Florida Players is the dramatic society of the University of Florida. A precursor of the Florida Players was the Florida Dramatic
Association, also known as The Masqueraders, which was founded in April 1920. The Greater Florida Minstrels and the University
of Florida Dramatic Club (founded in 1902) were in turn precursors of the Masqueraders. Florida Players was originally known
as the Dramatic Society when it was created in 1929. The name was changed to Florida Players in 1931. The society was founded
by Henry P. Constans, head of the Department of Speech. The Department of Speech had the responsibility for the Florida Players
both in advisory and directing capacities from 1931 to 1971. Henry P. Constans and Lester L. Hale were among the faculty members
who served as directors of various plays presented by the student organization. Direction of the players was transferred from
the Department of Speech when a Theatre Department was created in 1971.
Series 77 contains an incomplete set of the society's minutes, a complete list of Players' major productions, a 1962 self-study,
a copy of the Constitution, memorabilia, pledge examinations and ceremonies, scripts (of plays directed by Henry P. Constans
and Lester L. Hale), scrapbooks, folders of plays produced from 1979-1985 (each containing clippings and playbills), play
programs from 1930-1995, fragmented correspondence, sketches, stage lighting directions, clippings from newspapers and magazines,
and other records. The series also contains records of the Florida chapters of Alpha Psi Omega and the National Collegiate
Players. Biographical information on some of the members can be found on the Players' pledge forms and on application forms
to the National Collegiate Players.
A scrapbook contains newspaper clippings, programs, and photographs of productions of the Dramatic Society and the Players
for the years 1936-1983. Other theatre photographs can be found in the photograph collection of the University Archives.
A second scrapbook was donated by Marinus H. Latour, a retired electrical engineering professor at the University of Florida.
While a student at UF (he graduated in 1940) he was a member of Florida Players and assisted in stage lighting for their
productions. The scrapbook covers the years 1937-1939 and contains play programs, penciled diagrams of lighting systems for
several plays, photographs, newspaper clippings, and posters. The lighting diagrams are of particular interest from an historical
standpoint.
Collection is open for research.
[Identification of item], Records of the Florida Players, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries,
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
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Records of the Florida Players
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Box 1 |
Alpha Psi Omega Eta Tau Chapter Minutes. 1941-1943
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"Anything Goes". 1972-1973 |
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Ceremony and Examinations for Journeymen and Masters. |
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Constitutions. |
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Correspondence. 1971-1973 |
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"Little Murders". 1973 |
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Make-Up. |
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Minutes. 1940-1947 |
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Minutes. 1959-1961 |
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Minutes. 1961-1963 |
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Minutes. 1964 |
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Minutes. 1966-1967 |
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Minutes. 1970-1971 |
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Minutes. 1972-1973 |
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Miscellaneous. 1931-1947 |
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Miscellaneous. 1972-1973 |
Box 2 |
National Collegiate Players UF Chapter.
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Rules and Officers. 1948-1951 |
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Correspondence. 1954-1964 |
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Initiation Book. 1948-1963 |
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Membership. 1948-1965 |
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Officers. 1977-1978 |
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Pantomine Troupe. |
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Pledge Ceremonies. |
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Pledge forms and tests. n.d. |
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Pledge tests. 1973 |
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Productions. 1930-1976 |
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Rathskeller Theatre Workshop. |
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Study Committee Report to President Reitz. 1962 |
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Suggestions. |
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Summer Repertory Theatre. |
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Work Hour Policy. |
Box 3 |
Scripts for One Acts Plays Produced by the Florida Dramatic Society and the Florida Players.
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"Our Town" script. Grover’s Corners Sentinel ad for the play "Our Town" presented in March 1940. Letter from Thornton Wilder to Mrs. Matherly. |
Box 4 |
Death Takes a Holiday - Lester Hale, Director.
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Cracker Coal - Lester Hale, Director. 1937 |
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Death Takes a Holiday - Lester Hale, Director. |
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Death Takes a Holiday. |
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Fashion - Lester Hale, Director. 1937 |
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H.M.S. Pinafore - Lester Hale, Director. |
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Her Masters Voice - Lester Hale, Director. 1940 |
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Importance of Being Earnest. |
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Johnny Johnson - Lester Hale, Director. |
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Spanish Nights - The Masqueraders. 1922 |
Box 5 |
Journey's End - Lester Hale, Director.
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The Last Mile - Lester Hale, Director. |
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Lightnin' - Lester Hale, Director. 1937 |
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Martha - Lester Hale, Director. |
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On Borrowed Time. |
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Our Speech and The Florida Players - Lester Hale, Director. |
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Seven Keys to Baldpate - Lester Hale, Director. |
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A Slight Case of Murder - Lester Hale, Director. 1942 |
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Smilin' Through - Lester Hale, Director. 1938 |
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Submerged - Lester Hale, Director. 1935 |
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You Can't Take It With You - Lester Hale, Director. |
Box 6 |
Play Folders, October 29, 1979 - June 4, 1983 (clippings and playbills). 1979-1983
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Box 7 |
Play Folders, June 15, 1983 - November 23, 1985 (clippings and playbills and one undated folder). 1983-1985
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Box 8 |
Florida Player Programs. 1930-1939
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Florida Player Programs. 1940-1949 |
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Florida Player Programs. 1950-1954 |
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Florida Player Programs. 1955-1959 |
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Florida Player Programs. 1960-1964 |
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Florida Player Programs. 1965-1969 |
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Florida Player Programs. 1970-1975 |
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Florida Player Programs. 1976-1993 |
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Florida Players - Apprentice Players. |
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Florida Players - Competitions. |
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Florida Players - Direction Class Plays. |
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Florida Players - Gator Growl. 1972 |
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Florida Players - History. |
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Florida Players - One Act Play Festival. |
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Florida Players - One Acts. |
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Florida Players - Miscellaneous. |
Box 9 |
Florida Players - Undated Programs Folder 1. n.d.
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Florida Players - Undated Programs Folder 1. n.d. |
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Florida Players - Schedule of Plays. 1930-1977 |
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Florida Players - Schedule of Plays. 1978-1991 |
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Florida Players - Laboratory Theatre. |
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Florida Players. 1991 |
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Florida Players - "Charley's Aunt" (April 3-4/7-11). 1992 |
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Florida Players - "Isabella the Queen" (Oct. 2-4, 8-10). 1992 |
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Florida Players - "The Rainmaker" (Nov. 19-24). 1992 |
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Florida Players - "Terra Nova" (Feb. 7-9, 11-15). 1992 |
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Florida Players - "Top Girls" (Feb. 28-29, Mar. 1-6). 1992 |
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Florida Players - "Uncommon Women" (Oct. 29-31, Nov. 4-7). 1992 |
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Florida Players - "As You Like It" (May 27-29, June 9, 29, July 1). 1993 |
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Florida Players - "Company" (April 9-18). 1993 |
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Florida Players - "Dance '93" (Feb. 5). 1993 |
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Florida Players - "Godspell" (June 3-5, 8, 12, 14, 19, 28, 30). 1993 |
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Florida Players - "A Lie of the Mind" (Jan. 29-31, Feb. 2-6). 1993 |
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Florida Players - "Stage Blood" (Feb. 25-28). 1993 |
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Florida Players - "Acromegalic Quagmire" (Mar. 29-30). 1995 |
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Florida Players - "Dance '95" (Feb. 23-26). 1995 |
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Florida Players - "A Flea in Her Ear" (April 20-22, 25-27). 1995 |
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Florida Players - "Gray's Anatomy" (Feb. 9-12). 1995 |
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Florida Players - "Oleana" (Mar. 23-26). 1995 |
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Florida Players - "Strike Force" and "Our Town". 1995 |
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Florida Players - Student Projects and Misc. 1995 |
Box 10 |
Scrapbook with clippings. 1936-1983
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Box 11 |
Scrapbook from Marinus H. Latour. 1937-1939
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Programs in the Latour scrapbook:
"Journey's End" - November 12-13, 1936
"Fashion" - 1937
"H.M.S. Pinafore" - April 2, 5, 7, 1937
Three One-Act Plays ("The Boor", "Where the Cross is Made", "The First Dress Suit") - March 8, 1937
"Behold This Dreamer" - May 6, 7, 1937(?)
Three One-Act Plays ("A Morality Play for the Leisure Class", "In the Zone", "The Pot Boiler") - October 11, 1937
"Lightin'" - November 3-5, 1937(?)
Three One-Act Plays ("The Long Voyage Home", "The Shepherd in the Distance", "The Camberley Triangle") - November 16, 1937
"Cracker Coal" - January 6, 1938
Three One-Act Plays ("The Valiant", "Moonshine", "The Still Alarm") - February 22, 1938
"Strife" - March 2-3, 1938
"Martha" - March 16-18, 1938(?)
"Smilin Through" - April 23, 25-26, 1938
Three One-Act Plays ("Ile", "Helena's Husband", "Action") - November 1, 1938
"Johnny Johnson" - November 17-18, 1938
Three One-Act Plays ("The Drums of Oude", "Death Says It Isn't So", "Whose Money") - January 12, 1939
"The Importance of Being Earnest" - Feb. 28 and March 1, 1939
Three One-Act Plays ("Buzzard Roosters", "Red Carnations", "Thank You, Doctor") - March 16, 1939
"You Can't Take It With You" - April 26-28, 1939
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Box 12 |
Photocopy of Scrapbook from Marinus H. Latour. 1937-1939
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