Texas Archival Resources Online

TABLE OF CONTENTS


Scope and Contents

Restrictions

Administrative Information

Description of Series

I. Works

II. Career-Related and Personal

III. Works of Others

University of Texas, Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center

Terrence McNally:

A Preliminary Inventory of His Papers at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center



Creator:McNally, Terrence, 1938-
Title:Terrence McNally Papers
Dates:1950s-2002
Abstract:The papers, which document McNally's career as a dramatist, include all of his major works for stage, screen, and television, as well as correspondence, posters, production photographs, programs, and reviews. Articles by and about McNally, awards, and photographs are present in the papers. His public appearances, which include benefit performances, conferences, lectures, speeches, tributes, and memorials, are also represented.
Extent:60 boxes, 2 oversize boxes, 2 oversize folders (26.8 linear feet)
Repository:Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, University of Texas at Austin

Scope and Contents

This collection of Terrence McNally's papers includes all his major works for stage, screen, and television, as well as unproduced works, correspondence, and career-related material. McNally's achievements include numerous plays, operas, and musicals such as Corpus Christi; Dead Man Walking; Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune; The Full Monty; Kiss of the Spider Woman; Lips Together, Teeth Apart; The Lisbon Traviata; Love! Valour! Compassion!; Master Class; A Perfect Ganesh; Ragtime; The Rink; The Ritz; and The Visit. His collaborations with John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Jake Heggie, as well as his long-time association with the Manhattan Theatre Club, have been particularly productive and rewarding. Early in his career he was the recipient of two Guggenheim fellowships, followed by numerous awards, including four Tony Awards, an Emmy Award for "Andre's Mother," and Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel Awards, among others. McNally's generous gift of his papers to the Ransom Center incorporates material previously held at the Wisconsin Historical Society. In all, the collection dates from McNally's high school years through the present.

The collection is organized in three series: I. Works; II. Career-Related and Personal; and III. Works of Others.

The works in Series I are arranged alphabetically by title. Unless described otherwise, the works are stage plays. Within titles, scripts are presented in order of creation, followed by correspondence, posters, production photographs, programs, and reviews. Translations and international productions are grouped separately, under each title.

The Career-Related and Personal material in Series II includes articles by and about McNally, awards, correspondence, interviews, papers and notes from high school and college years, and photographs, including an early series by Richard Avendon. Correspondence is arranged chronologically from 1955-2002. McNally's many public appearances, including benefit performances, conferences, lectures, speeches, tributes, and memorials, are also well-represented. His love of the opera is reflected in the opera-related projects and writings including his long-standing participation in the Metropolitan Opera Radio Network's "Opera News on the Air," as well as articles written on the subject.

Series III contains articles and programs collected by McNally but not directly related to his work, as well as writings by Tom Bywaters, Steven Lyons, and Royce Ryton.

Numerous books, serials, audio tapes, videos, compact discs, and memorabilia received with the papers have been transferred to appropriate departments within the Ransom Center.

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Restrictions

Access:

Open for research

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Administrative Information

Acquisition:

Gifts, 1999-2003 (Gift no. 11458, 11513, 11686, 11870, 12188)

Processed by:

Liz Murray, Emily Barker, Sean Castilla, 2003

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Terrence McNally Papers--Folder List

 

I. Works

BoxFolder
11All Together Now, script drafts with notes, n.d.
And Things That Go Bump in the Night
Early versions, variant titles
BoxFolder
12"Mmm!"
3"There Is Something Out There"
4-7Scripts
8Broadway production script, annotated
BoxFolder
21Minneapolis production, 1964, reviews and associated material
2Broadway, Royale Theatre production, 1965, opening night telegrams and correspondence
3Articles about
Andre's Mother, teleplay, American Playhouse, 1989
BoxFolder
24Script, first draft, Jan. 22, 1989
5Correspondence and reviews
6Apple Pie (three one-act plays for television: "Tour,""Next," and "Botticelli"), 1968, correspondence, production photographs, and reviews
Bad Habits
BoxFolder
27-10Scripts, "Dunelawn" and "Ravenswood"
11Rewrite during Manhattan Theatre Club rehearsals, March 1990
12Production photographs, Booth Theater, 1974
BoxFolder
31Programs, reviews, and related material
2Television treatments
3"Ravenswood," teleplay, first draft, 1979
4-5Banana Peels, screenplay, drafts, 1990
6Better and Worse, television pilot
Bingo!, musical
BoxFolder
37Scene outline, lyrics, "Blanco!" script, holograph notes
8-9Scripts, 1987
BoxFolder
41Scripts, cont'd
2Boo!, film outline
3-4Botticelli, teleplay script and play reviews, 1969
Broadway, Broadway (originally Bye Bye Broadway)
BoxFolder
45-9Scripts
BoxFolder
51-3Scripts, cont'd
4Programs and reviews, 1978
By the Sea, By the Sea, By the Beautiful Sea (Dusk)
BoxFolder
55-8Scripts, 1995-96
9Reviews and programs, Bay Street Theatre and Manhattan Theatre Club, 1995-96
Central Park (The Food of Love), opera with Robert Beaser
BoxFolder
61Script and score, 1999
2-3Programs and reviews
4Unused libretto for composer Aaron Jay Kernis, 1998
Common Ground ( Mr. Roberts), teleplay
Scripts
BoxFolder
65First draft, Jan. 1999
6Edited pages, April 1999
7Third draft, May 1999
8Advertising with cast list, SHOWTIME premiere, Jan. 2000
Corpus Christi
Scripts
BoxFolder
69First draft, Labor Day, 1997
10"Original," Sept. 1997
BoxFolder
71First revision
2Undated, uncorrected draft
3North Carolina School of the Arts (NCSA), draft, Dec. 1997
4Rehearsal script, mid-way, McNally's copy
5Manhattan Theatre Club, spring 1998 draft
6Grove Press proofs, 1998
7German published edition, 1999
8Correspondence, 1998
9Reviews and general articles, various performances [oversize removed to Box 61]
10Bailiwick Arts Center, Chicago, 2001
Manhattan Theatre Club, 1998
BoxFolder
711Production photographs
BoxFolder
81Programs
2-3Reviews
4New Conservatory Theatre Center, San Francisco, 2000
5-6International productions
Cuba Si
BoxFolder
87Script
8Reviews, 1968
9Screenplay
Dead Man Walking, opera
San Francisco Opera
BoxFolder
810Vocal/piano score, n.d.
BoxFolder
91Vocal/piano score, Nov. 1999
2Script, revised 3/13/00
3Photographs, McNally at reception; with Jake Hegge and Sister Helen Prejean
4-7Programs and reviews
BoxFolder
101Reviews and articles
2Programs and reviews, various performances
3New York City Opera, 2002
4International productions
5The Education of Young Harry Bellair, Esq. or The Way of the World, pilot script, 1983-84
6-7Faith, Hope & Charity, "Hope" scripts, programs, and reviews, 1988
8The Five Forty Eight, teleplay based on the story by John Cheever, script, revised July 1979
Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune
BoxFolder
111-3First drafts, Nov.-Dec. 1986
4-7Second drafts, Feb.-May 1987
8-9Production drafts, 1987
Translations
BoxFolder
1110Danish, 1988
BoxFolder
121French, 1991
2Italian
3Japanese
4Romanian, 1997
5Spanish
6Correspondence
Posters [removed to oversize folder]
BoxFolder
127-8Programs and reviews, various performances
BoxFolder
131Belasco Theater, New York, 2002
2Boston Post Road Stage Company, 1990
3-6Manhattan Theater Club/Westside Arts Theater (Bates/Welsh), 1987-89
7Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, 1988
8Syracuse Stage, 1988
BoxFolder
141Westside Arts Theater, New York (Weitz/Kane), 1988
2International productions
3Comedy Theatre, London, 1989
4Ittre, Belgium, 1990
Screenplay
BoxFolder
145Rough treatment, May 1989
6First draft, March 1990
7-8Revision, June-July 1990
BoxFolder
151-2Revised first drafts, Sept. 1990-Feb. 1991
3Pacino rewrites, Oct. 1990
4Shooting script, Jan. 1991
5Rewrites, Feb.-March 1991
6Casting
7Shooting schedule
8Draft press kit
9-10Publicity, correspondence, and reviews
The Full Monty, musical
Scripts
BoxFolder
161-2First drafts, with correspondence
3-4New York City Workshop draft and final, Feb. 2000
5San Diego rehearsal script, April 2000
6-7Revisions, post opening night, June 2000
8Rewrites
BoxFolder
171-2Articles and reviews, 2001-02
3Programs, various performances
4International programs and reviews
5-6Goin' to the Chapel, screenplay, 1986
Here's Where I Belong, musical based on Steinbeck's East of Eden
BoxFolder
177Script
BoxFolder
181-2Programs, reviews, and sheet music, 1968
3Honkytonk, musical film, story outline and songs
4House, written with Jon Robin Baitz, play reviews
5Iris and Luigi Meet the Wolfman, screenplay, revised first draft, 1980
It's Only a Play (originally Broadway, Broadway)
BoxFolder
186Script
7Programs and reviews
8Manhattan Theatre Club, 1986
9UCLA Doolittle Theatre, 1992
10"Ken," short story
Kiss of the Spider Woman, musical
BoxFolder
191-6First draft and revisions, 1988-89
7-9Rehearsal version, SUNY Purchase, 1990
BoxFolder
201-8Scripts and rewrites, 1990-1993
9Proofs, Samuel French edition, 1996
10Correspondence, 1990-95
Poster, Broadhurst Theatre, signed by cast [removed to oversize folder]
BoxFolder
211Programs and reviews, various performances
2Broadhurst Theatre, New York, 1992
3SUNY Purchase, 1990
4International productions
5London, 1992
6Toronto, 1992
7The Lady of the Camellias, adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas, program and reviews
8Last Gasps, teleplay, script, 1969
9-10The Last Mile, teleplay, scripts, notes, working papers, and reviews, 1992
11Let it Bleed, scripts and program
Lips Together, Teeth Apart
BoxFolder
221-6Scripts, various drafts, 1991
7Published version, setting copy, NAL/Dutton, 1992
Translations
BoxFolder
231French
2German, 1992
3Italian, 1993
4Correspondence, 1991-93
Posters [removed to oversize folder]
BoxFolder
235-6Programs and reviews, various performances [oversize removed to Box 61]
7Alley Theatre, 1993
BoxFolder
241-2Manhattan Theatre Club, 1991
3Market Theatre, Albany, New York, 1992
4Theatre in the Square, Marietta, Georgia, 1993
5International productions
The Lisbon Traviata
BoxFolder
246Notes and script fragments
Scripts
BoxFolder
247Undated early version
8Original typescript
9-11Revision, May-June 1985
BoxFolder
251-2Revision, cont'd May-June 1985,
Manhattan Theatre Club
BoxFolder
253Rehearsal draft, spring 1989
4-7Revisions: 4/24, 5/17 and 6/2/89
BoxFolder
261-2Revisions, cont'd: 6/15 and 6/30/89
3-6Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, 9/4-11/8/90
7Published "final" version
Translations
BoxFolder
271French
2German
3Italian
4Swedish
5Programs and reviews, various performances
6Bailiwick Repertory, Chicago, 1991
7-8Manhattan Theatre Club, 1989
BoxFolder
281Manhattan Theatre Club, cont'd
2Marines Memorial Theater, San Francisco, 1990
3Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, 1990
4Theatre Off Park, New York, 1985
5-8International productions
Love! Valour! Compassion!
BoxFolder
289Research and notes
10Preliminary draft
Scripts
BoxFolder
2811First draft, Dec. 1993
BoxFolder
291-6Revisions, March-Aug. 1994
BoxFolder
301-2Revisions, Sept.-Oct. 1994
3Pre-Broadway production
4Translations, French and Spanish
5First night correspondence, Manhattan Theatre Club
BoxFolder
311-2Reviews and programs, various performances
3-6Walter Kerr Theatre, New York, 1995
BoxFolder
321-2International productions
3-5Film version, reviews
BoxFolder
331-3Mama Malone, scripts for television pilot, 1982
A Man of No Importance, musical
BoxFolder
334-8Scripts, June 2000-Aug. 2002
9Programs, Lincoln Center Theater at the Newhouse, 2002
BoxFolder
341Man to Man, preliminary script, 1984
Master Class
BoxFolder
342-4Scripts, 1995
Translations, 1996
BoxFolder
345-7French
8Italian
9Japanese
BoxFolder
351Correspondence, 1995-96
Posters [removed to oversize folder]
BoxFolder
352Production photographs, various performances
3-5Programs and reviews [oversize removed to Box 61]
6Golden Theatre, New York, 1995
BoxFolder
361Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, 1995
2Plays and Players Theatre, Philadelphia, 1996
3-4Stage Theatre, Denver, 1999
5-7International productions, various
BoxFolder
371International productions, cont'd
2Australia
3Canada
4France
5Germany
6Italy
7Book version, publicity
8Screenplay by Leonard Foglia, fourth draft, 1998
BoxFolder
381McNally's Talleys, script for Circle Repertory Company benefit
2Musicals, untitled, with Skip Kennon [?], drafts of scripts
3Native Tomatoes/Local Peaches, television comedy pilot, 1988
Next
BoxFolder
384Scripts
5-6Programs and reviews, various performances
7Berkshire Theatre Festival, with production photographs, 1968
8Television pilot, final draft, 1976
Noon
BoxFolder
389Scripts
10Programs and reviews for "Morning, Noon, and Night," 1968-69
11-12Screenplay, first draft including early treatment "Juicy," 1970,n.d.
BoxFolder
391Pal Joey, musical concert adaptation, programs and reviews, 1995-98
2-3Paying Up, script collaboration, 1993
A Perfect Ganesh
BoxFolder
394-8Scripts, 1992-93
BoxFolder
401Fragments
2Spanish translation
3Correspondence, 1993-98
4-5Programs and reviews
6International productions
7Screenplay, first draft, 1996
8Plaisir d'Amour, scripts and program for benefit
9The Play of Malcome, script based on James Purdy's novel, 1964
BoxFolder
411-2Positively 10th Street, television pilot drafts, 1978-79
3Prelude and Liebestod, notes, programs, reviews, 1987-89
4Prelude, Fugues, & Rifts, script, programs, and reviews, 1991
5-8Puccini, screenplay drafts, 1986-97
Ragtime, musical
Scripts
BoxFolder
419 1994
BoxFolder
421-4 1995
5-7 1996
BoxFolder
431-3 1997-98
4Correspondence, 1996-98
5Production photographs
6Programs and reviews, various performances [oversize removed to Box 61]
7-8Ford Center for the Performing Arts, New York, 1996-98
BoxFolder
441-2Shubert Theatre, Los Angeles, 1997
3Livent promotional materials
The Rink, musical
BoxFolder
444-8Scripts and rewrites, 1983-95
9Correspondence, 1983-84
BoxFolder
451Programs and reviews, various performances, 1988-96
2Martin Beck Theatre, New York, 1984
3International productions
4Cambridge Theatre, London, 1988
The Ritz (originally The Tubs)
BoxFolder
455-7Scripts for The Tubs, n.d.
BoxFolder
461-6Scripts, cont'd, 1974
BoxFolder
471-2Scripts, cont'd
3Programs, reviews, and production photographs for The Tubs, Yale Repertory Theatre, 1974
4-7Scripts and revisions for The Ritz, 1974-75
BoxFolder
481Programs and reviews, various performances, 1974-97
2Screenplay, second draft, 1976
3Film reviews
4The Roller Coaster, script, 1960
5Sam Found Out or the Queen of Mabababwe, teleplay written with Wendy Wasserstein, scripts and reviews, 1988
6Sand between the Sheets, teleplay, first draft, 1991
7Sex and Love, programs and reviews, Caracas, poster removed to oversize file folder 2000;
8Some Christmas Letters, text and programs, benefit concert 1999
9Some Easter, play for Circle Repertory gala, script and programs 1987
Sweet Eros and Witness
BoxFolder
4810-13Scripts
14Production photographs
BoxFolder
491Reviews, 1968-69
2Screenplay, first draft
3Television script ideas
4Terrence McNally: Five Short Plays, program and reviews, 1996
5This Side of the Door, script, 1963
6Time Framed (2:00 PM), script for The First Annual Playwrights Support Fund Benefit, May 9, 1983
7Tour in " Collision Course," scripts and reviews, 1968
8Trying Times II: L/S/M/F/T, teleplay scripts, 1989
9-10XXIII Skidoo, scripts, 1983
11Two-Thousand Sixty-Eight, play for Circle Repertory Company's 20th anniversary benefit, script and program 1988,
12"Untitled" corrected playscript; notes for plays
Up in Saratoga
BoxFolder
4913-14Scripts, 1988
BoxFolder
501-2Scripts, cont'd, 1988-892
3Programs and reviews, Old Globe Theatre, San Diego, 1989
4-5Urban Blight, scripts, programs and reviews, 1988
The Visit, musical
BoxFolder
506-9Scripts, with Frank Galati's notes and editing 1999,
BoxFolder
511-3Scripts, cont'd, 2000
4Correspondence, Angela Lansbury and Frank Galati
5Programs and reviews
Where Has Tommy Flowers Gone?
BoxFolder
516-9Scripts, 1969-70
BoxFolder
521-3Scripts, cont'd
4Programs and reviews, 1971
5Yale Repertory Theatre
6New York, various venues
Whiskey
BoxFolder
527Scripts
8Production photographs
9Programs and reviews, 1973
10The Wibbly, Wobbly, Wiggly Dance that Cleopatra Did, scripts and program, 1993
11Women's Rites, script, 1967
12You and Hugh ( "Hugh and Son"), libretto and program, 1994
Collected plays, publicity and reviews
BoxFolder
531Collected Plays: Volume II, 1996
215 Short Plays, 1994
3-4Three Plays, with setting copy, 1990
5Reviews, various titles

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II. Career-Related and Personal

BoxFolder
536-8Articles about McNally
BoxFolder
541Articles by McNally
Awards
By play title
BoxFolder
542A-L
3M-V
By year, playwright
BoxFolder
544 1985-93
5 1994-96
6-7 1998
8 1999-2001
Tony Awards
BoxFolder
551Kiss of the Spider Woman 1993,
1Love! Valour! Compassion! 1995,
2Master Class 1996,
3Ragtime 1998,
4The Full Monty (nominated) 2001,
5-6Benefits, 1987-2002
7Career-related writings, primarily for publications
8-9"Letters from a Playwright,"New York Guide, May-Aug. 1979
BoxFolder
561Conferences and festivals, 1988-98
2OPERA America's 24th annual conference, including McNally's keynote address 1994,
3William Inge Festival, 1994
Correspondence
BoxFolder
564 1955-68
5 1989-92
6 1993-97
7 1998
8 1999-2002
9 Undated
BoxFolder
571Daybooks, blank
2The Dramatists Guild, 1985
3Guggenheim Fellowships, 1966 and 1969
4-7High school and college papers and writings
BoxFolder
581College plays, programs, 1959-1960s
2-3Interviews
4Lectures and speeches
5Address to members of the League of American Theaters and Producers, Toronto, 1991
6Juilliard commencement, May 22, 1998
7"The Faces of Love: An Evening of Songs by Jake Heggie," narrated by McNally, Lincoln Center, May 2000
8Opera-related projects and writings
9-12Texaco-Metropolitan Opera Radio Network, "Opera News on the Air", 1981-92
BoxFolder
591 1995-2000
2Articles on opera in Horizon, 1985
3"Wozzeck," for the Metropolitan Opera Guild's Great Opera cassette series, 1989
4-5Photographs, including Richard Avendon photos of McNally [oversize removed to Box 62]
6McNally with President Bill Clinton at the White House, 1998
7-9Tributes and memorials, including Jimmy Coco, Fred Ebb, Ruth Goodman Goetz, John Kander, Jimmy Kirkwood, Angela Lansbury, Patricia Brooks Mann, Leonard Melfi, and Chita Rivera

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III. Works of Others

BoxFolder
601Articles and clippings about others [oversize removed to Box 61]
2-3Bywaters, Tom. "Summer of 1991" and "Summer of 1993"
4Lyons, Steven. "Cockroach Infestation"
5-6Programs, various non-McNally performances
7-9Ryton, Royce. "The Unvarnished Truth"
Box
61-62Oversize

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