Arden at the Rosenbach
Often finding ways to collaborate, the Rosenbach Museum and Library and the Arden partnered once again on a joint donor event held on Tuesday, March 1st. Members of the Arden’s Sylvan Society and the Rosenbach’s Delancey Society gathered at the museum to take in the rare collection of theatre pieces, featured exclusively for this event.
Derick Dreher, Director of the Rosenbach and Terry Nolen, Producing Artistic Director at the Arden gave opening remarks. They welcomed Elizabeth Fuller, Rosenbach librarian, to showcase the theatre collection which included a rare second edition of Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice, published in 1619, and the libretto and music of Porgy and Bess, signed by the Gershwins and other influential members of the production.
One of the most exciting pieces of the exhibition was an early draft of Eugene O’Neill’s stageplay Anna Christie, with extensive revisions in his own hand. Members had the opportunity to get an up close and personal look at these pieces before enjoying a wine and cheese reception with guests including Grace Gonglewski (Josie Hogan from the Arden’s recent production of A Moon for the Misbegotten) and Rogelio Martinez (playwright of Wanamaker’s Pursuit, which will premiere at the Arden in April).