OVERVIEW
Minnesota Historical Society
Great North American
History Theatre.
Production files and
related records.
1979-1994.
Research and production files of Lance
Belville, who founded the theater in 1978 as the St. Paul History Theatre and
served as its artistic director and principal playwright, as well as some
operational records of the theater from the premier season in 1979 until the
time Belville left in 1995. The theater specialized in dramatizing the history
of St. Paul and its neighborhoods, although many plays document other events
and topics in Minnesota history.
11.25 cu. ft. (12 boxes,
and 1 oversize folder, unboxed).
See Detailed Description section for shelf
locations.
HISTORICAL NOTE
The Great North American History Theatre was formed in September 1978
as the St. Paul History Theatre. It was organized under the auspices of the
Community Programs in the Arts & Sciences (COMPAS.) From the start,
productions were supported by federal and local grants, including funds from
the Minnesota Humanities Commission. The theater specialized in dramatizing the
history of St. Paul and its neighborhoods, although many plays document other
events and topics in Minnesota history.
Among the productions of the first few years were stories about St.
Paul's prohibition gangster era, Swedish and Italian immigrants in
turn-of-the-century St. Paul, a 1922 railroad strike on the city's north side,
railroad magnate James J. Hill, relations between whites and Indians at Fort
Snelling in 1824, St. Paul madam Nina Clifford, Minnesota football great Bronko
Nagurski, and a Victorian Christmas on Summit Avenue. Most the scripts for the
Theatre's original productions were researched and written by Lance S.
Belville. At times, he conducted oral history interviews to use as background
for his stories. Belville served as playwright-in-residence and co-artisitic
director along with his wife and theater founder, Lynn Lohr. In 1993 Lohr left
the theatre and Belville continued as artistic director until 1995 when he also
left the theater.
SCOPE AND CONTENTS
Included are scripts, posters, and production files with reviews,
programs, and promotional photos for most of the productions, as well as
occasional files on grants and funding. There is also a set of Belville's
research files used in writing the original scripts. Also included are various
audio and video recordings of productions, sound effect tracks, promotional
interviews, and oral history interviews conducted by Belville as background
research.
ARRANGEMENT
These documents are organized into the following sections:
- Production Files
- Production Scripts
- Background Files
- Sound and Visual Materials
OTHER FINDING AIDS
A print version of this finding aid is available in the repository;
filed in ALPHA notebooks under the heading: Great North American History
Theatre.
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item and/or series
here]. Great North American History Theatre Production Files. Minnesota
Historical Society.
See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional
examples
Accession Information:
Accession number: 16,035
Processing Information:
Processed by: Lora Bloom, October 2004
Catalog ID number: 002957601
CATALOG HEADINGS
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.
Topics:
Community theater -- Minnesota -- Saint
Paul.
Historical drama, American.
Theater -- Minnesota -- Saint Paul --
Reviews.
Theater -- Production and direction --
Minnesota -- Saint Paul.
Theater -- Public relations -- Minnesota
-- Saint Paul.
Persons:
Belville, Lance S.
Lohr, Lynn.
Organizations:
St. Paul History Theatre.
Places:
Minnesota -- History --
Drama.
Saint Paul (Minn.) -- History --
Drama.
Saint Paul (Minn.) -- Intellectual
life.
Document Types:
Audio cassettes.
Fliers.
Photographs.
Scripts (Documents).
Theater programs.
Videocassettes.
Occupations:
Dramatists.
RELATED MATERIALS
Related materials: audio and video recordings of a few plays are in
the Minnesota Historical Society sound and visual collection.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Production Files
The files include reviews and other news notices, programs and
flyers, promotional photographs, and research materials. For some years there
are files on grants and other funding sources.
149.C.2.3B
1
"You Can't Get to Heaven Through the USA,"
March 1979.
4 folders.
"We Win or Bust,"
1979.
3 folders.
"The Man Who Bought Minneapolis,"
1979.
3 folders.
"Nina! Madam to a Saintly City,"
February 1980.
2 folders.
"For Those Who Favor Fire,"
April 1980.
Conference,
1980.
"Four Hearts and the Lords of the North,"
June 1980.
4 folders.
"Bronko,"
1980.
3 folders.
"A Servants' Christmas,"
December 1980.
"Children of Tyrone,"
1981.
3 folders.
"You Can't Get to Heaven Through the USA,"
1981.
2 folders.
"Deadly Decades,"
1981.
4 folders.
"Those Folks Are Mostly Gone,"
1981.
"Nina! Madam to a Saintly City,"
1981.
3 folders.
"A Servants' Christmas,"
December 1981.
3 folders.
1982-1983 season.
"Johnny's My Darling and a Union Volunteer,"
March 1982.
3 folders.
"For Amber Waves of Grain, but Undistilled,"
March 1982.
4 folders.
"Scott & Zelda: The Beautiful Fools,"
October 1982.
4 folders.
"A Servants' Christmas,"
December 1982.
4 folders.
Publicity for 1983-1984 season.
"The Lady Knight,"
February 1983.
3 folders.
"Plain Hearts,"
April 1983.
3 folders.
"Homesick,"
October 1983.
3 folders.
"Mr. L. N. Scott's All New Grand Holiday Bill of Fare,"
November 1983.
4 folders.
Touring,
1984.
"Plain Hearts,"
1984.
3 folders.
"Down to Earth,"
April 1984.
3 folders.
"The Man Who Bought Minneapolis,"
1984.
3 folders.
"Plain Hearts,"
1984.
4 folders.
"A Servants' Christmas,"
December 1984. 5 folders.
"1984 Minus Three: A Political Cabaret,"
1984.
149.C.2.4F
2
Tour sites,
1984.
Composites,
1984-1986.
Ordway opening,
1985.
Grand Rapids tour,
1985.
Grand Northern Rep Theatre,
1985.
3 folders.
"Shanty Boys,"
1985.
4 folders.
"Kingdom Come,"
1985.
3 folders.
"Exile From Main Street: A Portrait of Sinclair Lewis,"
1985.
3 folders.
"Plain Hearts,"
March 1985.
"Tubal and the Yankee,"
1985.
3 folders.
"A Servants' Christmas,"
1985.
1985-1986 season.
Grand Northern Rep Theatre,
1986.
"Logan Township No. 13,"
1986.
3 folders.
"Pump Boys & Dinettes,"
1986.
"Shanty Boys,"
1986.
"Speed,"
1986.
"Quiet, Wyatt!,"
1986.
3 folders.
"Minnesota on Stage,"
1986.
"Down to Earth,"
1986.
4 folders.
"Gold in the Streets,"
1986.
"A Servants' Christmas,"
1986.
2 folders.
1986-1987 season.
"Dogs in the Hot Moon,"
1987.
3 folders.
"Some Things That Can Go Wrong at 35,000 Feet,"
1987.
3 folders.
"Mid-Winter Light,"
1987.
3 folders.
"Plain Hearts,"
1987.
3 folders.
1987-1988 season.
"Catching On,"
1988.
2 folders.
"St. Paul Suite,"
1988.
2 folders.
"Gold in the Streets,"
1988.
3 folders.
"Somewhere Over the Balcony,"
1988.
2 folders.
Northern Ireland: Drama in History symposium,
1988.
1988-1989 season.
149.C.2.5B
3
"Entertaining Strangers,"
1988-1989.
3 folders.
"Tree of Memory,"
1988-1989.
3 folders.
"A Servants' Christmas,"
1988-1989.
2 folders.
"Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme,"
1988-1989.
3 folders.
"Cowgirls,"
1988-1989.
6 folders.
1989-1990 season.
"Queen Clara: Rivers of Blood, Field of Glory,"
1989.
3 folders.
"Mesabi Red,"
1990.
7 folders.
"A Time on Earth,"
1989.
3 folders.
"The Immigrant,"
1989.
3 folders.
"Homegrown Heroes,"
1989.
4 folders.
"December Mornings,"
1989.
3 folders.
"A Servants' Christmas,"
1989.
3 folders.
"Nina! The Musical,"
1990.
3 folders.
Benefit,
1990.
3 folders.
1991-1991 season.
"Last Hooch at the Hollyhocks,"
1990.
3 folders.
"Exile from Main Street: A Portait of Sinclair Lewis,"
1990.
3 folders.
"Tree of Memory,"
1990.
4 folders.
"A Servants' Christmas,"
1990.
3 folders.
1991 touring.
Benefit,
1991.
2 folders.
150th anniversary of St. Paul,
1991.
2 folders.
"The Meeting," & "The Life & Times of Deacon A.
L. Wiley,"
1990.
2 folders.
"Mesabi Red,"
1991.
3 folders.
"Selkirk Avenue,"
1991.
3 folders.
"A Couple of Blaguards,"
1991.
2 folders.
"Scum City,"
1991.
4 folders.
"Cowgirls,"
1991.
"Hooch, Hokum & Horsefeathers at the Hotsy Totsy
Inn,"
1991.
"Through the Wheat,"
1991.
2 folders.
149.C.2.6F
4
"Through the Wheat,"
1991.
2 folders.
"A Country Christmas Carol,"
1991.
3 folders.
1991-1992 season.
2 folders.
Grants,
1991-1992.
18 folders.
"Another Minnesota Onstage,"
1991-1992.
4 folders.
"Scott & Zelda: The Beautiful Fools,"
1992.
4 folders.
"The Meeting," & "The Life & Times of Deacon A.
L. Wiley,"
1992.
2 folders.
"Irish Stew,"
1992.
3 folders.
"Olle from Laughtersville,"
1992.
3 folders.
"Small Town Triumphs & Cowboy Colors,"
1992.
3 folders.
"May I Have This Dance," project,
1992.
"A Country Christmas Carol,"
1992.
2 folders.
Benefit,
1992.
2 folders.
Grants,
1992.
1992-1993 season.
2 folders.
Lance Belville suit,
1993.
Grants,
1993.
Max program in St. Paul,
1993.
Rib buddies cookoff,
1993.
3 folders.
"The Meeting," & "The Life & Times of Deacon A.
L. Wiley,"
1993.
2 folders.
"Days of Rondo,"
1993.
3 folders.
149.C.2.7B
5
"Assassins,"
1993.
2 folders.
"Everlasting Arms,"
1993.
2 folders.
1993-1994 season.
2 folders.
Grants,
1994.
5 folders.
Rib buddies cookoff,
1994.
2 folders.
"A Couple of Blaguards,"
1994.
2 folders.
"Plain Hearts,"
1994.
4 folders.
"Dancing at Lughnasa,"
1994.
2 folders.
"Hauptmann,"
1994.
12 folders.
"Some Things That Can Go Wrong at 35,000 Feet,"
1994.
3 folders.
"Kentucky Cycle: Parts 1 & 2,"
1994.
Lance Belville resigns,
1994.
Production Scripts
149.C.2.7B
5
"Another Minnesota Onstage."
"Assassins."
"Bronko."
"Children of Tyrone."
"The Christmas Rules."
"Country Christmas Carol."
"A Couple of Blaguards."
"Cowgirls."
"Dancing at Lughnasa."
"The Deadly Decades."
"December Mornings."
"Dogs in the Hot Moon."
"Entertaining Strangers."
149.C.2.8F
6
"Everlasting Arms."
"Exile from Main Street: A Portrait of Sinclair
Lewis."
"Four Hearts and the Lords of the North."
"Gold in the Streets."
"Good Thunder."
"The Great Gatsby."
"Hauptmann."
"The Immigrant: A Hamilton County Album."
"The Lady Knight."
"The Lady with the Purple Hair."
"The Life & Times of Deacon A. L.
Wiley."
"The Man Who Bought Minneapolis."
"Mesabi Red."
"Midwinter Light."
"Mr. L. N. Scott's All-New Grand Holiday
Bill-of-Fare."
"Olle from Laughtersville."
"Nina! Madam to a Saintly City."
"Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the
Somme."
"PK Xmas."
"Plain Hearts."
"Queen Clara."
"The Sacred Heart of the Warrior Bonga."
"Scum City."
"Selkirk Avenue."
"Shanty Boys."
"Small Town Triumphs."
"Some Things That Can Go Wrong at 35,000
Feet."
"Somewhere over the Balcony."
"Speed."
"St. Paul Suite."
"Through the Wheat."
"A Time on Earth."
"Vital Spirits."
"You Can't Get to Heaven Through the USA."
Background Files
Files containing research materials and notes for various
productions written by Lance Belville.
149.C.2.9B
7
"Assassins."
"Cowboy Colors."
Crime in 1930s St. Paul.
"Deadly Decades."
"Dogs in the Hot Moon."
Fitzgerald research.
"Four Hearts and Lords of the North."
"Hauptmann."
Sinclair Lewis.
2 folders.
Lindbergh.
Loggers, lumberjacks.
"Mesabi Red."
5 folders.
"Nina! Madame to a Saintly City."
"Olle from Laughtersville."
2 folders.
149.C.2.10F
8
"Olle from Laughtersville."
4 folders.
Prohibition.
2 folders.
Research.
Rondo research.
L. N. Scott research.
"Small Town Triumphs."
Theater history: St Paul.
"Through the Wheat."
Sound and Visual Materials
The sound and visual materials relate to various productions and
include recordings of productions, sound effect tracks, and interviews and
other promotional recordings, as well as some advertising posters. Some of the
recordings may be interviews and other research materials used by Lance
Belville to write scripts.
149.C.8.1B
9
Reel-to-Reel Audio Tapes:
"Bronko."
"Down to Earth."
"For Amber Waves of Grain, but
Undistilled."
"Johnny's my Darling and a Union
Volunteer."
"The Man Who Bought Minneapolis."
"Plain Hearts."
"Quiet, Wyatt!"
"Scott & Zelda: The Beautiful Fools."
"Some Things That Can Go Wrong at 35,000
Feet."
"We Win or Bust."
18 unidentified reel-to-reel tapes.
149.C.8.2F
10
Audio cassettes relating to various
productions.
102 cassettes.
149.C.8.5B
11
Videocassettes:
"Caves Cabaret."
"Country Christmas Carol."
"A Couple of Blaguards."
"Cowgirls."
"Dancing at Lughnasa."
"Days of Rondo."
"December Mornings."
"Down to Earth."
"Everlasting Arms."
"Exile from Main Street: A Portrait of Sinclair
Lewis."
"Flak Happy."
"The Immigrant: A Hamilton County Album."
"Irish Stew."
"Kentucky Cycle."
"Last Hooch at the Hollyhocks."
"The Life & Times of Deacon A. L.
Wiley."
Max program at Fergus Falls.
"The Meeting."
"Mesabi Red."
"Midwinter Light."
"Nina! Madam to a Saintly City."
"Olle from Laughtersville."
"Scott & Zelda: The Beautiful Fools."
"Scum City."
149.C.8.4F
12
"Selkirk Avenue."
"A Servants Christmas."
"Shanty Boys."
"Small Town Triumphs."
"Some Things That Can Go Wrong at 35,000
Feet."
"Through the Wheat."
"A Time on Earth."
"Tomboy Stone."
"You Can't to Heaven Through the USA."
Miscellaneous VHS cassettes.
5 cassettes.
+127
Production Posters:
"Bronko."
"Cowgirls."
"Down to Earth."
"Exile from Main Street: A Portrait of Sinclair
Lewis."
"Flak Happy."
"Four Hearts and the Lords of the North."
"Homesick."
"I am Stopping at the New Hotel the St.
Paul."
"Last Hooch at the Hollyhocks."
"The Man Who Bought Minneapolis."
"Mesabi Red."
"Nina! Madam to a Saintly City."
"Olle from Laughtersville."
"Plain Hearts."
"Queen Clara."
"Scott & Zelda: The Beautiful Fools."
"Servants Christmas."
"Small Town Triumphs & Cowboy Colors."
"You Can't to Heaven Through the USA."
Great Northern Rep Theatre posters.
2 items.