The Children’s Theatre Company has bestowed its historical archives – including production materials, directors’ notes, costume-design materials, and organizational records – to the University of Minnesota Libraries.

The materials will be housed in the University’s Elmer L. Andersen Library and be part of the Libraries’ Performing Arts Archives. These archives, and others within the Libraries’ Archives and Special Collections unit, are available to University of Minnesota scholars and the general public.

“We’re thrilled to accept the Children’s Theatre Company archives at the University of Minnesota,” said University Librarian Wendy Pradt Lougee. “This represents a key acquisition for our growing Performing Arts Archives, which also include materials from the Guthrie Theater, Penumbra Theatre, the Minnesota Orchestra, and the James Sewell Ballet, among many others.

“As we head into our 50th anniversary in 2015-16, we are excited to see the archives of the nation’s leading family theatre made available to the public and look forward to showing them to everyone,” said Tim Jennings, Managing Director of the Children’s Theatre Company.

“The Children’s Theatre Company archives have been beautifully maintained over nearly 50 years,” said Cecily Marcus, Curator of the Performing Arts Archives. “So many iconic Twin Cities actors are captured in their earliest roles. It’s tremendous fun to look through these materials, and they are a fantastic resource for everyone—from scholars to actors and artists to groups of school kids.”

About the Children’s Theatre Company

Founded in 1965, Children’s Theatre Company serves 250,000 people annually and is one of the 20 largest regional theater companies in the nation. As the flagship family theatre in North America, the company is noted for defining worldwide standards for youth theatre with an innovative mix of classic tales, distinguished international productions and challenging new work. Children’s Theatre Company is the only theatre for young people to win the coveted Tony® Award for Outstanding Regional Theater under the direction of Artistic Director Peter C. Brosius.

About the University Libraries Archives and Special Collections

The Archives and Special Collections department at the University of Minnesota Libraries provides access to rare and unique collections of national and international significance. The collections reflect numerous contributions to literature, the arts, architecture and design, commerce, and geography and are one of the largest in the United States. The Performing Arts Archives was established in 1971 for the preservation and study of the records relating to the history of theatre, music, dance, and associated organizations in Minnesota. The collections include the most important companies in each of the major arts fields.