Washington Area Performing Arts Video Archives (WAPAVA) Collection
Scope and Contents
Collection consists of recordings (VHS Video and DVD) and programs from selected local theatre performances.
Dates
- Creation: 1995-2016
Creator
Language of Materials
English
Conditions Governing Use
Materials in this collection are viewing copies only and cannot be duplicated or loaned to any party without the written permission of WAPAVA.
Biographical / Historical
The Washington Area Performing Arts Video Archive (WAPAVA) was founded in 1993 by James J. Taylor who wanted to preserve live theatre performances. Taylor, a retired city planner turned actor, secured the permission to document performances through an agreement with the Actors’ Equity Association to produce a single camera, one take, recordings of selected performances each year. Performances to be recorded are selected by the WAPAVA advisory board and are selected for their historical and educational value in support of the archive’s mission as a resource for theatre professionals, scholars, students, and educational programs.
Extent
54 Linear feet
108 Boxes
Arrangement
Performances are arranged chronologically and then alphabetically under that. A database maintained by WAPAVA lists performances by name, date, theatre/troupe name, and run dates for the performance.
Custodial History
Yearly deposits from WAPAVA have occurred since 1995. In 2004 agreement between WAPAVA, the Library, and the University of Maryland’s Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library (MSPAL) established the latter as the primary repository for the collection, with viewing copies to be housed at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library.
Topical
- Title
- Washington Area Performing Arts Video Archives (WAPAVA)
- Subtitle
- An inventory of Washington Area Performing Arts Video Archives (WAPAVA) at DC Public Library
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by DC Public Library.
- Date
- 2017-05-09
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the The People's Archive, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library Repository