Louis Johnson papers, 1930-2020, bulk 1950-2020

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Series II: Choreography, 1960-2004

This series contains notes, photographs, posters, programs, scripts and scores related to non-ballet works that Johnson choreographed. The majority of these productions are New York based, though there are some international touring productions included in this series.

Subseries II.1: Choreography for Acts, 1966-1996

This subseries includes materials related to work Johnson completed for institutions including Radio City Music Hall and Lincoln Center as well as individual artists including Aretha Franklin.

Request Box 2

Box 2 Folder 13 Lincoln Center, 1966

Louis Johnson Dancers

Box 2 Folder 14 Peter Allen, 1982

Box 2 Folder 15 Aretha Franklin, 1996

Box 2 Folder 16 Kennedy Center Gala, Undated

Louis Johnson Dancers

Box 2 Folder 17 Radio City Music Hall, 1979

Box 2 Folder 18 Symphony Ball, 1963

Subseries II.2: Choreography for Broadway, 1961-1979

This subseries includes materials for productions Johnson choreographed that were performed on Broadway. Productions that were performed off Broadway in addition to their Broadway runs are collected under their titles in this series. For example, productions of Treemonisha performed off Broadway are still collected in this subseries.

Box 2 Folder 19 Black Nativity, 1961

Box 2 Folder 20 Daddy Goodness, 1979

Request Box 3

Box 3 Folder 1 Lost in the Stars, 1972

Box 3 Folder 2 Mahogony, 1970

Box 3 Folder 3 Play On!, 1997

Box 3 Folder 4 Purlie, 1970-1971

Box 3 Folder 5-7 Treemonisha (folders 1-3, of 4), 1975-1983

Request Box 4

Box 4 Folder 1 Treemonisha (folder 4, of 4), 1975-1983

Subseries II.3: Choreography for the Metropolitan Opera, 1973-1985

This series includes materials from Johnson's choreography work for The Met Opera productions of La Giaconda and Aida, including the 1985 televised production of Aida which was the final performance by Black opera singer Leontyne Price.

Box 4 Folder 2 La Gioconda, 1975

Box 4 Folder 3 Aida, 1973-1985

Subseries II.4: Choreography for Film, 1970-1978

This subseries collects materials from Johnson's work on Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970) and The Wiz (1978).

Box 4 Folder 4 Cotton Comes to Harlem, 1970

Box 4 Folder 5-7 The Wiz, 1978

Subseries II.5: Choreography for Off Broadway, 1960-1994

This subseries includes material from Off-Broadway musical theater productions Johnson choreographed. This includes productions with companies such as the Howard Players and the Negro Ensemble Company, collaborations with the playwright and filmmaker Marvin Van Peebles, and a production of Emporer Jones starring James Earl Jones staged at a German festival. Off Broadway productions that were originally on Broadway or moved to Broadway are collected in Series II, Subseries 2.

Request Box 5

Box 5 Folder 1 Anything Goes, 1994

Box 5 Folder 2 Black Electra, 1969

Box 5 Folder 3 Candide, Undated

Green Mansions summer stock

Box 5 Folder 4 Carnival, 1963

Howard Players

Box 5 Folder 5 Champeen, 1983

Directed by Melvin Van Peebles

Box 5 Folder 6 Damn Yankees, Undated

Hampton Institute Players

Box 5 Folder 7 Darwin's Theories, 1960

Starring Alan Alda

Box 5 Folder 8 Emperor Jones, Undated

Staged in Germany, starring James Earl Jones

Box 5 Folder 9 God is a Guess What, 1968

Box 5 Folder 10 Golden Boy, 1989-1991

Box 5 Folder 11 The Heliotrope Bouquet, 1993

Box 5 Folder 12 Kiss Me, Kate, Undated

Box 5 Folder 13 Kongi's Harvest, 1968

Box 5 Folder 14 Let My People Go, 1989

Box 5 Folder 15 Modern Jazz Quartet, 1960

Box 5 Folder 16 Pal Joey, Undated

Box 5 Folder 17 Palm Paradise Plantation, Undated

Box 5 Folder 18 Reminiscing in Tempo, 1987

Box 5 Folder 19 Rockin' to the Pointe, 1989

Request Box 6

Box 6 Folder 1 Song of the Lusitanian Bogey, 1987

Negro Ensemble Company

Box 6 Folder 2 Waltz of the Stork Boogie, 1989

Directed by Melvin Van Peebles

Subseries II.6: Choreography for Television, 1967-1971

This subseries collects material related to television specials that Johnson helped to choreograph.

Box 6 Folder 3 Dance in America, Undated

PBS

Box 6 Folder 4 The Light Fantastic, 1967

ABC

Box 6 Folder 5 Reflections on the Black Experience, 1971

WNEW-TV

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