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Stephen Facey Collection on Theatre Genesis

Call Number

MSS.595

Dates

1964-1978, bulk
; 1964-2016, inclusive

Creator

Facey, Stephen
Facey, Stephen (Role: Donor)
Theatre Genesis

Extent

4.25 linear feet in 8 manuscript boxes in 1 half manuscript box
2 sound tape reels

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

Abstract

Stephen Facey is a trustee of Movement Research, The Chocolate Factory Theater, the St. Mark's Historic Landmark Fund, and the New York Preservation Archive Project. He served as the Parish Administrator of St. Mark's Church In-the-Bowery, where he managed the church's Arts Projects, comprised of Theatre Genesis, The Poetry Project, The Film Project, and Danspace. The Stephen Facey Collection on Theatre Genesis (dated 1964-2016) consists of materials collected by Facey documenting the history and activities of the off-off-Broadway theater Theatre Genesis. Materials in this collection include scripts, programs, flyers, reviews, and publications documenting the theater's 14 seasons (1964-1978), including works by playwrights Maria Irene Fornés, H.M. "Harry" Koutoukas, Walter Hadler, Leonard Melfi, Murray Mednick, and Sam Shepard. Many of the productions documented in this collection were directed by Ralph Cook. In addition to documenting Theatre Genesis' productions, the collection also documents the financial and business operations of a theatrical space, and the growth of the off-off-Broadway movement in New York City in the 20th century.

Biographical Note

Stephen Facey is a trustee of Movement Research, The Chocolate Factory Theater, the St. Mark's Historic Landmark Fund, and the New York Preservation Archive Project. He served as the Parish Administrator of St. Mark's Church In-the-Bowery in New York City's East Village during a period in the church's history marked by a focus on community service and cultural expansion. Facey managed the church's Arts Projects, comprised of The Film Project, The Poetry Project, the contemporary dance venue Danspace Project; and the off-off-Broadway theater Theatre Genesis. Theater Genesis produced 14 seasons and ceased operations in 1978, shortly before a major fire at St. Mark's. Facey is the former Executive Vice President of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City.

Arrangement

Materials are mostly in chronological order, maintaining the original order in which they were received.

Scope and Contents

The Stephen Facey Collection on Theatre Genesis, Inc. (dated 1964-2016) consists of materials collected by Facey documenting the history and activities of Theatre Genesis, one of the first off-off-Broadway theaters. Materials in this collection include scripts, programs, flyers, reviews, and publications documenting the theater's 14 seasons (1964-1978), including works by playwrights Maria Irene Fornés, H.M. "Harry" Koutoukas, Walter Hadler, Leonard Melfi, Murray Mednick, and Sam Shepard. Many of the productions documented in this collection were directed by Ralph Cook. The collection also contains a small amount of material Facey collected concerning the history and coverage of Theatre Genesis, as well as administrative documents for Re-Genesis, an effort to re-imagine the theatre in 1989. In addition to documenting Theatre Genesis' productions, the collection also documents the financial and business operations of a theatrical space, and the growth of the off-off-Broadway movement in New York City in the 20th century.

Conditions Governing Access

Materials are open without restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

This collection is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use materials in the collection in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Preferred Citation

Identification of item, date; Stephen Facey Collection on Theatre Genesis; MSS 595; box number; folder number or item identifier; Fales Library and Special Collections, New York University.

Location of Materials

Materials are stored offsite and advance notice is required for use. Please request materials at least two business days prior to your research visit to coordinate access.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Stephen Facey in December 2019; the accession number associated with this gift is 2020.003.

Audiovisual Access Policies and Procedures

Audiovisual materials have not been preserved and may not be available to researchers. Materials not yet digitized will need to have access copies made before they can be used. To request an access copy, or if you are unsure if an item has been digitized, please contact Fales Library and Special Collections, special.collections@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596 with the collection name, collection number, and a description of the item(s) requested. A staff member will respond to you with further information.

Collection processed by

Rachel Searcy

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-20 17:03:52 -0400.
Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language: Finding aid written in English

Processing Information

At the time of accessioning materials were rehoused in archival boxes, and described on the collection-level with a folder-level inventory. Materials were maintained in the chronological order in which they were received. Two sound tape reels were physically separated from Box 1 Folder 14 and housed in Box 9. No other arrangement, description, or physical interventions have taken place.

Repository

Fales Library and Special Collections

View Inventory

Historical Information, 2013-2017, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

The Grand Inquisitor, Scene from The Brothers Karamazov Adapted by Henry M. di Suvero, Directed by Ralph Cook (Pre-Theatre Genesis), 1964-03, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Study in Color, Written by Malcolm Boyd, Directed by Woody King, 1964-07, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 3 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Cowboys and Rock Garden, Written by Sam Shepard, Directed by Ralph Cook, 1964-10, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 4 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Herod and the Slaughter of the Innocents, Directed by Mark Mirsky, 1964-12, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 5 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Before Breakfast in Wonderland and Cheer Up, Written by Pat Branch, Directed by Kevin O'Connor and Ralph Cook, 1965-01, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 6 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

The Drapes Come, Written by Charles Dizenzo, Directed by Robert F. Lyons, 1965-02, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 7 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Let's Get Serious and The Gate, Written by Charles Mee, Jr., Directed by Mark J. Mirsky and Anne Ohelschlager (Assistant), 1965-03, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 8 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Free, Free, Free and There's a Wall Between Us, Darling, Written by Sally Ordway, Directed by Benjamin Hiatt, 1965-04, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 9 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

The Custom Inspector in Baggy Pants, Written by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Directed by Maurice Edwards; Chicago, Written by Sam Shepard, Directed by Ralph Cook, 1965-04, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 10 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Birdbath and Sunglasses, Written by Leonard Melfi, Directed by Ralph Cook and Richard McPhee, 1965-06, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 11 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Pussies and Rookies and FerryBoat, Written by Leonard Melfi, Directed by Ralph Cook, 1965-09, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 12 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Medea, Written by H.M. Koutoukas, Directed by Warren Finerty, 1965-09, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 13 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

The Box, Written by Murray Mednick, Directed by Lee Kissman; My Daddy is Dying, Written by Tom Sankey, Directed by Ralph Cook; Out of Town Traffic, Written by Leonard Melfi, Directed by Ralph Cook, 1965-12, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 14 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Audio Recordings of The Box and Out of Town Traffic, 1965-12

Box: 9 (Material Type: Audio)

Why the Clown Never Speaks, Written by Tom Ohlson, Directed by Jack Milton; A Corner of the Morning, Written by Michael Locascio, Directed by Ken Linden; The Interrogation Room, Written by David Scott Milton, Directed by Jack Milton, 1966-02, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 15 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Degrees, Written by George Birmisa, Directed by Murray Paskin, 1966-03, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 16 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

The Pattern and The Trunk, Written by Anthony Barsha, Directed by Ralph Cook and Nick Orzel, 1966-04, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 17 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

The Mask of Zorro, Written by Murray Mednick, Directed by Ralph Cook, 1966-06, inclusive

Box: 1, Folder: 18 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

The Golden Screw, Written by Tom Sankey, Directed by Ralph Cook, 1966-09, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Halloween Mask, Written by David Scott, Directed by Ralph Cook, 1966-10, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

The Hearing, Written by Tony Barsha, Directed by Tony Barsha, 1966-10, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 3 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

The Key, Written by Kit Jones, Directed by Kit Jones, 1966-11, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 4 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Guideline, Written by Murray Mednick, Directed by Ralph Cook, 1966-11, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 5 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Fruit Salad, Written by Grant Duay, Directed by Tony Barsha; Smash, Written by Tony Barsha, Directed by Ralph Cook, 1967-01, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 6 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Etude, Written by Robert Howard, Directed by Amy Saltz, 1967-02, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 7 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Papyrus, Written by William Kushner, Directed by Murray Paskin; Sand, Written by Murray Mednick, Directed by Ralph Cook, 1967-03, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 8 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

The Hawk; Written by Murray Mednick, Tony Barsha, and The Keystone Company; Directed by Tony Barsha, 1967-10, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 9 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Forensic and the Navigators, Written by Sam Shepard, Directed by Ralph Cook, 1968-01, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 10 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

The Beggar's Opera, Written by Tom Sankey and Janet Day, Directed by Lee Kissman and Ralph Cook, 1968-03, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 11 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Bad Times in Bummerville, Written by Joel Oppenheimer, Directed by Tom Sankey, 1968-05, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 12 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Willie the Germ, Written by Murray Mednick, Directed by Ralph Cook, 1968-05, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 13 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Solarium, Written by Walter Hadler, Directed by Ralph Cook, 1968-06, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 14 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

The Hunter, Written by Murray Mednick, Directed by Ralph Cook, 1968-10, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 15-16 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Thirty and American Gothic, Written by Walter Hadler, Directed by Ralph Cook, 1968-11, inclusive

Box: 2, Folder: 17 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

H-Isolation, Written by Lee Kissman, Directed by Ralph Cook, 1969-01, inclusive

Box: 3, Folder: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Vision of a New Body: Communal Spontaneous Vision, Written by Keystone Communal Theater Experiment in Progress, Directed by Tony Barsha, 1969-03, inclusive

Box: 3, Folder: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Mission Beach, Written by Walter Hadler, Directed by Tony Barsha; Flight Cage, Written by Walter Hadler, Directed by Ralph Cook, 1969-04, inclusive

Box: 3, Folder: 3-4 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

The Shadow Ripens, Written by Murray Mednick (in Collaboration with Theater Five Company of San Diego), Directed by Murray Mednick, 1969-05, inclusive

Box: 3, Folder: 5 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

The Waterworks at Lincoln, Written by Walter Hadler, Directed by Ralph Cook, 1969-10, inclusive

Box: 3, Folder: 6 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Two Plays Written by Tony Barsha, Directed by Ralph Cook, 1970-01, inclusive

Box: 3, Folder: 7 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

The Deer Kill, Written by Murray Mednick, Directed by Ralph Cook, 1970-04, inclusive

Box: 3, Folder: 8-9 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Grand Mal Crick, Written by Walter Hadler, Directed by Ralph Cook, 1971-01, inclusive

Box: 3, Folder: 10 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Box: 4, Folder: 1-2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Mad Dog Blues, Written by Sam Shepard, Directed by Robert Glaudini, 1971-03, inclusive

Box: 4, Folder: 3-5 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Lesson in Dead Language, Written by Adrienne Kennedy, Directed by Gaby Rodgers, 1971-04, inclusive

Box: 4, Folder: 6 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

12 Noon: Up Against the Wall Ruling Class, Written by Victor Eschbach, 1971-06, inclusive

Box: 4, Folder: 7 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Cartoon, Written by Murray Mednick, Directed by Walter Blood, 1971-10, inclusive

Box: 4, Folder: 8-9 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Country Music, Written and Directed by Michael Smith, 1971-12, inclusive

Box: 4, Folder: 10 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Borrowed Time, Written and Directed by Robert Glaudini, 1972-02, inclusive

Box: 4, Folder: 11 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Jim Town, Written by K. Kimball, Directed by Andrea Clarke, 1972-03, inclusive

Box: 5, Folder: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Mutilitation, Written by Walter Hadler, Directed by Gaby Rodgers, 1972-05, inclusive

Box: 5, Folder: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Bigfoot, Written by Ronald Tavel, Directed by Michael Smith, 1972-11, inclusive

Box: 5, Folder: 3 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Blue Bitch, Written by Sam Shepard, Directed by Murray Mednick, 1973-01, inclusive

Box: 5, Folder: 4 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Tango Palace, Written by Maria Irene Fornés, Directed by Michael Smith and Maria Irene Fornés, 1973-01, inclusive

Box: 5, Folder: 5 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Are You Lookin?, Written by Murray Mednick, Directed by Murray Mednick (Assistant Director Lee Kissman), 1973-04, inclusive

Box: 5, Folder: 6 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Wheeling Reds, Written and Directed by Walter Hadler, 1973-05, inclusive

Box: 5, Folder: 7 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

The Theory and Practice of Miss America, Written by Carolyn Lord, Executed by William Dunes, 1973-05, inclusive

Box: 5, Folder: 8 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Shango De Ima and Guess Who the Noisemakers Are?", Possibly Written by Jaheen Ishameli, 1973-05, inclusive

Box: 5, Folder: 9 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Queen of Greece, Written by Ron Tavel, Directed by CayMichael Patten, 1973-11, inclusive

Box: 5, Folder: 10 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Three Plays Written by Michael McClure, Directed by Rip Torn, Brenda Smiley, Phil Price, and Lee Kissman, 1973-12, inclusive

Box: 5, Folder: 11 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Prussian Suite, Written by Michael Smith, Possibly Directed by John Smead, 1974-03, inclusive

Box: 5, Folder: 12 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Habitues, Written by T.J. Camp III, Directed by Eugene Kallman, 1974-03, inclusive

Box: 5, Folder: 13 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Hot Peachers, The Divas of Sheridan Square (A Gay Poetry Concert), circa January 1974, inclusive

Box: 5, Folder: 14 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Horsemeat, a Play to See While Sipping Tea, Written by Jeff Weiss, Directed by Carlos Ricardo Martinez, 1974-04, inclusive

Box: 5, Folder: 15 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Malecon, Written by David Garvin, Directed by Phillip Price, 1974-05, inclusive

Box: 5, Folder: 16 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Typhoid Mary, or an Enema of the People, Written by Steve Shea, Directed by Edward M. Coen; First Amendment and Los Topos, Written by Third World Theater; John Hebert Workshop; McDowell in Concert, 1974-09, inclusive

Box: 5, Folder: 17 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Pioneer and Pro-Game, Written by Megan Terry, Directed by Harvey Tavel, 1974-10, inclusive

Box: 5, Folder: 18 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

City Lights; Danny Kalb, John Berenzy, Mark Abel, and Lee Bobbe, 1974-10, inclusive

Box: 5, Folder: 19 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Subreal: A Salute ot the Futurists by the NY Dragon Kings, Written and Directed by Daffi, circa 1975, inclusive

Box: 5, Folder: 20 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

The Silver Bee, Written by Walter Hadler, Directed by Daffi, circa January 1975, inclusive

Box: 5, Folder: 21 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

High Jolly, Written by David Garvin, Directed by Tony Barsha, 1975-02, inclusive

Box: 5, Folder: 22 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Against the Sun, Written by Robert Glaudini, Directed by Phillip Minor, 1975-03, inclusive

Box: 6, Folder: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Derelict=4, Written and Directed by Blanche Medick Olaik; Eve, Written by Marcus Haufrecht, Directed by Don Blakely, 1975-04, inclusive

Box: 6, Folder: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Poe in Person, Written by Marilyn Pomerleau, 1975-04, inclusive

Box: 6, Folder: 3 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Anthology and Small Scroll, Written by Meredith Monk/The House, 1975-04, inclusive

Box: 6, Folder: 4 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Hoe Scroll, Written by Hector Miguel Rodriguez, Directed by Richard August; Lonely Lives, Written by Hector Miguel Rodriguez, Directed by Tito Goyo, 1975-05, inclusive

Box: 6, Folder: 5 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Sonata, Written and Directed by Bill Duke, 1975-06, inclusive

Box: 6, Folder: 6-7 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Asterian Canticles, Written and Directed by Daffi Nathansan, 1975-10, inclusive

Box: 6, Folder: 8-9 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Para-Troupe (Street Theater Group) Presented by Theatre for the U.F.O. Hostages, 1975-11, inclusive

Box: 6, Folder: 10 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Three Plays Written by Michael MClaure, Directed by Tony Barsha and Walter Hadler, 1976-02, inclusive

Box: 6, Folder: 11 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Cars and Guitars, Written and Directed by Michael Winsett, 1976-04, inclusive

Box: 6, Folder: 12 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Auto-Destruct, Written by Jeff Wanshell, Directed by Scott Redman, 1976-11, inclusive

Box: 6, Folder: 13-14 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Two Plays by Quena Company: Blue Heaven and Technocracy, Directed by Ray Barry, 1976-05, inclusive

Box: 6, Folder: 15 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Alto Madness, Eddie Jefferson with Richie Coles Concert, 1977-01, inclusive

Box: 6, Folder: 16 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Three Plays by Quena Company, Directed by Ray Barry, 1977-02, inclusive

Box: 7, Folder: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

The Kalevala, Written by The Talking Band, 1977-01, inclusive

Box: 7, Folder: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Bob Carroll Storytelling Performances, 1977-03, inclusive

Box: 7, Folder: 3 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Jo Ann in the White House, Written by Irving Stetner, 1977-03, inclusive

Box: 7, Folder: 4 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Theatre Genesis Goes to the Movies: A Program of Short Films, 1977-03, inclusive

Box: 7, Folder: 5 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

An Ordinary Evening with My Grandmother, Written and Directed by Richard Ploetz, 1977-04, inclusive

Box: 7, Folder: 6-7 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Three Weekends in May at Eight Mini Series: Attack of the Androgynes, Written by Stephen Policoff, Directed by Ron Nash; The Honky Tonk Piano in the All Night Cafe, Written by Stephen Policoff, Directed by Ron Nash; Metaphysical Vaudeville, Written and Directed by Rob Cassatt, 1977-05, inclusive

Box: 7, Folder: 8-9 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Workshop Productions, 1977, inclusive

Box: 7, Folder: 10 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Lemonade, Written by James Prideux, Directed by Casey Kurtti, 1977-06, inclusive

Box: 7, Folder: 11 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Monday Night Play Readings: Players and Poets, 1978-01, inclusive

Box: 7, Folder: 12 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

The Day Roosevelt Died, Written by Barry Pritchard, Directed by Kevin O'Connor; The Ruffian on the Stair, Written by Joe Orton, Directed by Harvey Schultz, 1978-02, inclusive

Box: 7, Folder: 13 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Once Upon a Time a Man Came Out of the Dark and Speak/Stroll, Written and Directed by Richard Ploetz, 1978-04, inclusive

Box: 7, Folder: 14 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

The Truth About the Truth, Written by Harold Stuart, Directed by Norman Jacobs, 1978-04, inclusive

Box: 7, Folder: 15 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Contributions and Shoes, Written by Ted Shine, Directed by Edmund Cambridge, 1978-03, inclusive

Box: 8, Folder: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

When Petulia Comes, Written by Caroline Emmons, Directed by Edward M. Cohen, 1978-05, inclusive

Box: 8, Folder: 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Immediate Family, Written by Mitchell Redman, Directed by Charles Shain, 1978-05, inclusive

Box: 8, Folder: 3 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Angel City, Written by Sam Shepard, Directed by Larry Sacharow, 1978-05, inclusive

Box: 8, Folder: 4 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Re-Genesis Administrative Documents, 1988-1989, inclusive

Box: 8, Folder: 5 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Lists of Plays Performed, Directors, Playwrights, Performers, 1964-1978, inclusive

Box: 8, Folder: 6 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

The Villager -- Ralph Lee and Poetry Project, 1984, inclusive

Box: 8, Folder: 7 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

New York Times -- Carlos Peliciano March, 2015, inclusive

Box: 8, Folder: 8 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Reverend Malcolm Boyd Obituary, 2015, inclusive

Box: 8, Folder: 9 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

"50 Years On: Theatre Genesis and Sam Shepard," Lee Kissman; Contemporary Theatre Review, 2014, inclusive

Box: 8, Folder: 10 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Newspaper Clippings about Ken Jacobs, 2013, 2016, inclusive

Box: 8, Folder: 11 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
Fales Library and Special Collections
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
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