2003

Productions (1956-2012 and undated), contains the materials related to the Genesius Guild’s theatrical productions and consists of eight subseries: General, Auditions, Marshall Dramatic Contests, Project 3, Junior Theater, Community Outreach, Scrapbooks, and Seasons.

General (2001-2005, 2012) includes an index to the Genesius Guild’s productions, by title and year(s) performed. This index will assist researchers in locating materials about specific productions when using scrapbooks and seasons files in the Productions series, as well as in locating material in the Multimedia series. Study guides for the 2001-2005 seasons, which offer descriptions of each show in that season, are also included in this subseries. Auditions (1963-2010 and undated) consists of audition forms from 1963 and various years until 2010. After 1991, photographs of those auditioning are attached to many of the forms. The forms provide insight into the volunteer nature of the endeavor, with questions about whether people can sew their own costumes, as well previous (if any) acting experience. Audition photographs of individuals and groups from 1968 and unknown years conclude the subseries. Marshall Dramatic Contests (1956-1960) covers the Genesius Guild’s first participation in Rock Island’s Marshall Dramatic Contests in the winters of 1957-1959 in which they won several prizes. This subseries houses programs, score cards, performance evaluations, and newspaper clippings about the Marshall Dramatics Contests. Project 3 (1962 and undated) holds records of the Genesius Guild’s 1962 experimental theater in Augustana College’s Larson Hall. Also included are tickets, press releases, and a letter to educators inviting students to attend. Junior Theater (1963-1979) contains materials related to the classical children’s theater offered to Rock Island’s children in cooperation with of Rock Island’s Park Board. Included are production reviews, programs, photographs, and newspaper clippings. Community Outreach (1995-2007) contains records related to the many programs, lectures, and seminars the Genesius Guild offered to the community through libraries, community groups and other venues. Scrapbooks (1961-2012 and undated) includes nine oversize scrapbooks made by Genesius Guild founder Don Wooten. They contain reviews, newspaper clippings, season guides, programs, posters, and notes from audience members. One scrapbook (1961-1999 and undated) includes entire newspaper pages about the Genesius Guild. The series ends with Seasons (1961-2012), which encompasses a variety of formats and materials. Wooten arranged these materials chronologically from 1956 to 2005 and creator order was maintained, aside from the addition of some production programs and the seasons 2006-2012. The Seasons subseries includes one folder for nearly all of Genesius Guild’s productions. Researchers searching for specific productions are advised to refer to the index (box 3) for years in which specific productions were staged. These folders contain materials such as programs, cast lists, set designs, photographs, reviews, and costume renderings. Early costume renderings comprise small drawings and accompanying fabric swatches. Some scripts are included in this subseries, especially in the case of the adapted comedies of Aristophanes.