| Description | This series is comprised primarily of photocopies from the Edward Choate collection which was deposited at Theatrical Research, University of Wisconsin. This material was copied on Laurie Shields behalf in 1971. A small number of original documents relating to Choate are also included in this series. In 1939 Arthur Shields entered into partnership with Edward Choate a New York based theatre producer. With Shields help Choate received the U.S. production rights to Paul Vincent Carroll's 'Kindred'. Carroll an Irish born playwright then living in Scotland had enjoyed both critical acclaim and some commercial success on Broadway with his two previous plays 'Shadow and Substance' and 'The White Steed'. In the event 'Kindred' which open on Broadway on 26 December 1939 on ran for 16 performances. In order to salvage something from the venture Choate and Shields hastily organised a production of O'Casey's 'Juno and the Paycock' using many of the cast members from 'Kindred'. Although Shields and Choate's business partnership ended after this production, they continued to correspond and Choate continued his involvement with Carroll, producing his next play 'The Strings, My Lord, Are False'. |