, and 47; and box 15, folder 36 and 77, box 16, folder 10, and box 18, folder 56) are restricted for 75 years from their date of creation. Special copyright restrictions may apply.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use:
Copyright restrictions may apply.
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 protested apathy towards AIDS, rampant consumerism, homophobia and homophobic social policy, the war in Nicaragua, and other right-wing political positions with comedic musical sketches. Rybeck saw further potential for activist theater beyond the scope of what the United Fruit Company was able to produce, and founded The Theater Offensive.
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 current queer theater, and each festival included a number of local, national, and international performers. From the beginning, The Theater Offensive has mixed in-house productions with works by nationally-known queer performers. The Theater Offensive has become the leading queer theater in New England, and has hosted a number of regional and world premieres.
The Theater Offensive has a strong commitment to fostering the creation of new work by underserved and marginalized groups. Through programs like the annual Plays At Work festival, The Theater Offensive has provided workshop environments for promising playwrights and performers to see their developing work from inception to performance. In addition to serving as a political force within and without the queer community, The Theater Offensive also conducts outreach and educational programs, such as their youth troupe True Colors. Its programs and collaborations have been recognized by artists, activists, and local leaders as models of community organizing through artistic expression.
The Theater Offensive is a resident theater company at the Boston Center for the Arts.
Chronology of Out on the Edge Productions 2000-2009
- 2000
- Rice RoomAnne Frank SuperstarPsychosemiticInnocent HeatGarden Variety ShowUsual SuspectsGlory Box
- 2001
- Dr. FrockrocketI Remember MapaOpera for DummiesCrouching Cabico, Hidden ChoP.S. 69A Fairy TaleHoly Shit
- 2002
- Resident AlienDirty StuffBy Tooth or by TongueD.R.E.D. Daring Reality Every DayAround The World with Miss ThangUnitard: Now More Than Ever
- 2003
- B4T: Before TestosteroneMaster of the (Miss) UniverseSurviving the NianLast RitesQueer Theory: a Musical Travesty
- 2004
- Black Folks Guide to Black FolksLouge-Zilla: Asian Sings the BluesTurned Up Volume (True Colors)USShackles and SugarMurder at GallaudetSurviving the NianOedipus at Palm Springs
- 2005
- Fringe and Fringe AbilityGirl With the Pearl NecklaceThe Kvetching Continues
- 2006
- Queer Theory: a Musical TravestyLos Big NamesBeakman in PersonNut/CrackedThe Mother of All Enemies
- 2007
- Oedipus At Palm SpringsPaved Paradise: The Songs of Joni MitchellHello, Goodbye, PeaceBlue Fire on the WaterAll the Kings Men, Out of the Box/Twisted TalesNut/Cracked
- 2008
- Nut/CrackedVarla Jean Merman Loves a Foreign TongueMiss AmericaWake the F**k Up AmericaBirds Do It!
- 2009
- On Men, Women, and the Rest of UsCome as You Are: Celebrate Queer Sex!SINsationWomb-Words, ThirstingLay of the LandBirth of a nAsianDirty Sex-Ecology or How to Make Love with the Earth
Extent
18.87 cubic feet (20 containers, 53 flat file folders, 4 tubes, 1 art file)
Overview
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.
Overview
The collection documents the artistic and administrative processes of The Theater Offensive. Individual productions and festivals are documented by publicity materials, programs, and scripts. 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 records, and newsletters. Of particular interest is Series 10: Photographs, which includes portraits, publicity photographs, and performance photographs.
System of Arrangement:
Organized into 11 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; 9. General Press; 10. Photographs; and 11. Memorabilia.
Technical Access:
One 3.5 floppy disk in box 10, folder 15 will not open. Two DVDs (box 15, folder 58 and 75) are Mac formatted.
Physical Location
64/3-4, 56/2, 55/4, 37/3, FF5/D3, FF4/D4, Art File 19, RS9/S2
Immediate Source of Acquisition:
Received from The Theater Offensive.
Accruals:
Further accruals are expected.
Bibliography
- The Theater Offensive. http://www.thetheateroffensive.org
Subject
- Rybeck, Abraham P. (Person)
- The Theater Offensive (Organization)
Topical
- African American gays
- Asian American gays
- Drama festivals
- Gay dramatists
- Gay theater
- Gay theater -- Massachusetts -- Boston
- Gays and the performing arts
- Hispanic American gays
- Lesbian dramatists
- Minority gays
- Minority lesbians
- Theater -- Political aspects
- Theater -- Production and direction
- Theater and youth -- Massachusetts -- Boston
- Theater management -- Massachusetts -- Boston
- Theatrical companies
- Title
- Finding aid for The Theater Offensive Records
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Molly Overholt; updated by Cynthia Rufo; updated by Migyeong Geum; updated by Kieran McGhee
- Date
- 2005, 2009, 2012, July 2015
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Northeastern University Archives and Special Collections Repository