Guide to the Rusty Magee papers, 1966-2007

(bulk 1978-2002)


Brown University Library, Special Collections
Box A, John Hay Library
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2146
E-mail: hay@brown.edu

Published in 2010

Collection Overview

Title: Rusty Magee papers
Date range: 1966-2007, (bulk 1978-2002)
Creator: Magee, Rusty
Extent: 7 linear feet (7 records center boxes)
Abstract: The Rusty Magee papers contain material related to his career as a composer and performer in musical theater, primarily between 1978 and 2002. Much of the material consists of music written by Magee. The papers also include recordings of plays and Magee's performances on audiocassette, compact disc and DVD; scripts, playbills and theater reviews.
Language of materials: English
Repository: Brown University Library, Special Collections
Collection number: Ms. 2009.016

Scope & content

The Rusty Magee papers contain material related to his career as a composer and performer in musical theater and comedy. Most of the material is dated from 1978 to 2002. It includes original scores, sheet music, and scripts for numerous plays; printed material such as playbills, programs and theater reviews; and recordings of plays and Magee's performances on audiocassette, compact disc and DVD.

The material in the first series, plays, is arranged alphabetically by the title of the play. It includes scores and parts, scripts, playbills, promotional material such as fliers and press releases, and theater reviews. Magee wrote original music and lyrics for many of the plays in this series. Most of his original music is in manuscript form. Magee's contribution to some of the plays in this series is not known.

The second series, music by Rusty Magee, consists of sheet music copyrighted between 2005 and 2007. It includes music for children's songs, music labeled "new transcriptions" and a spiral bound volume entitled The Rusty Magee Collection, Volume 1.

The third series, playbills and programs, contains material for plays and performances not listed in the first series. It is arranged alphabetically by title.

The material in the fourth series, miscellaneous press, was originally found in an envelope with that label. It consists of posters for Moonwork, a theater company in New York City where Magee worked; posters and press for the West Bank Café; and material regarding Magee's career, including several resumes and photographs. Magee's original description and organization of this material has been retained.

The fifth and last series in these papers, audiovisual material, contains recordings of plays and of Magee's music and performances on audiocassette, compact disc, and DVD. This series also contains one VHS tape entitled Quayle Season.

Access Points

Subject Names Subject Topics Subject Topics Document Types Occupations

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into the following series:

  • Series 1. Plays
  • Series 2. Music by Rusty Magee
  • Series 3. Playbills and programs
  • Series 4. Miscellaneous press
  • Series 5. Audiovisual material

The collection is housed in seven records center boxes. The material in Series 5. Audiovisual material is in eight shoeboxes housed within records center boxes 5, 6 and 7.

Biographical note

Benjamin Rush "Rusty" Magee was born August 6, 1955 in Washington, D.C., the son of Bettie Morris Magee and the late Dr. Kenneth Raymond Magee. After graduating from Philips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire, Rusty enrolled at Brown University, where he received a bachelor's degree in music in 1978.

After graduation from Brown, Rusty worked for three years as the musical consultant and musical director for the Yale School of Drama and the Yale Repertory Theatre. In 1981 he was awarded an honorary Master of Fine Arts degree by the Yale School of Drama. He then moved to New York City, where he worked as a composer, lyricist and actor in theater, television, film and commercials. He also performed comedy at the West Bank Café in New York City and at other clubs, colleges and events.

In 1984 he married Alison Fraser, an actress and singer. They had one son, Nathaniel, born in April 1990.

Magee wrote music and lyrics for a number of plays that were produced on and off Broadway. In 1993 he won the New York Outer Critics' Circle James Fleetwood Award for most promising composer for his music and lyrics to the Classic Stage Company's adaptation of Moliere's Scapin. He wrote original music for A Midsummer Night's Dream and What You Willfor Moonwork, a theater company that presents contemporary adaptations of Shakespeare's plays, and music and lyrics for the Manhattan Theatre Club's production of The Green Heart. In 1986 Magee arranged and performed the piano music for the revival at Lincoln Center of John Guare's The House of Blue Leaves, which was nominated for a Tony Award for best play that year. For many years he was the musical director at the Irish Repertory Theater in Manhattan, where he arranged the music for and performed in Frank McCourt's The Irish and How They Got That Way. He also wrote music for hundreds of one-act plays that were presented at the West Bank Café's Downstairs Theatre.

With his friend, comedian Lewis Black, Magee wrote The Czar of Rock and Roll, a musical that premiered at Houston's Alley Theater in 1990. At the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts, he wrote music and lyrics for Carlo Goldini's The Servant of Two Masters, Moliere's The Imaginary Invalid and Ubu Rock, an adaptation of Alfred Jarry's play Ubu Roi.

Magee also wrote music for children, including songs for The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss, seen on Nickelodeon Television, Arthur: A Live Adventure, which was seen at theaters around the country, and Flurry Tale, a children's Christmas opera produced by American Opera Projects at Lincoln Center in 1999. He wrote music for the television pilot Family Brood and the film New School Order, which competed at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival. As an actor, Magee appeared in the Woody Allen film Hannah and Her Sisters.

In 1998 Magee was awarded the "Coming up Taller" Humanitarian Award by First Lady Hilary Clinton for his work at the 52nd St. Project, a theater company in the "Hell's Kitchen" neighborhood of Manhattan. He was a member of the Actors Equity Association, the Screen Actors Guild, AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists), ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), The Dramatists Guild and the Ensemble Studio Theatre.

In May 2002 a tribute to Magee and his music called "Sweet Appreciation" was held at the West Bank Café. Magee passed away on February 16, 2003 after a long battle with cancer. A second tribute, "Sweet Appreciation II", was held in his memory in June 2003. In 2006 the Ackerman Institute for the Family, which provides services to families and couples facing a chronic or life-threatening illness, dedicated the Rusty Magee Clinic for Families and Health in his honor. A concert to benefit the clinic, called "Sweet Appreciation III", was held that year and again in 2007.

Access & Use

Access to the collection: There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Use of the materials: Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation: Rusty Magee papers, Ms. 2009.016, Brown University Library.
Contact information: Brown University Library, Special Collections
Box A, John Hay Library
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2146
E-mail: hay@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION  
Acquisition: The Rusty Magee papers were given to the Brown University Library in March 2007 by his wife, Alison Fraser. Additional material was donated by her in July 2008.
Accruals: No further material is anticipated for this collection.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID  
Author: Finding aid prepared by Mary A. Harrison.
Encoding: Finding aid encoded by Mary A. Harrison 2010 February 24
Descriptive rules: Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Related material: For a remembrance of Rusty Magee and his family by Evan Imber-Black, a therapist at the Ackerman Institute for the Family, see pp. 243-244 of: Spiritual Resources in Family TherapyThe following titles may be found at the Brown University Library: Busch, Charles. The Green Heart: A Musical/book by Charles Busch; music and lyrics by Rusty Magee. New York : Samuel French, 1999.Magee, Rusty. Sweet Appreciation: Rusty Magee Live at the West Bank Cafe
Other information:

Inventory

Series 1. Plays
Boxes 1-4
Rusty Magee wrote music, lyrics and scripts for a number of plays during his career. They were presented by organizations such as the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts; American Opera Projects, the Classic Stage Company, the Irish Repertory Theatre, the Manhattan Theatre Club, Moonwork, and the West Bank Cafe in New York City; the Yale Repertory Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut; the Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas; and Brownbrokers at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.

The material for this series was originally found in notebooks, envelopes and folders labeled with the title of the play. It includes scripts, scores, some correspondence, and printed material related to the plays such as playbills, fliers, programs and theater reviews. Most of the plays contain music and/or lyrics written by Magee. His contribution to some of the plays is not known. Magee's description of this material has been retained. The plays are arranged alphabetically by title.

Other printed music written by Magee may be found in Series 2. Music by Rusty Magee. Other playbills, programs and fliers may be found in Series 3. Playbills and programs and Series 4. Miscellaneous press.

A. 19th Street Shuffle
Box 1, Folders 1-6
19th Street Shuffle is a contemporary musical adaptation of Vergil’s Aeneid. Magee wrote the music for the play with lyrics by Billy Aronson. This subseries includes several drafts of the script, an incomplete score, handwritten notes, and some correspondence, chiefly from Aaronson to Magee. Magee passed away before the play was completed.

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 1 Script: first draft with chords
 1997-1998
Box 1, Folder 2 Script
 1998 Jan 30
Box 1, Folder 3 Script
 2002 Apr
Box 1, Folder 4 Script: various outlines
 undated
Box 1, Folder 5 Score
 undated
Box 1, Folder 6 Notes and correspondence
 1997 Jun 2-2002 Mar 15

B. 52nd Street Project
Box 1, Folders 7-8
The 52nd Street Project in a non-profit organization in New York City which creates original works for theater by pairing professional theater artists with children aged nine to eighteen. The material in this subseries was originally in an envelope labeled “52nd St. Project originals.” It consists of several short scripts and the music and lyrics for songs. Magee and his wife Alison Frasier are listed as the authors of the scripts “Wild in the Sweeps: A Play with Music”, and “Keeper of the Flame: The Story of Zelda and Zorina”. Most of the music for the songs is in manuscript form and was written by Magee. The author of some of the songs is not identified and some do not have a title.

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 7 Scripts
 undated
Box 1, Folder 8 Songs
 undated

C. 1919: A Baseball Opera
Box 1, Folders 9-17
This play was inspired by Eliot Asinof’s book about the Chicago “Black Sox” scandal of 1919 entitled Eight Men Out. The music is by Rusty Magee with book and lyrics by Magee and Rob Barron. The play was originally presented at the Summer Cabaret Theater in New Haven, Connecticut in 1981. The scripts in this subseries were originally in a folder labeled “working scripts”. The piano and vocal score is in manuscript form. The related material includes one letter, feedback about the play from an ASCAP workshop, articles about the “Black Sox”, theater reviews, and a program and flier about the play. The paperback copy of Asinof’s book contains underlining, probably by Magee. Its front cover is missing.

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 9 Working script
 1981
Box 1, Folder 10 Working script
 1988
Box 1, Folder 11 Working script
 1992
Box 1, Folder 12 Working script
 1999
Box 1, Folder 13 Working script (1 of 2)
 undated
Box 1, Folder 14 Working script (2 of 2)
 undated
Box 1, Folder 15 Piano and vocal score
 undated
Box 1, Folder 16 Related material
 1979 Jan 2-1993 Jan 20
Box 1, Folder 17 Eight Men Out
 1979

D. Arthur: A Live Adventure
Box 1, Folder 18
Arthur: A Live Adventure is a musical based on the “Arthur” children’s books by Marc Brown and the Public Broadcasting animated television series Arthur. It was presented at Radio City Music Hall in New York City in May 2000 as well as at theaters nationwide. The material in this subseries includes the fourth draft of the script, music and lyrics to the three songs in the play that were written by Magee, and related material such as programs and an Arthur-themed activity book.

E. Blue in the City
Box 1, Folder 19
This play is described as “a musical revue about life after Drama School”. The book is by Lewis Black with music and lyrics by Rusty Magee. It was performed at the West Bank Café in New York City. This subseries includes an annotated script and lyrics to the song “At the Yale Drama School”.

F. A Child's Christmas in Wales
Box 1, Folder 20
This play is an adaptation by the Irish Repertory Theatre of Dylan Thomas’ 1950 short story “A Child’s Memories of Christmas in Wales”. This subseries contains a script and three songs. Magee was the musical director of the theater when the play was presented there in 2001. He also had a small part in the play.

G. The Czar of Rock and Roll
Boxes 1-2
This play is a musical based on the career of American pop singer Dean Reed, who left the United States in 1972 to live and perform in East Germany and the former Soviet Bloc countries. Magee wrote the music and lyrics for the play, which premiered at Houston’s Alley Theatre in 1990. This subseries includes several versions of the script, song lyrics and music. The music is in manuscript form and consists of parts for an ensemble of keyboard, guitar, bass and drums. The related material includes reviews, newspaper clippings, programs, correspondence and promotional material for the play such as fliers and press releases. The articles about Dean Reed are from various newspapers and magazines.

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 21 Scripts
 1988-1989
Box 1, Folder 22 Scripts
 1989 Jan
Box 1, Folder 23 Scripts
 1990
Box 1, Folder 24 Script pages and notes
 undated
Box 1, Folder 25 Song lyrics
 undated
Box 1, Folder 26 Parts for songs 1-3B
 undated
Box 1, Folder 27 Parts for songs 4-6A
 undated
Box 1, Folder 28 Parts for songs 7-9
 undated
Box 1, Folder 29 Parts for songs 10-12A
 undated
Box 1, Folder 30 Parts for songs 13-19 and additional music
 undated
Box 2, Folder 1 Related material
 1990 Sep 30-1991 Jan 13
Box 2, Folder 2 Articles about Dean Reed
 1966 Oct 9-1991 Mar 29

H. Fiend in the Fog: A Musical
Box 2, Folder 3
This subseries contains a script written by James Stevenson. Magee’s contribution to the play is not known.

I. Flurry Tale
Boxes 2-3
Flurry Tale is a children’s Christmas opera that was presented by American Opera Projects in 1999. Earlier versions of the play were performed at the New York Public Library in 1996. Magee wrote the music with libretto by Billy Aronson.

This subseries includes the script, sheet music, music in manuscript form and material related to the play such as correspondence, programs and fliers. The sheet music includes a copy of the full score, the conductor’s score, vocal score, and parts for an ensemble of piano, woodwinds, French horn, percussion and bass. The music in manuscript form, which Magee labeled “charts”, consists of parts for songs and other music in the play.

Container Description Date
Box 2, Folder 4 Script
 undated
Box 2, Folder 5 Score
 2005
Box 2, Folder 6 Score for songs 2,3,7,10,12 and 24
 undated
Box 2, Folder 7 Score for "various music I thought important"
 undated
Box 2, Folder 8 Conductor's score: Songs 1-9 (missing 4)
 undated
Box 2, Folder 9 Conductor's score: Songs 1-12
 undated
Box 2, Folder 10 Conductor's socre: Songs 10-24 (missing 12, 14, 17 and 23)
 undated
Box 2, Folder 11 Conductor's score: Songs 13-24 (missing 23)
 undated
Box 2, Folder 12 Vocal score (1 of 4)
 undated
Box 2, Folder 13 Vocal score (2 of 4)
 undated
Box 2, Folder 14 Vocal score (3 of 4)
 undated
Box 2, Folder 15 Vocal score (4 of 4)
 undated
Box 2, Folder 16 Parts for piano
 undated
Box 2, Folder 17 Parts for woodwind I
 undated
Box 2, Folder 18 Parts for woodwind II
 undated
Box 2, Folder 19 Parts for horn
 undated
Box 2, Folder 20 Parts for percussion I
 undated
Box 2, Folder 21 Parts for percussion II
 undated
Box 2, Folder 22 Parts for bass
 undated
Box 2, Folder 23 Charts for songs 0-7
 undated
Box 2, Folder 24 Charts for songs 8-15undated
Box 2, Folder 25 Charts for various songs
 undated
Box 3, Folder 1 Charts for songs 1-3, 5, 8 and one unlabeled page
 undated
Box 3, Folder 2 Related material
 1966 Jun-2000 Dec

J. The Grandchild of Kings
Box 3, Folders 3-4
This play by Harold Prince, based on the autobiography of writer Sean O'Casey, was presented by the Irish Repertory Theatre in January 1992. This subseries contains the script, sheet music for songs, and related material such as playbills and reviews. Magee conducted the music for the play.

Container Description Date
Box 3, Folder 3 Script and music
 undated
Box 3, Folder 4 Related material
 1992 Jan 17-Apr 2

K. The Green Heart
Box 3, Folder 5
The Green Heart was written by Charles Busch with music and lyrics by Rusty Magee. It was first presented by the Manhattan Theatre Club in February 1997. This subseries includes theater programs, invitations to a performance, reviews and promotional material such as fliers.

L. Hey Stay Awhile
Box 3, Folder 6
Magee was the musical director of this cabaret, which featured the theater songs of John Guare. This subseries includes music, lyrics and related material such as fliers.

M. The House of Blue Leaves
Box 3, Folder 7
Magee arranged and recorded the piano music for this play by John Guare. It was presented at the Lincoln Center Theater in New York City in 1986. It was nominated for a Tony Award for best play that year. This subseries contains two programs and several sheets of paper with piano cues and song lyrics.

N. How the Irish Saved Civilization
Box 3, Folder 8
This play is based on Thomas Cahill’s 1995 book with the same title. This subseries contains the script. Magee’s contribution to the play is not known.

O. Hunger
Box 3, Folder 9
Magee arranged and wrote the music for this play with lyrics by Ron Peet. This subseries contains song lyrics and a piano score in manuscript form.

P. The Imaginary Invalid
Box 3, Folder 10
This play by Moliere was presented by the American Repertory Theatre in 1998. It was adapted by Andrei Belgrader and Shelley Berc with music and lyrics by Rusty Magee. This subseries includes a revised copy of the script, music in manuscript form and reviews.

Q. In the Beginning
Box 3, Folders 11-12
Magee wrote the music for this original play by Jon Klein, David Riemer and Jeremy Schlosberg. It was presented by the Brownbrokers at Brown University in December 1978. This subseries contains the script, related material such as fliers and programs, the piano score in manuscript form and a list of songs with lyrics.

Container Description Date
Box 3, Folder 11 Script and related material
 1978 Oct 15-Dec 1
Box 3, Folder 12 Piano score, song list and lyrics
 1978 Nov

R. The Irish and How They Got That Way
Box 3, Folders 13-18
This play by Frank McCourt was presented by the Irish Repertory Theatre in 1998. Magee arranged the music and had a small role in the play. This subseries includes scripts, the score and related material such as programs, fliers, playbills and reviews.

Container Description Date
Box 3, Folder 13 Script and musical cues
 1999 Feb 5
Box 3, Folder 14 Script revised
 2001 Aug 8
Box 3, Folder 15 Score for songs 1-12
 undated
Box 3, Folder 16 Score for songs 13-25A
 undated
Box 3, Folder 17 Score for songs 26-31 and additional music
 undated
Box 3, Folder 18 Related material
 1998 Mar-2002 Jun 26

S. A Midsummer Night's Dream
Box 3, Folder 19
Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream was presented by Moonwork in 1999. Magee wrote original music for the play. This subseries contains the script, reviews and related material such as programs and fliers.

T. Sacred Cows
Box 3, Folder 20
Sacred Cows was to have been a live, all-sung, weekly half-hour television program based on bible stories. The pilot for the first episode, entitled “A New Beginning: The Story of Adam and Yves”, was written by Rusty Magee, Bob Golden, Paul Scott Goodman, Jonathan Larson, and Jeremy Roberts. The pilot was never filmed. This subseries contains the script, handwritten notes from some of the authors, a page describing the concept of the program, and a catalog of the works of Jonathan Larson, who later wrote the Tony award-winning musical Rent.

U. Scapin
Boxes 3-4
This adaptation of the 1671 Moliere play was written by Andrei Belgrader and Shelley Berc with music and lyrics by Rusty Magee. It was first presented at the Yale Repertory Theatre in 1991 and later by the Classic Stage Company in New York City in 1993. This subseries contains the score in manuscript form, reviews, and related material such as playbills, posters, photographs and fliers.

Container Description Date
Box 3, Folder 21 Score: Scapin originals
 undated
Box 3, Folder 22 Score: Additional materials, vocal line and keyboard part
 undated
Box 3, Folder 23 Reviews
 1991 Mar 11-1994 Sep 28
Box 4, Folder 1 Related material
 1991 Feb-1993
Box 4, Folder 2 Related material
 1994 Jan-2002 Nov

V. The Servant of Two Masters
Box 4, Folders 3-6
This 1743 play by Carlo Goldini was adapted and translated by Shelley Berc and Andrei Belgrader with music and lyrics by Rusty Magee. It was presented by the American Repertory Theatre in May 1992. This subseries contains the script, the score in manuscript form and related material such as reviews, fliers, playbills and programs. The score is missing music for songs numbered 2, 3, 4 and 14.

Container Description Date
Box 4, Folder 3 Script
 1992 May 6
Box 4, Folder 4 Score
 undated
Box 4, Folder 5 Score: unnumbered songs and loose pages
 undated
Box 4, Folder 6 Related material
 1991-1992 Jun 8

W. Stress for Success
Box 4, Folder 7
This subseries contains three pages from Magee’s desk calendar with notes regarding the opening of this play at the West Bank Café.

X. The Two Penny Opera
Box 4, Folder 8
There is no information about this play in Magee’s papers. This subseries contains several pages of lyrics by Rusty Magee for songs that were set to music by Wagner, Verdi, Gilbert and Sullivan and other composers.

Y. Ubu Rock
Box 4, Folders 9-19
Ubu Rock is a contemporary adaptation of Alfred Jarry’s 1896 play Ubu Roi. It was written by Shelley Berc and Andrei Belgrader with music and lyrics by Rusty Magee. It was presented by the American Repertory Theatre in 1995. This subseries includes the script, the score, parts in manuscript form for an ensemble of piano, bass and drums; parts in both printed and manuscript form for voice, a performance report, reviews of the play and related material such as programs and fliers.

Container Description Date
Box 4, Folder 9 Script
 1995 Jun 7
Box 4, Folder 10 Score
2006
Box 4, Folder 11 Parts for piano: songs 1-15
 undated
Box 4, Folder 12 Parts for piano: songs 16-33
 undated
Box 4, Folder 13 Parts for bass
 undated
Box 4, Folder 14 Parts for drums
 undated
Box 4, Folder 15 Parts for voice (1 of 2)
 undated
Box 4, Folder 16 Parts for voice (2 of 2)
 undated
Box 4, Folder 17 Performance report
 1995 Jun 2
Box 4, Folder 18 Reviews
 1995 May 8-1996 Aug
Box 4, Folder 19 Related material
 1980-1996 May 13

Z. Voices from the Hill
Box 4, Folder 20
This play, presented by Moonwork in 2002, is an original musical adaptation of Edgar Lee Masters’ “Spoon River Anthology” and selected poems by Walt Whitman. It was written by Gregory Wolfe and Gregory J. Sherman with music by Andres Sherman and Rusty Magee. This subseries contains reviews of the play and related material such as fliers, programs and postcards.

AA. What the Butler Saw
Box 4, Folders 21-22
What the Butler Saw was written by Joe Orton with music directed and arranged by Rusty Magee. It was performed at the Yale Repertory Theatre in 1984. This subseries contains the score, handwritten notes and musical cues, a program and reviews of the play.

Container Description Date
Box 4, Folder 21 Score
 undated
Box 4, Folder 22 Program, notes and reviews
 1985-Feb 16-Mar 6

BB. What You Will
Box 4, Folders 23-24
This play is a musical version of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, presented by Moonwork in 2001. It was adapted by Gregory Wolfe with music by Rusty Magee and Andrew Sherman. Besides the script and score, this subseries includes a program and reviews of the play. The two DVDs and one compact disc that were originally with the other material for this play have been moved to Series 5. Audiovisual material, Subseries B. Compact discs and Subseries C. DVDs. One of the DVDs is a frontscreen projection entitled “News from the March” which was used in the introduction to the play. The other DVD and CD are entitled “What You Will”.

Container Description Date
Box 4, Folder 23 Script
 undated
Box 4, Folder 24 Score and related material
 undated

CC. Will, Grace, Kara, Jack Do the Met!
Box 4, Folder 25
This play is an operatic parody starring the cast of the television series Will and Grace. It was performed at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City in May 2000. The music and lyrics were written by Rusty Magee. This subseries contains two scripts, the score and a flier advertising the play.

Series 2. Music by Rusty Magee
Box 5, Folders 1-4
This series consists of sheet music for songs written by Magee. The dates given for this material are the copyright dates on the sheet music. Magee’s original description of this material has been retained.

Container Description Date
Box 5, Folder 1 Childrens' songs
 2006
Box 5, Folder 2 It's a Rum and Gin and Vodka Kind of Christmas
 2007
Box 5, Folder 3 New transcriptions
 2006-2007
Box 5, Folder 4 The Rusty Magee Collection Volume 1
 2005

Series 3. Playbills and programs
Box 5, Folders 5-7
This series contains playbills, programs and fliers for plays and performances not listed in Series 1. Plays. They are arranged alphabetically by title.

Container Description Date
Box 5, Folder 5 A-J
 1978 Apr-2001 Sep 6
Box 5, Folder 6 M-R
 1978 Mar 17-2001 Nov 17
Box 5, Folder 7 S-W
 1976 Oct 29-2002 May 19

Series 4. Miscellaneous press
Box 5, Folders 8-10
The material in this series was originally in an envelope labeled “miscellaneous press”. It includes fliers, which Magee had labeled “posters”, for Moonwork and the West Bank Cafe; theater reviews from various newspapers and magazines, three 8x10 photographs of Magee and several of his resumes. The posters and press for the West Bank Cafe include a list of the plays presented and performers who appeared at the cafe between the fall of 1983 and the summer of 1986.

Container Description Date
Box 5, Folder 8 Rusty Magee's resumes, posters and photographs
 1989 May 9-1993 Jun 7
Box 5, Folder 9 Moonwork posters
 1997 Nov 15-2001 Nov 3
Box 5, Folder 10 West Bank posters and press
 1983 Sep-1998 Dec 31

Series 5. Audiovisual material
Boxes 5-7
This series contains audiocassettes, compact discs, DVDs and one VHS tape. Most were not commercially produced. They include recordings of Magee’s performances and of plays for which he wrote music. Each type of recording is arranged alphabetically by title. All of the DVDs in this series are DVD-Rs. They must be played using "Power DVD". They will not play using "Windows Media Player". This material is in shoeboxes which are housed within records center boxes.

A. Audiocassettes
Boxes 5-6

Container Description Date
Box 5, Shoebox 1 Audiocassettes
Contents Note:
  • 19th Street Shuffle: Selections from Act I (undated)
  • 52nd St. Project (2001 May 3)
  • 52nd St. Project master (2002 Mar)
  • 52nd St. Project: JLo, cruise ship (undated)
  • 1919: A Baseball Opera (1981 Jun 24)
  • 1919: A Baseball Opera, 1 of 2 (1981 Jul 10)
  • 1919: A Baseball Opera, 2 of 2 (1981 Jul 10)
  • 1919: A Baseball Opera (1981 Jul 11)
  • 1919 NPR interview (1981 Oct)
  • 1919: A Baseball Opera (1983 Summer)
  • 1919: A Baseball Opera (1993 Jan 24)
  • 1919 ASCAP (undated)
  • 1960's Revue (1980 May 1)
  • 1960's Revue (1980 May 2)
  • 1960's Revue (1980 May 3)
  • All I Can Take, Just My luck (undated)
  • Arnold Advertising, Blue Cross, Kathy's Birth (undated)
  • Company 78 (undated)
  • Czar of Rock and Roll (1984 Feb 11)
  • Czar of Rock and Roll (1988 Mar 24)
  • Demo 83 (undated)
  • EST work v. Curt (1998 Oct)


 1980 May 1-2002 Mar
Box 5, Shoebox 2 Audiocassettes
Contents Note:
  • Flurry Tale with Rusty (1983 Nov 7)
  • Flurry Tale master (undated)
  • Free show (1984 May 13)
  • Free show (1984 May 19)
  • Free Show (1984 mid-July)
  • Free show (1984 Aug 8)
  • Free show (1984 Dec 8)
  • Free show part 2 (1984 Dec 8)
  • Free show (1985 Aug 17)
  • Free show (1986 Apr 12)
  • Free show (1986 May 17)
  • Free show (1987 Jan)
  • Free show (1987 Feb 21)
  • Free show, 1 of 2 (1987 Jul 19)
  • Free show, 2 of 2 (1987 Jul 19)
  • Free show (1987 Oct)
  • Free show (1988 Feb 20)
  • Free show (1988 Feb 27)
  • Free show (1988 May 5)
  • Free show (1988 May 26)
  • Free show (1988 Apr 13)


 1983 Nov 7-1988 Apr 13
Box 6, Shoebox 1 Audiocassettes
Contents Note:
  • Free show (1988 Nov)
  • Free show (1989 Jan 21)
  • Free show (1989 Aug 13)
  • Free show (1989 Oct 14)
  • Free show (1990, early)
  • Free show (1990 Jun 17)
  • Free show (1990 Jul 14)
  • Free show (1990 Jul 21)
  • Free show (Apr 13, no year given)
  • Free show (May 6, no year given)
  • Free show (Oct, no year given)
  • Greatest bluff of all (1990)
  • Green Heart (1994 Jun 16)
  • Green Heart (1994-1995)
  • Green Heart (1995 Mar 17)
  • Green Heart no. 2 (1995 Sep)
  • Green Heart no. 3 (1996 Mar)
  • Green Heart no. 4 (1996 Aug)
  • Green Heart (1997 Feb 27)
  • Green Heart (1997 Feb 28)
  • Green Heart (1997 Apr 27)


 1988 Nov-1997 Apr 27
Box 6, Shoebox 2 Audiocassettes
Contents Note:
  • Holiday show (undated)
  • In the Beginning: Act 1 (1994 Sep 22)
  • In the Beginning (undated)
  • In the Beginning: Prelim (undated)
  • Louisiana show (1980s Feb 11)
  • Love Thy Neighbor (undated)
  • Me and Rusty Magee with Pattie Darcy (1989 Jun)
  • Me and Rusty Magee: West Bank Cafe (1989 Dec 2)
  • New Musicals Cabaret (1995 Aug 25)
  • Piano, Cronkite's last show (1980 Summer)
  • Rusty and George and Debbie (1983 Spring)
  • Rusty at WPI (1994 Sep)
  • Rusty compilation (2002 Nov 25)
  • Rusty demo work tape: master (1983 Oct)
  • Rusty Descending (1989 Nov)
  • Rusty EST (1998 Aug)
  • Rusty EW (1989 Mar 13)
  • Rusty Magee at Writers' Cabaret (1982 Jun 14)
  • Rusty Magee music (1980 Dec)
  • Rusty Magee: Opening Day/Opening Night (1988 Apr)
  • Rusty Never Sleeps (1990 Feb 8)


 1980 Dec-2002 Nov 25
Box 6, Shoebox 3 Audiocassettes
Contents Note:
  • Rusty Never Sleeps (1990 Feb 9)
  • Rusty Never Sleeps (1990 Feb 15)
  • Rusty on accordion: Yale-Suicide (undated)
  • Rusty on piano (undated)
  • Rusty piano CSNT (1973)
  • Rusty piano with Alison (1986)
  • Rusty playing piano (1980s Jan 31)
  • Rusty sings songs (undated)
  • Rusty summer '93 show at WBC (undated)
  • Rusty tape (undated)
  • Rusty Texas songs (undated)
  • Rusty's EST show (1998 Oct)
  • Rusty's performance (1989 Apr 21)
  • Rusty's record offer (undated)
  • Sacred Cows "A New Beginning" (1993 Mar 17)
  • Scapin (Dec 16, no year given)
  • Scapin at UCSD (undated)
  • Scapin CSC (undated)
  • Scapin, Yale Rep music selections: master (1991 Apr 20)
  • Seattle I: Piano improvs (1981 Nov 21-Dec 4)
  • Seattle II: Piano improvs by Rusty Magee (1981)


 1973-1998 Oct
Box 6, Shoebox 4 Audiocassettes
Contents Note:
  • Servant of Two Masters: 1 of 2 (1992)
  • Servant of Two Masters: 2 of 2 (1992)
  • Servant of Two Masters (undated)
  • Servant of Two Masters: songs (1996 Oct)
  • Servant: Rusty singing (undated)
  • Song ideas (2001 Feb 16)
  • Stress for Success (1987 Feb 6)
  • Stress for Success (1987 Feb 21)
  • Stress for Success (1987 Mar 6)
  • Stress for Success (1987 May 6)
  • Summer rerun show: West Bank Cafe (1989 Jul 21)
  • Ubu Rock Instrumentals: 1 of 2 (undated)
  • Ubu Rock Instrumentals: 2 of 2 (undated)
  • Ubu Rock live (1995 Aug)
  • Ubu Rock: master (undated)
  • Ubu Rock: WBUR Boston (1995 Jun 7)
  • West Bank Christmas show (1994 Dec)
  • Working songs II (1989)
  • Zell Project (1996 Nov)


 1987 Feb 6-2001 Feb 16)

B. Compact discs
Box 7, Shoebox 1

  • 1919: A Baseball Opera (undated)
  • Alison Fraser: A New York Romance (2005)
  • Czar of Rock and Roll: Demo (undated)
  • Flurry Tale (undated)
  • Green Heart: Sampler (undated)
  • The Irish and How They Got That Way: Original Cast Recording (1998)
  • A Midsummer Night's Dream: Original Cast Recording (undated)
  • Patti Darcy and Rusty Magee: April 1990 (1990)
  • Rusty Magee: Children's Songs (undated)
  • Rusty Magee: Children's Songs, revised (undated)
  • Rusty Magee: Songs (undated)
  • Scapin (1993)
  • Stress for Success: Rusty Magee Live at the West Bank Cafe (1987 Mar)
  • Sweet Appreciation: Rusty Magee Live at the West Bank Cafe (undated)
  • Ubu Rock: Demo (undated)
  • What You Will (undated)
  • What You Will (Twelfth Night): Demo (undated)

C. DVDs
Box 7, Shoeboxes 1-2

Container Description Date
Box 7, Shoebox 1 DVDs
Contents Note:
  • 52nd St. Project: Breaking the Mold (1996 Jan 22-23)
  • 52nd St. Project: Double or Nothing, 1 of 2 (1995 Aug 10-13
  • 52nd St. Project: Double or Nothing, 2 of 2 (1995 Aug 10-13)
  • 52nd St. Project: Follow Your Nose (2000 Mar 24-26)
  • 52nd St. Project: Go Figure, 1 of 2 (1999 Mar 26-28)
  • 52nd St. Project: Go Figure, 2 of 2 (1999 Mar 26-28)
  • 52nd St. Project: Just Askin, 1 of 2 (2001 Mar 23-25)
  • 52nd St. Project: Just Askin, 2 of 2 (2001 Mar 23-25)
  • 52nd St. Project: Oops! The Accidental Plays (1998 Dec 11-13)
  • 52nd St. Project: Pie in the Sky, 1 of 2 (1999 Dec 17-19)
  • 52nd St. Project: Pie in the Sky, 2 of 2 (1999 Dec 17-19)
  • 52nd St. Project: Playing with Fire, 1 of 2 (1996 Jul 25-28)
  • 52nd St. Project: Playing with Fire, 2 of 2 (1996 Jul 25-28)
  • Comedy Tonight with Rusty Magee (undated)
  • Czar of Rock and Roll & American Rebel (undated)
  • Moonwork 1 (1996 Feb 24-1997 Feb 5)


 1995 Aug 10-2001 Mar 25
Box 7, Shoebox 2 DVDs
Contents Note:
  • Moonwork 2 (1997 Sep 20 and 1997 Nov 15)
  • Moonwork 3 (1998 Sep 12 and 1999)
  • Moonwork 4 (1999 and 2001 Dec 1)
  • Moonwork: A Midsummer Night's Dream (undated)
  • Moonwork's "Golden Shoehorn Awards" (1999 Jun)
  • Prom Queen with Rusty Magee (undated)
  • Rusty at 82nd St. & 1986 Free Show at the West Bank Cafe (undated)
  • Rusty Magee: A Celebration of Our Beloved Friend (2003 Mar 2)
  • Rusty Magee and Friends at the West Bank Cafe (2000 May 25)
  • Rusty Magee and Lewis Black at the Market Theatre (undated)
  • Rusty Magee and Lewis Black: Midnight Free Show at West Bank Cafe (1990)
  • Rusty Magee at Alices' 4th Floor: 3 shows (undated)
  • Rusty Magee at Carolinas Comedy Club: Clip (undated)
  • Rusty Magee at Improv, New York City: 2 shows (1991 Nov 2)
  • Rusty Magee at Improv (1992)
  • Rusty Magee at Improv (undated)
  • Rusty Magee at West Bank Cafe: Close camera (1991)
  • Rusty Mage in concert (1989 Apr 19)
  • Rusty Magee in concert (1989 Jun 3)
  • Rusty Magee: Midnight Free Show at West Bank Cafe (1985 May 25)
  • Rusty Magee: Midnight Free Show at West Bank Cafe (1986)
  • Rusty Magee "Never Sleeps" (undated)
  • Rusty Magee: Scapin videos (undated)
  • Rusty Magee: The Free Show at the West Bank Cafe, Christmas (1987)
  • Rusty Magee: The Last Free Show of 1986 (undated)
  • Rusty Magee: Various (undated)
  • Sweet Appreciation: Rusty Magee Live at the West Bank Cafe (undated)
  • Sweet Appreciation II: A Celebration of Rusty Magee (undated)
  • Ubu Rock: Review & ABC News (undated)
  • What You Will: News from the March (undated)
  • What You Will (Twelfth Night) (undated)


 1985 May 25-2003 Mar 2

D. VHS Videocassettes
Box 7, Shoebox 1
This subseries contains one VHS videocassette entitled Quayle Season