Research Catalog

Title

Oral history interview with Merle Debuskey, 1987-04-06/07-27 [sound recording].

Author

Debuskey, Merle.

Publication

1987.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Turan, Kenneth.

Description

6 sound cassettes : analog.

Summary

Theatrical press agent, best known as the New York Shakespeare Festival's first and longest press agent, beginning with the nonprofit in the 1950s until 1985, provides a very detailed observation of the origin and activities of the Festival and the foundation of the New York Shakespeare Festival Public Theater and Mobil theater. He talks about his family and professional background. Being Joseph Papp's right-hand man for many years, he shares his memories about his relationship with Papp and Papp's relationships with friends and associates such as Michael Bennett and Bernard Gersten (the associate producer of various New York Shakespeare Festival productions in 1960-1978), for many of whom he was artistic "father" and mentor. He discusses Papp's vision and his legacy as founder and director of the New York Shakespeare Festival Public Theater and the origins of Papp's project to produce free Shakespeare productions in Central Park as well, and the importance of the Public Theater as a theatrical organization. Debuskey also reminisces about the conflict between Papp and Robert Moses, who was parks commissioner at that time and who fought against free Shakespeare in the Park, and unsuccessfully attempted to oust Papp from his position as director-producer of the New York Shakespeare Festival in the 1950's. He analyzes the reasons for the successes and failures of various New York Shakespeare Festival productions such as Chorus line, The mystery of Edwin Drood, Two gentlemen of Verona (musical) and such. He also talks about Papp as a talented administrator and fund raiser on one hand, but on the other criticizes him for his unfair attitude to his colleagues and the unsolved financial problems of the Festival that finally compelled him to resign from this job in 1985.

Alternative Title

• Free for all: Joe Papp, the public, and the greatest story ever told.
• Joseph Papp oral history interviews.

Subjects

• Public Theater (New York, N.Y.)
• Theater > Production and direction > United States > History > 20th century
• Oral histories
• Debuskey, Merle > Friends and associates
• New York Shakespeare Festival Public Theater
• Gersten, Bernard
• Interviews (Sound recordings)
• Bennett, Michael, 1943-1987
• Press agents > United States > Interviews
• Debuskey, Merle > Interviews
• Papp, Joseph > Influence

Genre/Form

• Oral histories.
• Interviews.
• Sound recordings.

Note

• Interview by Kenneth Turan, originally recorded for the book "Free for all: Joe Papp, the public, and the greatest story ever told" which was published in 2009.
• A track ID has been inserted every five minutes within this interview for reference purposes.

With (note)

• Part 11 of the interview is on CD with part 1 of an Oral history interview with Linda Hunt.
• On first 5 original cassettes "Oral history interview with Merle Debuskey" only; on side B of cassette no. 6 with an "Oral history interview with Linda Hunt."

Access (note)

• Access to original items restricted.

Event (note)

• Recorded [in New York?], Apr. 6-July 27, 1987.

Additional Formats (note)

• Service compact discs (11 sound discs : digital, mono. ; 4 3/4 in.) begins on *LDC 51643, discs 1-10 (parts 1-10), and concludes on *LDC 51644 (part 11), track 1.

Call Number

*LDC 51643

OCLC

778804371

Author

Debuskey, Merle. Interviewee

Title

Oral history interview with Merle Debuskey, 1987-04-06/07-27 [sound recording].

Imprint

1987.

Event

Recorded [in New York?], Apr. 6-July 27, 1987.

Access

Access to original items restricted.

Additional Formats

Service compact discs (11 sound discs : digital, mono. ; 4 3/4 in.) begins on *LDC 51643, discs 1-10 (parts 1-10), and concludes on *LDC 51644 (part 11), track 1.

With:

Part 11 of the interview is on CD with part 1 of an Oral history interview with Linda Hunt.

On first 5 original cassettes "Oral history interview with Merle Debuskey" only; on side B of cassette no. 6 with an "Oral history interview with Linda Hunt."

Connect to:

Request Access to Music Division Audio and Moving Image material

Added Author

Turan, Kenneth. Interviewer

Papp, Gail Merrifield. Donor

Added Title

Free for all: Joe Papp, the public, and the greatest story ever told.

Joseph Papp oral history interviews.

Research Call Number

*LDC 51643

*LDC 51644, track 1

*LTC-A 702-706

*LTC-A 762