Series II comprises material relating to Gabriele's interest in the development of acting techniques for opera singers This series documents Gabriele's various forays - vocal, directorial, and pedagogical - into operatic method acting, including her work with Masterworks Laboratory Theater and the Actors Studio, as well as her other directorial work (with Princeton Opera Workshop, on The Disappointment, and with Giovanetti Opera). It contains production documents, publicity materials, press clippings, notebooks, photographs, scripts, recordings, and scores relating to the Masterworks Laboratory Theater (including the production of La Traviata), the Princeton and SUNY Purchase opera workshops, and other pedagogical and/or directorial endeavors. Gabriele's pedagogical work at SUNY Purchase (and, to a lesser extent, Queens College, CUNY) is a major component of this series, represented in notebooks, course documents, workshop handouts, and materials relating to the performance of opera scenes by Gabriele's students. This series also contains material relating to Gabriele's 1976 manifesto, "Why Can't Opera Singers Act?: Acting in Opera - The Fourth Dimension," co-written with Walt Witcover. A number of Gabriele's productions are featured in this series, but her stagings of Madama Butterfly (SUNY Purchase), Bastien und Bastienne and L'oca del Cairo (Masterworks Laboratory Theater), Ariadne auf Naxos (Giovanetti Opera), and The Disappointment (various venues) are particularly well represented. This series includes annotated scores for many of the operas that Gabriele directed, including a full score, piano-vocal score, and parts for a reconstruction of Andrew Barton's The Disappointment. Many of the productions featured in this series have audio and visual documentation, including recordings of productions at Masterworks Laboratory Theater and at SUNY Purchase, and photographs of productions that Gabriele directed or starred in.
Box 7 Folder 5
Fan mail re. Traviata, 1964, 1966-1968, 1984
Letters to Gabriele congratulating her on various performances, from various individuals and organizations. Includes some unrelated personal correspondence.
Box 7 Folder 6
Parts for The Disappointment, circa 1976
Loose onionskin pages, handwritten. Includes string, woodwind, and harpsichord parts.
Box 7 Folder 7
Disappointment transpositions: Act II #16; Act I #7; Act II #19, circa 1976
Copies of handwritten parts.
Box 7 Folder 8
Piano-vocal score for The Disappointment, circa 1976
Loose pages, photocopied. Annotated. Multiple copies.
Box 7 Folder 9
Planning documents for The Disappointment, circa 1975-1976
Includes plot outlines, lists of musical numbers, budgetary documents, project descriptions, handwritten notes, character lists.
Box 8 Folder 1
A prop list for Gabriele's production of L'oca del Cairo, circa 1980
Typewritten, annotated in pencil.
Box 8 Folder 2
Piano-vocal scores of L'oca del Cairo, 1938, undated
Annotated published scores. Interleaved is an annotated flyer for the performance of L'oca del Cairo with Masterworks Laboratory Theater and a photocopy of the sheet music for a Mozart piano sonata.
Box 8 Folder 3
Publicity and administrative documents for Gabriele's production of L'oca del Cairo, 1980, 1989, undated
Includes annotated flyers, correspondence, receipts, invoices, a photocopied extract of the score (with an annotated English translation), handwritten and typed notes, a copy of the essay "A Director's Guide to Play Analysis," and a flyer for the New York City Opera season 1989.
Box 8 Folder 4
Photographs of Gabriele's production of L'oca del Cairo, circa 1980
Box 8 Folder 5
Notebook for productions of Bastien und Bastienne and L'oca del Cairo, 1979
Spiralbound notebook. Some loose pages are interleaved.
Box 8 Folder 6
Programs and Sheldon Harnick's English libretto translation for Gabriele's production of L'oca del Cairo, 1980
Box 8 Folder 7
Photocopy of the published piano-vocal score for L'oca de Cairo, 1938, circa 1980
Originally in a ringbinder. Some annotations (such as the English translation) are present in the scan, while others are marked on the pages in pencil. The pages appear to have been glued back to back.
Box 9 Folder 1-6
Teaching notebooks for courses, workshops, and Masterworks Laboratory Theater productions, 1976, 1983, undated, 6 folders
Many notes are likely for Gabriele's classes at SUNY Purchase. There are some loose pages interleaved and some other material is stapled inside. Contains feedback for students on rehearsals or workshops of arias, scenes, or entire operas. Includes draft translations of sections of opera libretti. Includes some attendence registers. Includes notes on acting and singing technique. Many are labelled with the names of operas (Lucia Silla, Semiramide, Ernani, I Lombardi, Candide, Norma, Otello, Anna Bolena, Shepherd on the Rock, La fille du régiment, Julius Caesar). Other labels include: "Notes for Rehearsals"; "Work Materials for Teaching"; "Masterclasses and Symposiums"; "Opera Translations"; "MLT Volume 1." In a box titled "Teaching Materials."
Box 10 Folder 1
Administrative documents and a score for Gabriele's production of Bastien und Bastienne, 1969, 1980
Originally in a ringbinder. Includes rehearsal schedules, Gabriele's notes, personnel list,a hand-drawn set design, props list, annotated programs, and a photocopy of a 1969 score for Mozart's opera with an English translation by Basil Swift.
Box 10 Folder 2
Photographs of Gabriele's production of Bastien und Bastienne, circa 1980
Box 10 Folder 3
Simple scenes and study guides, undated
Notes and handouts for workshops with Peter Schlosser and Walt Witcover. Seemingly for Masterworks Laboratory Theater and for SUNY Purchase.
Box 10 Folder 4
Course descriptions and course plan, 1979, 1985, undated
For Gabriele's courses and workshops at SUNY Purchase, including: the Fall 1979 scene workshop, "Acting Training for Singers," the summer workshop "The Serious as Popular and the Popular as Serious," "Opera Performance Workshop," "Performance Workshop for Opera, Musical Comedy, and Cabaret," "Singer's Performance Workshop or Acting Technique for Singers" (with Peter Schlosser), "Singers' Performance Workshop" (with Peter Schlosser), "Opera and Broadway Musical Workshop" (with Marie Traficante). Includes a press release from SUNY Purchase for Gabriele's 1985 "Opera Performance Workshop." Mostly typewritten documents (with pencil annotations) but also includes handwritten documents.
Box 10 Folder 5
"Why Can't Opera Singers Act?" article by Gabriele and Walt Witcover, 1978
Includes annotated typewritten and handwritten drafts, correspondence with editors at High Fidelity and Opera News, biographical notes for Gabriele and Witcover.
Box 10 Folder 6
Assignment prompts for Gabriele's courses at SUNY Purchase, 1974, 1990-1993, undated
Includes posters/flyers for her opera workshop and other related ephemera.
Box 10 Folder 7
Photographs of Masterworks Laboratory Theater's La Traviata, circa 1966-1969
Includes a piece of correspondence from Walt [Witcover?].
Box 10 Folder 8
Photographs of a Masterworks Laboratory Theater benefit concert, 1979
Box 11 Folder 1-2
Production documents relating to Gabriele's production of Madama Butterfly at SUNY Purchase, 1984-1985, 2 folders
Includes set designs, prop lists, personnel lists, cast lists, notebooks (spiralbound and legal pad) with Gabriele's directorial notes, other documents relating to the production. Also contains Gabriele's research into other productions of the opera and a copy of the original David Belasco play, Madame Butterfly: A Tragedy of Japan.
Box 11 Folder 3-4
Documents relating to Gabriele's production of Ariadne auf Naxos for Giovanetti Opera, 1989, 2 folders
Includes rehearsal schedules, cast lists, set designs, Gabriele's notes, programs, annotated copies of the score, newspaper clippings, publicity headshots of the cast. Includes fundraising material for Giovanetti Opera, and the program for a benefit concert.
Box 11 Folder 5
Libretti for Gabriele's production of Ariadne auf Naxos for Giovanetti Opera, circa 1989
Includes a photocopy of the published Boosey and Hawkes German libretto and a typewritten English translation.
Box 11 Folder 6
Notebooks for Gabriele's production of Ariadne auf Naxos for Giovanetti Opera, circa 1989
Some typewritten material is taped inside.
Box 12 Folder 1-2
MLT Traviata director score/notes, 1966-1969, 2 folders
Annotated photocopy of the piano-vocal score of the opera, with typewritten stage directions stapled to the back of each page. Two copies: one bound, one loose.
Box 12 Folder 3
English translations of La Traviata for Masterworks Laboratory Theater, circa 1966-1969
English translation (by Steve Brown) is either written in ink onto photocopies of pages of the piano-vocal score or separately typewritten. Some pages are stapled together. Includes photocopies of articles about Verdi's dramatization.
Box 12 Folder 4
Documents relating to Masterworks Laboratory Theater's La Traviata, 1969, undated
Programs; photographs of the production; plot synopsis of the second act; a cast list; a typed script of the fourth act; correspondence.
Box 12 Folder 5
Formation MLT; MLT Opera Workshop class announcements and course descriptions, 1975, 1981, undated
Includes: an announcement for the founding of the workshop; a course description for their "Acting For Singers," "Method Acting For Singers," "Acting Techniques for Singers," and "Singers' Performance Workshop" classes (all taught by Gabriele); a history of the theater; an invitation to a "work in progress" session.
Box 12 Folder 6
MLT philosophy and history, 1986, undated
Includes a proposal for a lecture about the theater for the ATA Convention; an info packet containing a mission statement and photocopies of reviews; a bound photobook containing a history of the theater.
Box 12 Folder 7
MLT Leyna G. and Walt rebuttal letters, 1971, 1975, 1986
From Leyna Gabriele to the critic Alan Rich, who criticized MLT's production of The Gondeliers. From Walt Witcover to Christopher Hunt at SUNY Purchase, complaining about Peter Sellars' production of Cosi Fan Tutte. A resignation letter from Richard Moss addressed to Walt Witcover.
Box 13 Folder 1
MLT Workshop of Leyna Gabriele and Peter Schlosser, 1975, 1979, 1981, 1983
Flyers, mailouts, and press releases, typed. Includes announcments for opera scene showcases, "work in progress" sessions, open classes, and L'oca del Cairo (all taught or directed by Gabriele).
Box 13 Folder 2
MLT Chez Vito cast party; MLT Benefit: Jerry Stiller birthday party (photographs), undated
Box 13 Folder 3
MLT performances and photographs: "Serving of Verse", 1973
Benefit for Israel titled: "A Serving of Verse Garnished with Song and Story." Also includes a program, a press release, a flyer, a budget, a clipping of a review.
Box 13 Folder 4
MLT: "Mozart as Dramatist" photos, 1973
Labeled on the back with the name of the scene. Includes a press clipping.
Box 13 Folder 5
MLT "Experiments in Lyric Theater", 1970
Labeled on the back with the names of performers.
Box 13 Folder 6
MLT projects, 1967-1968, 1970, 1973-1976, 1983-1984, 1993
Includes budgetary documents, formal correspondence (with lawyers, donors, potential donors, politicians, critics, producers, Actors Equity), handwritten notes, directories (steering committee, board of directors), documents regarding venues (electriciy billing, a photocopy of a newspaper article), a program for the production of "Domestic Relations," an application to Arts Exposure '84, meeting minutes, information and review packets, official documents relating to charity registration. Additional folder labelling included: "MLT 1. Board of Directors Info. 2. Loans to MLT. 3. Contributions 74 + 75. 4. Financial Statements 75. 5. Statement of MLT aims and purpose. 6. Legal Documents" and "1. Articles. 2. Reviews. 3. Programs. 4. Letters. 5. Grant Proposal."
Box 13 Folder 7
MLT projects and Walt, 1970-1975
Mostly press clippings and press releases. For The Gondeliers, Barbouroche, La Traviata, Three Plays of the Sea, Mozart as Dramatist, A Serving of Verse, and others. Includes a full issue of Opera News containing an article about the troupe. Includes correspondence regarding a profile on Gabriele in the New York Post.
Box 13 Folder 8
Programs and publicity relating to Masterworks Laboratory Theater's productions of Mozart and Molière and Domestic Relations, 1983, 1994
Box 14 Folder 1
Photographs of Masterworks Laboratory Theater's production of Love Lives, 1974
Box 14 Folder 2
Photographs of Masterworks Laboratory Theater's production of Don Giovanni, 1972
Box 14 Folder 3-4
Gabriele's production of The Disappointment, 1976-1977, 1982, 2 folders
At Washington Crossing State Park, Southwark Theater Philadelphia, Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce. Includes: press clippings (about Gabriele's production and a competing production of the same opera at Eastman School of Music), info packets, correspondence (with reviewers and editors), programs, rehearsal schedules, cast lists. Includes full issues of some magazines.
Box 14 Folder 5
Adjunct appointment at Queen's College, CUNY, 1997-1999
Appointment letters and letters of reccomendation for the position.
Box 15 Folder 1-2
"An Evening at the Opera" concert series at SUNY Purchase, 1983-1984, 2 folders
Includes press releases, memoranda, press clippings, programs, rehearsal schedules, student enrollment lists, correspondence (with funders), publicity material, handwritten notes, budgetary material, funding applications, costume rental forms.
Box 15 Folder 3-4
"An Evening at the Opera" notebooks, 1982-circa 1984, 2 folders
Two spiralbound notebooks. Some related documents are affixed or interleaved in the pages.
Box 15 Folder 5
Photographs of "An Evening at the Opera", 1983
Box 16 Folder 1
Gabriele's productions for the Princeton Opera Workshop, 1974-1977, 1979
For a production of Bastien und Bastienne and various scene showcases. Includes correspondence, personnel lists, handwritten notes, programs, libretti, fundraising documents, rehearsal schedules, press releases.
Box 16 Folder 2-3
Princeton Opera Workshop notebooks, 1976, undated, 2 folders
Two spiralbound director's notebooks. Some related documents are affixed or interleaved in the pages. Includes notes on Gabriele's production of The Disappointment in Princeton.
Box 16 Folder 4
Publicity relating to Gabriele's directing, 1982-1984, 1989, 2004, undated
For: The Abduction from the Seraglio with New York Repertory Orchestra; "An Evening at the Opera" at SUNY Purchase; Madama Butterfly at SUNY Purchase; The Magic Flute at Trinity Street Auditorium and the Museum of the City of New York; Ariadne auf Naxos at SUNY Purchase; "Friends of Music" at SUNY Purchase.
Box 17 Folder 1
Photographs of Gabriele's opera productions, circa 1985
Most likely Purchase Opera Company's production of Madama Butterfly and a production of Hansel und Gretel.
Box 17 Folder 2
Letters of congratulations on Gabriele's production of Madama Butterfly, 1985
From administrators at SUNY, Beverly Sills, audience members, cast members, friends.
Box 17 Folder 3
Press coverage of Gabriele's production of Madama Butterfly, 1985
Box 17 Folder 4
Programs and posters for Gabriele's production of Madama Butterfly, 1985
This folder contains racist caricatures and other material demonstrating racial prejudice towards Japanese people and culture.
Box 17 Folder 5
Slides of photographs from Gabriele's production of Madama Butterfly, 1985
Mostly backstage and front-of-house photographs. This folder contains racist caricatures (including yellowface) and other material demonstrating racial prejudice towards Japanese people and culture.
Box 18 Folder 1-4
Scripts for The Disappointment, 1976-1977, 4 folders
Edition by Shirlee Emmons, Stanley Sonntag, Leyna Gabriele, Scotia W. MacRae. Typewritten scripts. Various drafts and fragments (many of which are annotated). Includes correspondence (with reviewers, publishers, collaborators) and news clippings.
Box 18 Folder 5
Correspondence with potential funders for The Disappointment, 1975
With: Warner Brothers, the Mobil Foundation; Reader's Digest; Seagrams; Theodore Presser; American Bank Note; Texaco; IBM; Exxon; Shell; Xerox; Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance; Pepper, Hamilton and Scheetz; Shearman and Sterling. Mostly solicitation letters (from Gabriele) and rejection letters (from corporations).
Box 24 Folder 4
Piano-vocal score for The Disappointment, 1976
Handwritten score. Loose onionskin pages in a cardboard folder.
Box 24 Folder 5
Orchestral score for The Disappointment, circa 1976
Loose onionskin pages. Two handwritten scores. Includes some draft fragments.
Box 25 Folder 1
Posters for "An Evening at the Opera" at SUNY Purchase, 1983
Box 25 Folder 2
A poster for The Nutcracker at SUNY Purchase, undated
Box 26 Item 19
"Masterworks Lab. Theatre. Cut 1: Hugo Wolf Poems and 8 Songs. Cut 2: Strauss 4 Last Songs and Poems.", undated, 1 open reel audiotapes
Box 27 Item 33
"Demo Tape: The Disappointment, by Andrew Barton, America's first ballad opera, written in 1767", undated, 1 open reel audiotapes
Only the lid for the container was extant: the item has been rehoused with the lid included.
Box 28 Item 52
"Masterworks Laboratory Theatre, 'Mozart in Motion': 3rd Answork Print", undated, 1 film reels
Box 29 Item 57
"Masterworks Laboratory Theatre, La Traviata (excerpts) Act I, Leyna Gabriele and Ron Young", undated, 1 compact disks
Box 29 Item 58
"Lesson, La Traviata Act III w. Witcover Tape 3", 1989 May 27, 1 audiocassettes
Box 29 Item 59
"1/20/74 - Witcover, Muldoon, Von Voordt, Masterworks Film Discussion, Act II, Side 1, Tape 4", 1974 January 20, 1 audiocassettes
The case is labeled "1/20/70, Mozart in Motion discussion."
Box 29 Item 60
"Witcover Discussion, Act 3, Tape 2, Side 1", 1989, 1 audiocassettes
The case is labeled "Lesson: Witcover-Gabriele, 17/28/89, La Traviata, Act III, Tape 1."
Box 29 Item 61
"2 side: Traviata Act 1, Witcover-Traviata / La Traviata Discussion, W. Witcover, Act I, L. Gabriele., undated, 1 audiocassettes
Box 29 Item 62
"Walt Witcover, La Traviata, Act I, conclusion", undated, 1 audiocassettes
Box 29 Item 63
"La Traviata, Act III, Tape 2, 1, Walt Witcover", undated, 1 audiocassettes
Box 29 Item 64
"Traviata, Act II, Side 1, Tape 1, Witcover-Gabriele", undated, 1 audiocassettes
Box 29 Item 65
"Act II, Side 1, Tape 2 La Traviata Discussion, W. Witcover", undated, 1 audiocassettes
Box 29 Item 106
"Gabriele at MLT + Una voce poco fa", 1949, 1 compact disks
Includes post-it note: "Leyna sings: Wolf + Strauss Songs; Traviata excerpts; and Fulbright audition no ending (1949), 'Una voce poco fa'."
Box 29 Item 112
"Madame Butterfly, Directed by Leyna Gabriele, SUNY Purchase, Copy for Leyna Gabriele", 2015 September 8, 1 audiocassettes
Box 29 Item 116, 120
"SUNY Madame Butterfly", 1985 March 3, 2 audiocassettes
Mapcase 14-Q-2 Folder 1
A set design for Gabriele's production of Madama Butterfly at SUNY Purchase, circa 1985, 1 items
Box 31 Folder 1
A charcoal-drawn poster for the "Biondello Theater Group's" production of Harlequin (stage prop), circa 1980
Labeled "Goose" on the back. This poster was likely set dressing for Gabriele's production of Mozart's L'oca del Cairo for Masterworks Laboratory Theater.
Box 31 Folder 2
A charcoal-drawn diagram of a goose (stage prop for L'oca del Cairo), circa 1980
Box 31 Folder 3
Two posters for Masterworks Laboratory Theater's production of Boubouroche, undated
Starring Jerry Stiller, Nancy Ponder, and Georges Courteline. Artwork signed F.L. Gates.