Joseph Chaikin

Documents career and critical reception of actor-director-writer Chaikin, founder of the Open Theater.

This bibliographical study of Chaikin explores and documents his activities as actor, director, writer and teacher, with major sections devoted to live and recorded productions.Few theater artists are as revered by their peers as Joseph Chaikin, whose Open Theater is regarded as one of the most influential ensembles to perform on international stages. A glance at the index to this volume reveals the many eminent colleagues and admirers associated with Chaikin in his long and brilliant career. This first bibliographical study of Chaikin explores and documents his activities as actor, director, writer, and teacher, with major sections devoted to productions, live and recorded, and primary and secondary bibliography. The biographical sketch utilizes the assembled bibliographical materials, published and unpublished, including Chaikin's papers at Kent State University Libraries, which are cataloged here for the first time. Printed as an appendix is a previously unpublished letter Chaikin wrote to his company, which effectively expresses aspects of his philosophy and personality.