Theatre Collection

Theatre at the UK Libraries

The theatre collection first came into being as a discrete collection on campus when theatre books were transferred from the main university library to the branch Art Library in 1979. At the same time, play scripts from the Theatre Department were brought over to be cataloged, housed, and circulated at the library. Today, the theater collection at the Lucille Caudill Little Fine Arts Library continues to grow with endowed funds donated by Lucille Caudill Little. Strengths of the collection include materials on theatre history, especially American theatre; and works on production design, management, directing, acting, and playwriting.

The Acting Editions Collection

The Acting Editions Collection started as a collection of scripts used in the university's theatre department. Now the Lucille Caudill Little Fine Arts Library has over 2,000 acting editions of plays published from the late 19th century to this year's current hits on Broadway, as well as books with monologues for all types of actors.

Play scripts can be found on the second floor of the Lucille Caudill Little Fine Arts Library, under the "PR," "PS" and "PT" call numbers. Monologues can be found among call numbers beginning with PN 2080. It is fun to browse for scripts in these sections of the library. Other scripts can be found online in theatre resources the library subscribes to, such as Alexander Street's 20th Century Drama and Black Drama. See related databases.

Archives and special collections

Unpublished primary source materials on theatre topics, such as the Warder Harrison Kentucky Entertainment Collection about Kentucky's role in the media and performing arts, the Henrietta Alice Metcalf Performing Arts Photographic Collection of early 20th C. actors, and the recently acquired John Arthur Dearinger Memorial Theatre Collection, which represents the photos, programs, and other aspects of the work of over 1,100 mid-19th to mid-20th century actors, are found in the UK Libraries' Special Collections Research Center.