Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Title
Date(s)
- 1931-2019 (Creation)
Extent
3.0 linear feet (3 record boxes)
Name of creator
Administrative history
The history of theater at South Dakota State University began in the 1880s with the formation of eight literary societies that presented farces and plays and established traditions such as the Senior Class Play. These organizations eventually merged into a short lived dramatic club in 1923. In 1930, the Footlight Club was organized and became the primary dramatic society on campus. By 1939, theatrical productions were formally placed under the supervision of the Forensics and Dramatics Council within the Speech Department. This council oversaw all campus productions in coordination with the State Players Dramatic Club, which was founded in 1949.
A chapter of Alpha Psi Omega was officially established on the SDSU campus in 1949 and was highly active throughout the 1950s. The first designated technical director of plays at SDSU, Lawrence Stine, was appointed in 1952. Beginning in 1953, students became eligible to receive academic credit for participation in theatrical productions. In 1956, SDSU expanded its repertoire to include Broadway musicals, including a production of South Pacific, making SDSU one of the first nonprofessional groups to stage the work. That same year, summer theater productions were introduced. Revue style productions, including Rabbit Rarities and vaudeville shows, also became part of campus theater programming during the 1950s.
State University Theatre later became a unit within the Department of Communication Studies and Theatre and is also affiliated with the School of Performing Arts at South Dakota State University. Theatrical productions have been staged in more than fourteen facilities across campus, with the most recent venues including Doner Auditorium and the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center.
A comprehensive chronological history of theater programs at South Dakota State University has been documented for the period from 1892 to 1992. While records documenting theater activities after 1992 exist, they have not yet been compiled into a single, comprehensive institutional history.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
The collection documents theatrical activity associated with State University Theatre and is composed of programs, posters, season brochures, schedules, newsletters, correspondence, and photographs related to plays, musicals, revues, one act productions, touring productions, and special events. Materials date primarily from the early 1930s through 2019, with some undated items. The collection reflects annual seasons, individual productions, student showcases, revue series such as Rabbit Rarities and Capers, touring one act performances, festival participation, and organizational activities including Alpha Psi Omega events. Production documentation spans a wide range of dramatic literature, musical theatre, classical works, contemporary plays, experimental theatre, and locally developed productions, illustrating curricular, extracurricular, and public performance activity over time.
This collection documents theatrical production and performance at the university, offering insight into the evolution of campus theatre programming, student and faculty involvement, repertoire selection, and public engagement. The materials support research into theatre education, performance history, student organizations, and cultural life at the institution and contribute to understanding regional and academic theatre development across the twentieth and early twenty first centuries.
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
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In Copyright This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Materials in this collection may be subject to Title 17, Section 108 of the United States Copyright Act. Users are responsible for ensuring compliance with copyright, privacy, trademark, and other applicable rights for their intended use. Obtaining all necessary permissions is the user's responsibility. Written authorization from the copyright and/or other rights holders is required for publication, distribution, or any use of protected materials beyond what is permitted under fair use. .sdstate.edu/sdsu-archives-and-special-collections/researcher-registration-form)
The collection is open for research, but please note that the materials in the Archives do not circulate and can only be used In the SDSU Archives and Special Collections Reading Room.
Please contact us in advance so we can prepare for your visit.
If you cannot visit the Archives in person, please reach out to us. We will do our best to help you find the information you need.
In most cases, the materials in this collection have not been digitized and are not available online.
South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections supports access to the materials in its collections. However, access to some items may be restricted due to their fragile condition, donor agreements, or other considerations.
If you would like to know more about the contents of the collection, please contact the SDSU Archives at: Telephone: 605-688-5094 Email: arcrefs@sdstate.edu
Physical access
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
Reproduction of materials from the collection is subject to the following conditions:
- Permission: Written permission must be obtained from the SDSU Archives for any reproduction, publication, or quotation of materials.
- Copyright: Users are responsible for complying with copyright laws and securing any necessary permissions from copyright holders.
- Fragile Materials: Some items may not be reproduced due to their fragile condition.
- Charges: Reproduction charges may apply, and users will be informed of any costs in advance.
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Acknowledgment: Any reproduced material must include proper acknowledgment of the South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections as the source.
For more information or to request permission, please contact the SDSU Archives.
Languages of the material
English
Scripts of the material
Language and script notes
Finding aids
Acquisition and appraisal elements
Custodial history
Immediate source of acquisition
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information
Accruals
Related materials elements
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related archival materials
Arndt, Xavia Diane, "A History of Theatre at South Dakota State University 1892 Through Summer, 1972" (1972).
Karlen, Louis "Trey" W., "History of State University Theatre 1972 Through 1992" (1993).
Related descriptions
Notes element
General note
Copyright and Use Statement
In Copyright This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Materials in this collection may be subject to Title 17, Section 108 of the United States Copyright Act. Users are responsible for ensuring compliance with copyright, privacy, trademark, and other applicable rights for their intended use. Obtaining all necessary permissions is the user's responsibility. Written authorization from the copyright and/or other rights holders is required for publication, distribution, or any use of protected materials beyond what is permitted under fair use.