The American Magic-Lantern Theater

Artist in Residence Programs

~  College Connections ~

The American Magic-Lantern Theater has been touring for sixteen years – from Lincoln Center to Singapore – and has given performances and/or artist in residence programs at numerous Colleges and Universities. (See bottom of page.)  It is easy to make many connections between our shows and your academic community because of the shows’ historical aspects, and the academic credentials of our showman—a Harvard doctorate, two books published, and another (Cinema Before Film) on the way.

 

Artist in Residence -- Town and Gown Programming

Most of our shows are ideally suited to reach both town and gown.  For community audiences of all ages, they are easily accessible, and fun. Plus, we can offer a special Patriotic American History Show for school matinees in combination with any of our other programs. For the college or university audiences, our shows also provide historically accurate re-creations with a rich range of academic connections—film, history, art, literature, dance. 

Artist in Residence -- Film/TV/Media Studies Department

The magic lantern was the direct forerunner of today’s movies and TV.  Our illustrated lecture, Cinema Before Film, can be given in conjunction with any of our shows, and demonstrates how much of today’s “art of the cinema” was used in lantern shows. Or the format can be Q&A, or a seminar.

Artist in Residence -- History Department

The magic lantern was an integral (and little-known) part of American life in the Victorian period.  One estimate is that there were 50,000-100,000 lantern shows a year in 1895.  As part of a college residency, we are available to lecture about this magic-lantern social history, as well as methods of historical research in the field.

Artist in Residence -- Art Department

Joseph Boggs Beale, the foremost American magic-lantern artist and a central focus of Cinema Before Film, developed a new art style for screen projection.  Our lecture provides a unique look at 19th Century American art.
”Create Your Own Slides” workshops are also available—for adults, college students, and kids.

Artist in Residence -- Literature Department

Beale and his producer, C. W. Briggs, were explicitly trying to bring great American and world literature to a mass audience by producing screen versions. We examine such works as The Raven, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and Evangeline in their magic-lantern format, both as literary adaptations, and as a widely-seen form of theatrical entertainment.

Artist in Residence -- Drama and Music Departments

Magic-Lantern Shows are a unique combination of drama and music, with unique professional demands.  We are available to talk about our art, and also to give performance workshops in acting, vocal performance, and singing.

Artist in Residence -- School Matinees

Our Patriotic History Show is very popular with schools because it captures American history in story and song, and so closely fits the curriculum.  You can bus children into your venue, or we can go out to nearby schools.  Full curriculum materials are available.  (Our showman was also the former Editor in Chief of Weekly Reader.)

Artist in Residence -- Alumni Events / Fairs and Festivals

Our shows make great entertainment for Alumni Day, other alumni events, and Fairs and Festivals. They are unique, highly entertaining for the whole family, and yet full of educational substance. For a Fair or Festival setting, we offer any of our shows in a half-hour format that can be repeated multiple times during the day.

College Residencies or Performances

University	Location	Show
Princeton University	Princeton, NJ	Spring, Workshop
Orange Coast College	Costa Mesa, CA	Patriotic
Genesee Community College	Batavia, NY	Christmas
Mount Aloysius College	Cresson, PA	Patriotic, Spring
University of California	Santa Cruz, CA	Spring, Workshop
Florida Keys College	Key West, FL	Sea
Hood College	Frederic, MD	Halloween
Cloud County Community College	Concordia, KS	Valentine’s
Yale University	New Haven, CT	Bible, Halloween
Westchester Community College	Westchester, NY	Patriotic, New Year’s
Manchester College	North Manchester, IN	Halloween
Lyndon State College	St. Johnsbury, VT	Patriotic, Cinema Before Film
Hesston College	Hesston, KS	Christmas
Loraine Community College	Elyria, OH	Christmas
Martin Luther College	New Ulm, MN	Patriotic
Massachusetts College of Art	Boston, MA	Valentines, Art Workshop
Drew University	Madison, NJ	Patriotic, Cinema Before Film
University of Iowa	Iowa City, IA	Halloween, Cinema Before Film
Lake Superior State College	Sioux St. Marie, MI	Halloween
University of California	Santa Cruz, CA	Christmas, Cinema Before Film
Baton Rouge Community College	Baton Rouge, LA	Valentine, Patriotic, Workshops
Allegany College	Meadville, PA	Christmas, Patriotic
New York University	New York, NY	Halloween, Cinema Before Film
Frederick Community College	Frederick, MD	Patriotic
Bingham Young University	Provo, UT	Christmas
University of Nebraska	Lincoln, NB	Patriotic, Arts Are Basic
University of Mississippi	Oxford, MS	Patriotic, Consulting on MLs