Research Catalog

Title

Interview with John Vaccaro [sound recording].

Author

Vaccaro, John.

Publication

[1980?]

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Sears, David, 1948-1992.
• La Mama Experimental Theatre Club.

Description

1 sound disc (ca. 62 min.) : digital; 4 3/4 in.

Summary

John Vaccaro speaks with David Sears about directing the upcoming production of a musical version of Shakespeare's A midsummer night's dream [at La Mama Experimental Theatre Club; first performance on Feb. 28, 1980]; the cast, including Ruby Lynn [Reyner]; the reasons Vaccaro chose A midsummer night's dream; his choice of [Steven] Margoshes as the composer; more on the reasons Vaccaro was drawn to A midsummer night's dream, including its relationship to the concept of a cosmic net as described in Robert Anton Wilson's book Cosmic trigger: Final secret of the illuminati (c. 1977); Vaccaro reads aloud briefly from Wilson's book; speaks further about the cosmic net and the illuminati; the circumstances of his first moving to New York City; his involvement with jazz music, including in his first play, Shower; his professional relationship with Ellen Stewart, including his first production at La Mama, the play, Cocks drawn; Stewart as a theater manager; La Mama Amsterdam [short gap]; Vaccaro and Sears discuss the artistic merits of various works and composers, including John Braden(?); Vaccaro quotes Timothy Leary and Wilson regarding the concept of a network of love; sexuality in A midsummer night's dream; Vaccaro's conception of Oberon's character; more on his beliefs regarding a cosmic network; his concept of the ridiculous [at ca. 16:40 on track 2, the interview ends abruptly, and resumes as a recorded telephone interview]; Vaccaro speaks further about A midsummer night's dream, including the reasons it has taken him over twelve years to get it produced; his work Persia [at ca. 23:00 on track 2, the interview ends; for the remaining ca. 8 min. of the recording, an unidentified male speaks with Sears about a work titled A theatrical party].

Donor/Sponsor

• National Endowment for the Arts, 2002-2003.
• Oral History Archive.

Subjects

• Margoshes, Steven
• Margoshes, Steven > A midsummer night's dream
• Stewart, Ellen, 1919-2011
• Vaccaro, John
• Audiotapes > Vaccaro, J
• Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 > Midsummer night's dream
• Experimental theater > New York (State) > New York
• Off Off-Broadway theater

Note

• Interview with John Vaccaro conducted by David Sears, at Vaccaro's home, in New York City, probably in Feb., 1980.
• The sound quality is good, but the recording is marred by extraneous noise.

Funding (note)

• Preservation was funded in part with public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, 2002-2003.

Call Number

*MGZTL 4-1592

OCLC

138494044

Author

Vaccaro, John. Interviewee

Title

Interview with John Vaccaro [sound recording].

Imprint

[1980?]

Funding

Preservation was funded in part with public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, 2002-2003.

Local Note

Dubbing master: *MGZTD 4-1592.

Preservation master: *MGZTP 4-1592.

Archive original: *MGZTCO 3-1592

Local Subject

Audiotapes -- Vaccaro, J.

Added Author

Sears, David, 1948-1992. Interviewer

La Mama Experimental Theatre Club.

Research Call Number

*MGZTL 4-1592 [sound disc]