Skip to main content Skip to search Skip to search results

Purdue University Theatre

 Organization

Historical Information

Theatre at Purdue began very early in the school's history with the Harlequin Club, the Little Theatre Players, and the English Department Players. It wasn't until 1929, with the inception of the Purdue Playshop, that theatre became an official extracurricular activity at Purdue. In 1956, theatre was recognized as a curricular activity under the Speech Department and, a few years later, was renamed Purdue University Theatre. Experimental Theatre began in 1939 to preview prospective Playshop performances to a select audience. Purdue Summer Theatre began in 1960 and was later renamed the Purdue Professional Theatre Company. An MFA in Theatre was developed in 1976.

Found in 6 Collections and/or Records:

20th century American textile magazines

 Unprocessed — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 20200924.1

Erling E. Kildahl scrapbooks and papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSF 480
Scope and Contents The Erling E. Kildahl scrapbooks and papers contains thirteen scrapbooks compiled by Erling Kildahl. The scrapbooks contain information concerning the Purdue Theatre and Purdue Playshop productions, as well as the Lafayette Little Theatre and the Pasadena Playhouse. Newspaper clippings of the productions as well as set and cast photographs can be found in the scrapbooks. Journal articles that Professor Kildahl contributed to can be found within the collection as well.
Dates: 1944 - 1990

Purdue University Theatre records

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 102
Scope and Contents The Purdue University Theatre records contains playbills, posters, and photos from the Purdue Theatre and other student theatre productions. The collection also contains programs from Convocations.
Dates: 1895 - 2013

Purdue University Theatre records, addition 01

 Unprocessed — Box: 1
Identifier: 20200922.2

Purdue University Theatre records, addition 02

 Unprocessed — Box: Communal Accessions 71
Identifier: 2024-024

Joseph G. Stockdale papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSF 472
Overview This collection includes documents, manuscripts, theater programs, photographs, scripts, writings, and newspaper clippings relating to Joseph G. Stockdale's education, theater career, writing career, career in higher education, and role as an advocate for the theatre arts and as a mentor to young theatre professionals.
Dates: 1949 - 2006