At the heart of Chapman’s campus, inside the Leatherby Libraries, is a case display that features selections from the University Archives dating back to the 1980s, including photographs and ephemera from the Department of Theatre Production Files.
The display is located in the 4th-floor hallway of the Leatherby Libraries, outside the Frank Mt. Pleasant Library of Special Collections and Archives, and will remain there through the end of the fall 2026 semester.
Students and all other members of the Chapman community are encouraged to visit this new display and see these historical artifacts for themselves.
The collection contains several items pertaining to the rich history of student theatre productions, including programs, flyers, play scripts, communications in various forms, and photographs.
Theatrical activities existed early on campus, through student organizations and courses such as speech, communication, and drama.
Formerly known as the Department of Theatre and Dance under the School of Arts and Communications, the formal Department of Theatre was individualized with the creation of the College of Performing Arts in 2007.
The Department of Theatre at Chapman University provides rigorous pre-professional training in a liberal arts environment, encouraging exploration in the creative arts. Chapman theatre majors gain real-world experience working onstage and backstage with industry professionals and renowned faculty in state-of-the-art facilities. This display provides a glimpse into the Department of Theatre’s history and evolution.
All items are from the College of Performing Arts, Department of Theatre Production Files, UA-052. While the display features archival material on productions dating back to the 1980s, the University Archives holds ephemera from theatrical activities from various departments and other collections dating as far back as the early 1960s.
To learn more about Chapman’s Theatre department, visit our website.
Thank you to the Frank Mt. Pleasant Library of Special Collections and Archives for contributing to this blog.
