Christopher Newton Collection, 1955-1998 (non-inclusive)

Christopher Newton was born in England in June of 1936. He received his education at Sir Roger Manwood’s School in Kent, the University of Leeds, Purdue University in Indiana and the University of Illinois where he received his M.A. He founded Theatre Calgary in 1968 and was the artistic director there until 1971. He was appointed as the artistic director of the Vancouver Playhouse where he established the Playhouse Acting School with Powys Thomas. Mr. Newton has also performed and directed at Stratford Festivals and on Broadway. He became the artistic director at Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake in 1979 and remained there for 23 seasons until 2002. Mr. Newton has many television, radio and film credits to his name as well as having written many stage plays. Mr. Newton has received honorary degrees from Brock University (1986), the University of Guelph (1989), Wilfrid Laurier University (1997) and Buffalo State University. He was made an Honorary Fellow at the Royal Conservatory of Music of Toronto (1993) and of Ryerson Polytechnic University (1995). He has won the Governor General’s performing arts award (2000), the Molson Prize and the Thomas DeGaetani Award from the United States Institute for Theatre Technology. In 1996 he was made an Honorary Life Member of the Association for Canadian Theatre Research and in the same year he received the M. Joan Chalmers Award for Artistic Direction. In 1995, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada and he won a Governor General's Performing Arts Award in 2000. Christopher Newton is currently the Artistic Director Emeritus at the Shaw Festival. Sources: http://www.shawfest.com/the-ensemble/christopher-newton/ http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/christopher-newton

Letter - E.C. Schmon to Arthur A. Schmon, 1 May 1919

A letter from E.C. Schmon to Arthur A. Schmon which discusses her attendance at the Broad Theatre to see the play "Tiger! Tiger!". Mrs. Schmon also discusses an outing with friends. the letter is labelled number 269.

Letter - E.C. Schmon to Arthur A. Schmon, 10 September 1918

This letter describes outings with Gus and going to the Broad Theatre to see the play "Oh! Boy". She also mentions her friend Margaret who will be married in Atlanta. This letter is labelled number 158.

Letter - E.C. Schmon to Arthur A. Schmon, 16 February 1920

The letter begins with a description of the play "Three Wise Fools" that Eleanor Celeste attended at the Broad Theatre. She states it is "the best show that I have seen in years". She also talks about a garment she plans to make. The letter is labelled number 128.

Letter - E.C. Schmon to Arthur A. Schmon, 16 March 1918

The letter discusses a dress that she will have made and includes a fashion sketch with material done by Eleanore Celeste. She mentions going to the Fox Terminal Theatre to see the war picture "Lest We Forget". She later sees her friend Martha who has found out that her husband as been wounded via telegram from Washington. This letter is labelled number 71.

Letter - E.C. Schmon to Arthur A. Schmon, 13 July 1918

Eleanore Celeste discusses going to the theatre alone and remarks "these war times are making girls independent". She also mentions her studies and how much she enjoys learning. She has enclosed an article titled "Heroes of our Army Parade in Paris". The letter is labelled number 127.

Place Card - The Hostess

A handmade place card with a pig dressed up like a clown in high heels. The card is labelled "The Hostess".