Goodman Theatre Archive. John Reich Papers

Abstract

John Reich served as artistic director of the Goodman Theatre and its Theatre School from 1957 to 1972 and was instrumental in the establishment of the theater’s professional acting company. Afterwards, he worked as a director and teacher in a guest capacity at various institutions until shortly before his death in 1988. The papers contain John Reich’s subject files, correspondence, speeches and articles along with productions and scripts for the Goodman and other theaters.

Biographical/Historical

The Goodman Theatre was established in July 1922 as a memorial to the late playwright Kenneth Sawyer Goodman by his parents William and Erna Goodman. The Goodmans donated $250,000 to the Art Institute of Chicago, which built the theater on its northeast corner, at Monroe and Columbus. The Goodman, which originally included a professional company and drama school, officially opened on October 20, 1925, with three plays by Goodman performed at the dedication ceremony.

Johannes Theodor (John) Reich was born September 30, 1906, in Vienna, Austria. Reich was the youngest director in the history of Austria’s National Theater and studied under Max Reinhardt. A native of Vienna, Reich moved to the United States in 1938 and earned a doctoral degree in theater arts at Cornell University. Before moving to Chicago, he directed television, programs and at various schools throughout the country. He was also a founding member of the executive committee of the Theater Communications Group, an organization to connect theater people and resources.

In 1957, Reich took the helm of the Goodman Theatre with a mandate to reorganize it and immediately set about multiplying the number of subscribers. He also molded the school to his vision. In 1969, Reich realized his dream of a professional theater company with semi-permanent members at the Goodman Theatre. Specializing in the classics of American and European theater (many of which he translated himself), Reich is credited with increasing the quality and professionalism of the Goodman and making it one of the preeminent regional theaters in the United States.

Reich, however, was subject to the Art Institute’s mandatory retirement rule and left the Goodman Theatre in 1972. He went on to direct and teach as a guest at numerous theater festivals and educational institutions, as well as win numerous awards, including a Joseph Jefferson Award. He died in Sarasota, Florida on February 9, 1988.

Scope and Contents

John Reich served as artistic director of the Goodman Theatre and its Theatre School from 1957 to 1972. Afterwards, he worked as a director and teacher in a guest capacity at various institutions until shortly before his death in 1988. Spanning his career, Reich’s papers include articles; correspondence news clippings, research on actors, organizations, playwrights, and theories; speeches and voluminous records of productions, including audition notes, budgets, cast lists, cue sheets, designs, memoranda, notes for actors and creative staff, photographs, programs, promotional material, prop lists, research, schedules, scores, scripts and technical plots. The production records are generally highly annotated by Reich himself.

Arrangement

The John Reich Papers are arranged into six series:

• Series 1: Subject Files, 1925-1974, undated
• Series 2: Correspondence, 1957-1973
• Series 3: Goodman Correspondence, 1958-1973, undated
• Series 4: Speeches and Articles, 1958-1972, undated
• Series 5: Goodman Scripts, 1957-1970, undated
• Series 6: Other Productions and Scripts, 1930s-1986, undated

Subject Headings

• Goodman Theatre (Chicago, Ill.)
• Reich, John
• Theater -- Illinois -- Chicago -- 20th century -- Sources
• Theater -- History -- Sources
• Theater production and direction

Related Materials

• Goodman Theatre Archive, Goodman Family Papers
• Goodman Theatre Archive, Goodman/Art Institute of Chicago
• Goodman Theatre Archive, Goodman School of Drama
• Goodman Theatre Archive, Tom Creamer Papers
• Goodman Theatre Archive, Producing and Artistic Directors
• Goodman Theatre Archive, Production History Files
• Joseph Nieminski Papers
• Virgil C. Johnson Papers

Collection Inventory

Series 1: Subject Files, 1925-1974, undated

Scope and Contents

Series 1 contains news clippings about people, organizations and ideas that John Reich found interesting, as well as Goodman Studio proposals, policies about child cast members and personal biographical and promotional material about Reich himself.

Arrangement

Series 1 has been retained in what the archivist believes to have been the original order.

Series 2: Correspondence, 1957-1973

Scope and Contents

Series 2 contains personal correspondence mostly from John Reich’s time at the Goodman Theatre.

Arrangement

Series 2 is arranged first by general correspondence and followed by correspondence with named persons and on specific topics.

Series 3: Goodman Correspondence, 1958-1973, undated

Scope and Contents

Series 3 contains John Reich’s correspondence concerning the Goodman Theatre, including school alumni, play proposals, patrons, letters of recommendation, as well as to and from various people including his secretary, Bea Stein.

Arrangement

Series 3 is arranged by correspondence topic and followed by correspondence with named people.

Series 4: Speeches and Articles, 1958-1972, undated

Scope and Contents

Series 4 contains speeches, reports and articles on various aspects of the theater, mostly written or delivered during the time John Reich spent at the Goodman Theatre. Some of these are more personal and others are more from a professional point of view. Not all were for the Goodman, some were for conferences and television appearances.

Arrangement

Series 4 is arranged chronologically following undated items.

Series 5: Goodman Productions and Scripts, 1957-1970, undated

Scope and Contents

Series 5 contains audition notes, budgets, cast lists, contact sheets, cue sheets, designs, memoranda, notes for actors and creative staff, programs, promotional material, prop lists, research, schedules, scripts and technical plots for shows John Reich directed at the Goodman Theatre. Reich often annotated his documents.

The productions include:

• The Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertolt Brecht, revised English translation by Eric Bentley and Maja Apelman, directed by John Reich, sets by Frances Morigi, costumes by Caley Summers, 1962 May 11-29
• Christopher C. by Michel de Ghelderode, adapted by Lyon Phelps, 1963 February 15-March 5
• A Dream Play by August Strindberg, in a new translation by Evert Sprinchorn, with verse scenes adapted by Lisel Mueller, directed by John Reich, sets by James Maronek, costumes by Marna King, 1967 March 31-April 21
• Enrico IV by Luigi Pirandello, translated by John Reich, directed by John Reich, sets by James Maronek, lighting by G.E. Naselius, costumes by Sylvia Wintle Moss, 1960 February 12-28
• A Far Country by Henry Decker, directed by John Reich, sets by Bruce Koenig, costumes by Heidemarie Rosendahl, 1964 February 21-March 11
• Hannele by Gerhardt Hauptmann, translated by John Reich. A Studio production, directed by John Reich, 1961 March 1-4
• Hippolytus by Euripides, freely adapted by Leighton Rollins, directed by Bella Itkin, sets by James Maronek, lighting by G.E. Naselius, costumes by Sylvia Wintle Moss, 1960 January 3-24
• The Imaginary Invalid by Moliere, translated by John Reich, directed by John Reich, sets by William Ryan, costumes by Sylvia Wintle, lighting by G.E. Naselius, 1959 May 8-24
• The Madwoman of Chaillot by Jean Giraudoux, translated by Maurice Valency, 1964 October 23-November 14
• The Misanthrope by Moliere, translated by Richard Wilbur, for the University of Chicago Professional Theatre Program. At the Law School Auditorium of the University of Chicago, direction and set design by John Reich, costumes by D. Hudson Sheffield, 1967 February 4-27
• The Misanthrope by Moliere, translated by Richard Wilbur. presented at Ravinia, directed by John Reich, 1968 August 22-September 1
• The Miser by Moliere, translated by George Gravely, directed by John Reich, sets by Marc Cohen, costumes by D. Hudson Sheffield, 1967 October 27-November 15
• The Salzburg Everyman by Hugo von Hofmannsthal, translated by John Reich, directed by John Reich, sets by William Ryan, costumes by Sylvia Wintle, lighting by G.E. Naselius, choreography by Frances Allis, 1957
• The Salzburg Great Theatre of the World by Hugo von Hofmannsthal, translated by John Reich and Lisel Mueller, directed by John Reich, sets by James Maronek, costumes by E. Oliver Olsen, 1968 October 4-November 2
• Tartuffe by Moliere, translated by Richard Wilbur, directed by John Reich, sets by George Pettit, costumes by Uta Olsen, 1966 November 25-December 18
• The Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill, adapted by Mark Blitzstein, directed by Douglas Seale, musical direction by Ronald Jones, sets by James Maronek, costumes by Virgil Johnson, lighting by G.E. Naselius, choreography by Wilbert Bradley, 1970 October 12-November 15

Arrangement

Series 5 is arranged chronologically by the date productions were staged.

Series 6: Other Productions and Scripts, circa 1930s-1986

Scope and Contents

Series 6 contains audition notes, budgets, cast lists, contact sheets, cue sheets, designs, memoranda, notes for actors and creative staff, photographs, programs, promotional material, prop lists, research, schedules, scores, scripts and technical plots for productions John Reich directed before and after his tenure at the Goodman Theatre. Reich often annotated his documents.

Other productions include:

• The Affair at Troy by Jean Giraudoux, translated by Winn Zeller and Johann (John) Reich, Ithaca College, directed by John Reich, sets by George Hoerner, music by Philip Kessler, costumes by Wilma Bryant Zeller, 1940 February 28-March 2
• Ah Wilderness! by Eugene O'Neill, Asola Theatre, Sarasota, Florida, directed by John Reich, sets by David Emmons, undated
• Amadeus by Peter Schaeffer, Asola State Theatre, Sarasota, Florida, directed by John Reich, 1984
• Androcles and the Lion, Ithaca College, circa 1940s
• As You Like It by William Shakespeare, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Cedar City, directed by John Reich, costumes by Leslie Robinson, sets by Edwin Pinson, lights by Susan Haliman, 1982 Summer
• Berkeley Square, undated
• Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward, Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival, Ohio, directed by John Reich, with Donald Buka, 1979 August
• Biography by S.N. Behrman, PAF Playhouse, Huntington, New York, directed by John Reich, 1980 April 18-May 10
• The Boat by George Lefferts, undated
• Boy Meets Girl, Ithaca College or Smith College, circa 1940s
• The Cocktail Party by T.S. Eliot, circa 1950s
• The Cradle Song by Gregorio and Maria Martinez Sierra, Ithaca College, circa 1940s
• Fanny's First Play by George Bernard Shaw, undated
• The Farewell Supper by Arthur Schnitzler, a radio play by the Ithaca College Players, circa 1940s
• The Gentle People by Irwin Shaw, undated
• The Good Person of Setzuan by Bertolt Brecht, Missouri Repertory Theatre, Kansas City, 1981
• The Happy Hunter by Georges Feydeau, adapted by Bernard Shaw, Dallas Theatre Center, directed by John Reich, sets by David Pursley, costumes by John Henson, lights by Robyn Flatt, 1972 October
• Hay Fever by Noel Coward, undated
• The Heiress by Ruth and Augustus Goetz, based on the novel Washington Square by Henry James, Missouri Repertory Theatre, directed by John Reich, sets by John Ezell, costumes by Baker S. Smith, lighting by Curt Ostermann, 1976 July 15-September 15
• Hippolytus by Euripides, adapted by Leighton Rollins, sponsored by the ANTA, at Lenox Hill Playhouse, directed by John Reich, music by Ned Rorem, sets and costumes by John Blankenship, with Donald Buka, [circa 1940s]
• I Remember Mama by John Van Druten. PCPA Theatrefest, directed by John Reich, sets by Jack Shouse, costumes by Ray Naylor, lighting by Liz Stillwell, 1986 January 30-February 9
• The Imaginary Invalid by Moliere, translation by John Reich, undated
• Lady Precious Stream by S.I. Hsiung, Ithaca College, circa 1940s
• Letters to Lucerne by Fritz Rotter and Allen Vincent, undated
• Life with Father by Howard Lindsey and Russell Crouse, Missouri Repertory Theatre, Kansas City, directed by John Reich, 1984 January
• Mary Stuart by Schiller, translated by John Reich, Vancouver Summer Festival, directed by John Reich, sets by Donald Oenslager, costumes by Alvin Colt, with Agnes Moorhead and Viveca Lindfors, 1959 July 27-August 15
• Mother Courage and Her Children by Bertolt Brecht, translated by Eric Bentley. University of Santa Clara, directed by John Reich, 1984 November 2-10
• Warren's Profession by George Bernard Shaw, circa 1950s
• Nathan Der Weise by Lessing, Theatre in der Josefstadt, circa 1930s
• The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, University of Georgia at Athens, directed by John Reich, sets and lights by Joseph Stell, costumes by Jackson Kessler, 1973 November 14-17
• A Perfect Gentleman, Missouri Repertory Theatre, Winter Repertory, Kansas City, 1981
• Right You Are (If You Think You Are) by Luigi Pirandello, translated by Eric Bentley, Cornell University Theatre, directed by John Reich, sets by Joan Churchill, costumes by Doug Marmee, lighting by Bob McClintock, music by Paisiello, 1975 November 13-22
• Romance of the Willow Pattern by Ethel Van Der Veer, undated
• The Salzburg Everyman by Hugo von Hofmannstahl, adapted by John Reich, Ithaca College, circa 1940s
• Schwanenweis by August Strindberg, undated
• She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith, directed by John Reich, 1983 May
• The Swan by Ferenc Molnar, undated

Arrangement

Series 6 is arranged first by undated productions organized alphabetically by title and followed by dated productions arranged chronologically.