Research Catalog

Title

Interview with Donald Saddler [sound recording].

Author

Saddler, Donald.

Publication

2004.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Gennaro, Liza.

Description

2 sound cassettes (ca. 135 min.) +

Summary

• Cassette 1 (ca. 90 min.). Donald Saddler discusses working with Albertina Rasch on the films Rosalie and Girl of the golden west as well as other first experiences in popular entertainment; coming to New York; performing opportunities for dancers during this period; his first experience in musical theater; moving from ballet into other dance forms; different people he studied with and saw perform during this time (in part through the encouragement of his teacher Carmelita Maracci); studying choreography with Doris Humphrey and modern dance with Hanya Holm; his experience in the show Bless you all; working with Helen Tamiris; auditioning as a choreographer for agents and producers through the Talent '48 showcase; his experiences performing and choreographing for summer stock theater in Dallas; working on Wonderful town; Jerome Robbins' contribution to that show; collaborating with George Abbott; working with John Murray Anderson; working on the revue To Broadway with love in the Texas Pavilion at the New York World's Fair; working on the Milliken (Breakfast) show; working with the Harkness Ballet and bringing Jack Cole in to create his (ultimately unfinished) work, Requiem for Jimmy Dean on the company; begins to discuss working with Gerald Freedman on The robber bridegroom.
• Cassette 2 (ca. 45 min.). Continues to discuss collaboration with Gerald Freedman and the director/choreographer relationship in general; his interest in a performer's ability to work "in period" even when dancing; his intentions and interests as a choreographer; his own recent performances and the feeling that he stopped performing too early in his career; unique aspects of performing in musical theater as opposed to ballet or modern dance; choreographing for musical theater using Wonderful town as an example; more on working with George Abbott; the role of the choreographer in musical theater; Saddler's creative process.

Donor/Sponsor

National Endowment for the Arts, 2001-2002.

Alternative Title

• Dance Oral History Project.
• Dance Audio Archive.

Subjects

• Musical comedies > Wonderful town
• Abbott, George, 1887-1995
• Saddler, Donald
• Group work in art
• Musicals
• Audiotapes > Saddler, D
• Creation (Literary, artistic, etc.)

Note

• Interview with Donald Saddler conducted by Liza Gennaro on Mar. 3, 2004 at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts in New York City.
• For transcript see: *MGZMT 3-2388.

Access (note)

• Photography of the transcript permitted for research purposes only.

Funding (note)

• Preservation was made possible in part with public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, 2001-2002.

Call Number

*MGZTC 3-2388

OCLC

NYPY04-R55

Author

Saddler, Donald. Interviewee

Title

Interview with Donald Saddler [sound recording].

Imprint

2004.

Funding

Preservation was made possible in part with public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, 2001-2002.

Restricted Access

Photography of the transcript permitted for research purposes only.

Connect to:

Request Access to Special Collections (Dance Division) material

Local Subject

Musical comedies. Wonderful town.

Audiotapes -- Saddler, D.

Added Author

Gennaro, Liza. Interviewer

Research Call Number

*MGZMT 3-2388 [Transcript]

*MGZTC 3-2388 [Cassette]