Treasures on the 4th Floor – Visiting the Players Foundation

By CHARLENE WEISLER SCHWARTZKOPF

Upstairs at The Players

Ever been to the 4th floor of The Players? Me neither. Which is why I was very excited to climb those stairs and visit the Players Foundation for Theatre Education, which is located up there. According to their website, the Foundation was “established to foster an understanding and appreciation of American Theatre, utilizing the history of The Players and its illustrious members who have contributed to that legacy.” It is actually a 501c3 organization that is separate from The Players, but it houses, according to Board member Elizabeth Jackson, more than a half million different pieces of Players history.

The Players Foundation is dedicated to preserving all of these fragile, dusty, fascinating pieces of historical theatrical ephemera.  It is truly a unique collection of theater history housed in a single (might I add small) location. Items are constantly being digitized and cataloged. Who knew we were in such historically important company?

Lock of Edwin Booth's hair given to The Players by Houdini

I was privy to a small peek at their vast collection, which includes rare books and manuscript letters, theatrical artifacts, costumes, playbills, photographs and some offbeat collectibles, such as a lock of Edwin Booth’s hair given to the Club by Houdini and a signed book of poems by Oscar Wilde that includes a telegram. 

The Foundation is  responsible not only for all of these objects but also for the restoration of our art collection as well as the historic Booth room. In fact there is currently a donation drive for Phase II – to restore the sitting room side of Mr. Booth’s room. Phase I completed the restoration of his sleeping area. 

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO LEARN HOW YOU CAN DONATE. 

All donations are 100% tax deductible.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF PHASE I

Charlene Weisler Schwartzkopf

Charlene Schwarzkopf, a member since 2018, has a 35+ year career in media research and business affairs at such companies as NBCU, Discovery, A&E, FX and AMC Networks. She currently leads a consultancy that advises in data and analytics and writes on the subject for major media publications. In her spare time she writes on the new age and, intermittently, creates assemblage art.