Ellen Jones Collection

 

Biographical Note

Ellen E. Jones received her theater design training at University of Tennessee, Knoxville (BA, 1981, Speech and Theatre) and Indiana University, Bloomington (MFA, 1984, Lighting and Scene Design). She has designed sets and lights for many Chicago theaters, including Raven, Stage Left, Stormfield, Pegasus Players and Victory Gardens. She has also painted scenic backdrops for commercial design companies such as Paper Moon Productions and Virginia Wolf Designs and designed lighting for rock concerts at the Holiday Star Plaza in Indiana. Ms. Jones is a member of United Scenic Artists, Local 829.

In addition to her work as a professional designer, Ms. Jones has been the resident designer and technical director and lecturer at Lake Forest College since 1984. She was also the resident scene designer at the Latin School of Chicago from 1987 through 1988. In 1994, she oversaw the publication of the Student Portfolio Guidelines and Guidelines for Lighting Designers Seeking Tenure for the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, Inc. Jones also served as Lighting Commissioner for USITT from 1998 to 2002. She is currently the Sales Manager for LimeLight Productions, Inc. in Massachusetts.

Scope and Content

The Ellen Jones Collection contains lighting and set design work from 1985 to 1990. The material includes scripts, programs, lighting plots, floor plans, promotional posters, photographs and slides from Chicago area productions. Of the 39 productions represented in the collection, eleven each were produced at Victory Gardens and at Lake Forest College.

The materials in the Ellen Jones Collection have been arranged into one series (Artistic History) and three subseries (Accompanying Materials, Photographs and Slides). The collection is arranged alphabetically by theatre, then chronologically by production.

The Box and Folder Inventory primarily describes the Artistic History series, with references to other materials. This series contains scripts, programs, notes and contact sheets.

The Accompanying Materials subseries contains lighting plots, floor plans, set design sketches and promotional posters. Also included in Accompanying Materials are oversize materials, which while separated physically from the manuscript material, are noted with their respective productions and also listed at the end of the Box and Folder Inventory.

The Photographs series contains photos of sets, rehearsals and productions. Of the 26 photographs, 11 come from Victory Gardens productions.

The Slides series contains slides of sets, rehearsals and productions. Of the 86 slides, 23 are of Jones’s work at Lake Forest College, and 18 are of Raven Theatre productions.

Additional material on these productions may be found in the Chicago Theater Collection archives for Pegasus Players, Stage Left, Stormfield and Victory Gardens. Programs for productions at other theatres may be found in the Miscellaneous Theatres Program Collection.

Box and Folder Inventory

Artistic History

BOX 1

Chicago Theatres

Chicago Dramatists Workshop

1985

Sarah by Wendell Abern. January 1985. Directed by Richard Lavin, costumes by Cathy Gross.

Folder 1. Script
SEE ALSO: Slides Box 1: Chicago Dramatists Workshop, 1985, Sarah

Howard Theater

1993

People’s Housing Family Arts Fair.

The only materials for this collection are slides.
SEE: Slides Box 1: Howard Theater, 1993, People’s Housing Family Arts Fair

Latin School of Chicago

1987

Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard. Directed by Anne Hardigan, lighting by Michael D. Rourke.

The only materials for this collection are slides.
SEE: Slides Box 1: Latin School of Chicago, 1987, Rosencrantz &amp Guildenstern are Dead

Open Stage Theatre

n.d.

Wonderful Town by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. Directed by Dan La Morte, scenery by Rick Penrod.

The only materials for this collection are photographs and slides.
SEE: Photos Box 1: Open Stage Theatre, n.d., Wonderful Town
SEE: Slides Box 1: Open Stage Theatre, n.d., Wonderful Town

Pegasus Players

1985

Angel Street by Patrick Hamilton. June 12-July 7, 1985. Directed by Kenneth Northcott, sets by Robert G. Smith, costumes by Rik Kristinat.

The only materials for this production are photographs and slides.
SEE: Photos Box 1: PP 1985, Angel Street
SEE: Slides Box 1: PP 1985, Angel Street

Alcimero by Lawrence Arancio. October 23-November 17, 1985. Directed by Ed Townley, set design by Robert G. Smith, costumes by Lynn Sandberg, original music by Margaret James, fight choreography by Tim Gregory, scene painting by Cathy Gross, sound by Larry Hart.

The only materials for this production are slides.
SEE: Slides Box 1: PP 1985, Alcimero

Raven Theatre

1986

Harvey by Mary Chase. April 22-June 14, 1987. Directed by Michael Menendian, sets by John Munson, original music by Chris Warner.

The only materials for this production are slides.
SEE: Slides Box 1: Raven Theatre, 1986, Harvey

1987

Everything in the Garden by Edward Albee, based on the play by Giles Cooper. Directed by Michael Menendian, scenery by John Munson, costumes by JoAnn Montemurro.

The only materials for this production are slides.
SEE: Slides Box 1: Raven Theatre, 1987, Everything in the Garden

1988

Texas Trilogy by Preston Jones. November 27-January 15, 1989. Rotating repertory of Last Meeting of the Knights of White Magnolia , Luann Hampton
Laverty Oberlander and Oldest Living Graduate .

Folder 2. Contact Sheet
SEE ALSO: Photos Box 1: Raven Theatre, 1988, Texas Trilogy
SEE ALSO: Slides Box 1: Raven Theatre, 1988, Texas Trilogy

1990

Italian American Reconciliation by John Patrick Shanley. Directed by Michael Menendian, lighting by Steve Gusler.

The materials for this production consist of plans, photographs and slides.
SEE: O.V. Box 1: Raven Theatre, 1990, Italian American Reconciliation
SEE: Photos Box 1: Raven Theatre, 1990, Italian American Reconciliation
SEE: Slides Box 1: Raven Theatre, 1990, Italian American Reconciliation

Royal George Theater

1990

Vampire Lesbians of Sodom by Charles Busch. Directed by Douglas L. Hartzell, costumes by John Nasca, lighting by Christine Solger, choreography by Charlie Misovye.

The materials for this production consist of plans, photographs and slides.
SEE: O.V. Box 1: Royal George Theater, 1990, Vampire Lesbians of Sodom
SEE: Photos Box 1: Royal George Theater, 1990, Vampire Lesbians of Sodom
SEE: Slides Box 1: Royal George Theater, 1990, Vampire Lesbians of Sodom

Stage Left Theatre

1985

Play It by Ear by Sara Fox. July 23-September 1, 1985. Directed by Richard Lavin, musical direction by William A. Reilly, sets by Ellen Jones and Laura Lilik, lighting by John Imburgia, sound by Larry Hart, costumes by Patricia Hart.

Folder 3. Script
4. Notes
SEE ALSO: Photos Box 1: SLT, 1985, Play It by Ear
SEE ALSO: Slides Box 1: SLT, 1985, Play It by Ear

A Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers. Directed by Ann Fournier.

The only materials for this production are photographs and slides.
SEE: Photos Box 1: SLT, 1985, A Member of the Wedding
SEE: Slides Box 1: SLT, 1985, A Member of the Wedding

Stormfield Theatre

1986

Hauptmann by John Logan. September 13-November 9, 1986. Also performed at Briar Street Theatre (benefit, 1987) and Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh, Scotland (July 1987). Directed by Terry McCabe, set by Christopher Allen, costumes by Jerry Stauduhar.

The only materials for this production are photographs and slides.
SEE: Photos Box 1: Stormfield Theatre, 1986, Hauptmann
SEE: Slides Box 1: Stormfield Theatre, 1986, Hauptmann

1987

Emerald Tree Boa by Clifton Campbell. Directed by Terry McCabe, set by Eve
Cauley, costumes by Lynn Sandberg.

The only materials for this production are photographs and slides.
SEE: Photos Box 1: Stormfield Theatre, 1987, Emerald Tree Boa
SEE: Slides Box 1: Stormfield Theatre, 1987, Emerald Tree Boa

Victory Gardens Theater

1986

Tomorrowland by Jeffrey M. Jones. February 14-March 9, 1986. Directed by Dennis Zacek, set design by James Dardenne, costume design by Kim M. Fencl, sound design by Galen G. Ramsey, production stage manager Larry Baker.

Folder 5. Program
Folder 6. Script
Folder 7. Reviews (2)
SEE ALSO: Photos Box 1: VGT, 1986, Tomorrowland
SEE ALSO: Slides Box 1: VGT, 1986, Tomorrowland

Other Places by Harold Pinter. September 25-November 2, 1986. Directed by Dennis Zacek, set design by James Dardenne, costume design by John Hancock Brooks, Jr., original music composed and performed by William J. Norris and Galen G. Ramsey.

Folder 8. Program
Folder 9. Review
SEE ALSO: O.V. Box 1: VGT, 1986, Other Places
SEE ALSO: Photos Box 1: VGT, 1986, Other Places
SEE ALSO: Slides Box 1: VGT, 1986, Other Places

Prior Engagements by Frank Manley. December 5-28, 1986. Directed by Dennis Zacek, set design by James Dardenne, costume design by Maureen Kennedy, production stage manager Larry Baker, light board operator Jean Wittner. Features two plays, The Baptism of Water and The Call of Nature .

Folder 10. Program
Folder 11. News release
Reviews
SEE ALSO: Slides Box 1: VGT, 1986, Prior Engagements

1987

Necktie Party by Lonnie Carter. October 22-November 15, 1987. Directed by
Dennis Zacek, costume designer Roger L. Striker, production stage manager
Patricia Halpop.

Folder 12. Program
13. News release, Reviews

1988

Escape Artist by James Sherman. May 27-July 10, 1988. Directed by Dennis Zacek, choreographer Jim Corti, set designer Chris Phillips, costume designer John Hancock Brooks, Jr., sound designer/production stage manager Galen G. Ramsey.

Folder 14. Program
Folder 15. Script
Folder 16. Contact sheet
“Giovanni” designs
Hook ups
Folder 17. Reviews
“Unique critique”
SEE ALSO: O.V. Box 1, VGT, 1988, Escape Artist
SEE ALSO: EJC oversize folder 1: VGT, 1988, Escape Artist (Technical floor plan)

Some Men Need Help by John Ford Noonan. September 16-October 23, 1988. Directed by Dennis Zacek, set designer Rick Paul, costume designer Patricia L. Hart, sound designer/production stage manager Galen G. Ramsey.

Folder 18. Program
Folder 19. Contact sheet
Folder 20. Reviews
SEE ALSO: O.V. Box 1: VGT, 1988, Some Men Need Help

1989

Music from a Locked Room by John Logan. March 24-May 7, 1989. Directed by Dennis Zacek, set designer James Dardenne, costume designer Kerry Fleming, sound designer/stage manager Galen G. Ramsey.

Folder 21. Program
Folder 22. Script
Folder 23. News release
Reviews
Folder 24. Lighting cues
SEE ALSO: O.V. Box 1: VGT, 1989, Music from a Locked Room
SEE ALSO: EJC oversize folder 1: VGT, 1989, Music from a Locked Room
(Light plot)

Three Ways Home by Casey Kurtti. September 21-October 29, 1989. Directed by Sandy Shinner, set by Lina L. Lane, costumes by Glenn Billings.

Folder 25. Script
Folder 26. Calendar
Folder 27. News release
Reviews
SEE ALSO: O.V. Box 1: VGT, 1989, Three Ways Home
SEE ALSO: EJC oversize folder 1: VGT, 1989, Three Ways Home (Light plot)

1990

Diesel Moon by Robert Auletta. February 8-March 4, 1990. Directed by James Bohnen, set designer Chuck Drury, costume designer Mark-Anthony Summers, stage manager Douglas M. Thompson.

Folder 28. Program
Folder 29. Contact sheet
Lighting cues
Notes
Folder 30. Flyer
Folder 31. News release
Reviews
SEE ALSO: O.V. Box 1: VGT, 1990, Diesel Moon

BOX 2

Phantasie by Sybille Pearson. November-December 23, 1990. Directed by Judy O’Malley, set by Mark E. Netherland, costumes by Daryl A. Stone.

Folder 1. Script
Folder 2. Notes
SEE ALSO: O.V. Box 1: VGT, 1990, Phantasie
SEE ALSO: Photos Box 1: VGT, 1990, Phantasie
SEE ALSO: Slides Box 1: VGT, 1990, Phantasie
SEE ALSO: EJC oversize folder 1: VGT, 1990, Phantasie (Light plot)

1993

Deed of Trust by Claudia Allen. December 1993-January 14, 1994. Directed by Sandy Shinner.

Folder 3. Script
Folder 4. Contact sheet
Instrument schedule
SEE ALSO: O.V. Box 1: VGT, 1993, Deed of Trust
SEE ALSO: Photos Box 1: VGT, 1993, Deed of Trust
SEE ALSO: Slides Box 1: VGT, 1993, Deed of Trust
SEE ALSO: EJC oversize folder 1: VGT, 1993, Deed of Trust (Light plot)

Suburban Theatres

Apple Tree Theater
Highland Park, IL

1985

Happy Days by Samuel Beckett. Directed by Eileen Boevers.

The only materials for this collection are slides.
SEE: Slides Box 1: Apple Tree Theater, 1985, Happy Days

Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, IL

The materials for Lake Forest College productions, murals and scene design are slides. n.d.
The Cat & the Canary by John Willard
Cloud 9 by Caryl Churchill
Execution of Justice by Emily Mann
Gorey Stories by Edward Gorey
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
Other Places by Harold Pinter
Philadelphia Story by Philip Barry
Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You by Christopher Durang
Tartuffe by Moliere
Ubu Roi by Alfred Gerry
Murals
Scene design
SEE: Slides Box 1: Lake Forest College

Tempo Players
Maywood/Oak Park/River Forest

1985

Barnum with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Michael Stewart, book by Mark Bramble. Directed by Douglas L. Hartzell, conductor Mark Mosley, choreography by Laurel Waszak.

The only materials for this production are photographs and slides.
SEE: Photos Box 1: Tempo Players, 1985, Barnum
SEE: Slides Box 1: Tempo Players, 1985, Barnum

Unidentified Theater

n.d.

Folder 5. Production calendar
Template (dimmer hook-ups)
Notes (production not known)
Folder 6. Script: Spokesong by Stewart Parker

Photographs

BOX 1

Chicago Theatres

Chicago Dramatists Workshop

1985

Sarah by Wendell Abern.

Folder 1. Stage with cast, 5” x 7”, color
Folder 2. Stage without cast, 5” x 7”, color

Open Stage Theatre

n.d.

Wonderful Town by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green.

Folder ;3. Production photo, 5” x 7”, color

Pegasus Players

1985

Angel Street by Patrick Hamilton.

Folder 4. Three characters, 4” x 5¾”, color
Folder 5. Two characters, 3¾” x 6”, color

Alcimero by Lawrence Arancio.

Folder 6. Blue lighting, 3½” x 5½”, color
Folder 7. Three characters in white, 3½” x 5½”, color
Folder 8. Two characters in white, 3½” x 5½”, color
Folder 9. Two characters, one kneeling, 3½” x 5½”, color
Folder 10. Two female characters, one standing, 3½” x 5½”, color
Folder 11. Two female characters, sitting, 3½” x 5½”, color
Folder 12. Two male characters, 5” x 7”, color

Raven Theatre

1988

Texas Trilogy by Preston Jones.

Folder 13. Luann Hampton Laverty Oberlander , 5” x 7”, color
Folder 14. Oldest Living Graduate , 6” x 8”, color

Royal George Theater

1990

Vampire Lesbians of Sodom by Charles Busch.

Folder 15. Art deco set design, 8” x 12”, color
Folder 16. Bead curtain, 3½” x 5½”, color
Folder 17. Gauze curtain, 3½” x 5½”, color
Folder 18. Metallic curtain, 3½” x 5½”, color

Stage Left Theatre

1985

Play It by Ear by Sara Fox.

Folder 19. Stage left, 7” x 9”, color
Folder 20. Stage right, 8” x 10”, color

A Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers.

Folder 21. Set, 7” x 9 ¼”, color
Folder 22. Tree (prop), 10” x 6 ½”, color

Stormfield Theatre

1986

Hauptmann by John Logan.

Folder 23. 2 characters, 3¼” x 5¼”, color

Victory Gardens Theater

1986

Tomorrowland by Jeffrey M. Jones.

Folder 24. 2 characters, 3½” x 3¼”, color
Folder 25. 3 characters, 3½” x 4¼”, color
Folder 26. 4 characters, 3½” x 4½”, color
Folder 27. Stage left, 5” x 7”, color
Folder 28. Stage right, 5” x 7”, color

Other Places by Harold Pinter.

Folder 29. 2 characters, 5” x 7”, color

1990

Phantasie by Sybille Pearson.

Folder 30. 1 character, 3½” x 5½”, color
Folder 31. 2 characters, 8” x 12”, color
Folder 32. 2 characters, sitting, 5” x 7”, color

1993

Deed of Trust by Claudia Allen.

Folder 33. 2 characters at door, 5” x 7”, color
Folder 34. 2 characters at table, 5” x 7”, color

Suburban Theatres

Tempo Players

1985

Barnum by Mark Bramble, lyrics by Michael Stewart, music by Cy Coleman.

Folder 35. Ensemble, 3" x 5", color
Folder 36. Ensemble (enlargement of Folder 34), 3½” x 6”, color
Folder 37. Ensemble, with clown, 3” x 5”, color
Folder 38. Spotlight, 3” x 5”, color

Slides

BOX 1

Chicago Theatres

Suburban Theatres

Accompanying Materials

BOX 1

Howard Theater

1993

People’s Housing Family Arts Fair.

Folder 1. Deck views
Deck views (photocopy)
Floor plan
Floor plan (photocopy)

Raven Theatre

1988

Texas Trilogy by Preston Jones.

Folder 2. Last Meeting of the Knights of the White Magnolia : Floor plan
(photocopy)
Luann Hampton Laverty Oberlander : Floor plan
Luann Hampton Laverty Oberlander : Floor plan (photocopy)
Oldest Living Graduate : Floor plan
Folder 3. Oldest Living Graduate : Floor plan (photocopy)
Texas Trilogy : Light plot (photocopy)
Texas Trilogy : Unit set ground plan
Texas Trilogy : Unit set ground plan (photocopy)

1990

Italian American Reconciliation by John Patrick Shanley.

Folder 4. Elevations
Flats/walls
Flats/walls (photocopy)
Floor plan [10/21/90]
Floor plan 10/21/90 (photocopy)
Folder 5. Floor plan 11/03/90
Floor plan 11/03/90 (photocopy)
Garden [includes lower portion of drawing] (photocopy)
Garden [includes upper portion of drawing] (photocopy)
Garden [reduced image, 12” x 8”] (photocopy)
Folder 6. Garden [reduced image, 9” x 6”] (photocopy)
Ground plan, compositional
Ground plan [sketch] (photocopy)
Set
Set, “concept sketch”
Folder 7. Wall, stage left
Wall, stage left (enlarged photocopy)
Wall, stage right
Wall, stage right (photocopy)
Wall, stage right (enlarged photocopy)

Royal-George Theater

1990

Vampire Lesbians of Sodom by Charles Busch.

Folder 8. Light plot
Light plot (photocopy)
“Screen design”

Victory Gardens Theater

1986

Other Places by Harold Pinter.
Folder 9. 2 posters

1988

Escape Artist by James Sherman.

Folder 10. 2 posters

Some Men Need Help by John Ford Noonan.

Folder 11. 2 posters

Music from a Locked Room by John Logan.

Folder 12. Hook ups, Lighting Cues
Folder 13. 2 posters

Three Ways Home by Casey Kurtti.

Folder 14. 2 posters

1990

Diesel Moon by Robert Auletta.

Folder 15. 1 poster

Unidentified theater

Folder 16. Stage and electric cross section, 10/02/85
Stage and electric plan, 10/01/85

Oversize Materials

Oversize Folder #1

Victory Gardens Theatre

1986

Unidentified production.

Gridplan: studio space, 04/01/86, blueprint, 18” x 24” (Folder 1A)

1988

Escape Artist by James Sherman.

Technical floor plan: blueprint, 18” x 24” (Folder 1A)

1989

Music from a Locked Room by John Logan.

Light plot: blueprint, 24” x 36”

Three Ways Home by Casey Kurtti.

Light plot: blueprint, 24” x 36”

1990

Phantasie by Sybille Pearson.

Light plot: blueprint, 24” x 36”

1993

Deed of Trust by Claudia Allen.

Light plot: photocopy, 24” x 36”