Michael Mooney papers and designs pertaining to the Little Players, a puppet theater 1962-1999

ArchivalResource

Michael Mooney papers and designs pertaining to the Little Players, a puppet theater, 1962-1999

Michael Mooney papers and designs pertaining to the Little Players, a puppet theater 1962-1999

http://archives.nypl.org/the/21821

The Little Players, a puppet theater, was created and produced by Francis J. Peschka (Frank) and W. Gordon Murdock (Bill) who came to New York from Ohio in 1952 and started giving puppet shows in their living room on Central Park West. Jerome Robbins discovered them and got them funding so they could quit their day jobs and start doing puppet shows full-time. The Little Players' puppet productions, which delved into classical material and were aimed at adults rather than children, soon established a following among prominent actors and other entertainment professionals. In 1982 the men returned to Ohio with their theater. Michael Mooney, a songwriter and the donor, was a friend and supporter of the theater in New York. Consists of letters and Christmas cards to Mooney from Frank Peschka and Bill Murdock, programs, schedules, a few notes, photos, clippings and ephemera all pertaining to the Little Players and one set design and three costume designs with fabric swatches by Peschka. Peschka also illustrated many of the letters and cards.

2 lin. ft. (2 boxes)

The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.