Archive

Identifier: MINEOLA1999

Inclusive Dates: 1998 - 1999

Extent:

Roundabout Theatre Company staged Paula Vogel's The Mineola Twins at its Laura Pels Theatre at the Criterion Center. Previews started January 21, with opening night on February 18 and closing night May 30, 1999.

The production was nominated for numerous awards, winning the Lucille Lortel Awards for outstanding set, costume and lighting design, an OBIE for Swoosie Kurtz's performance, and Henry Hewes Design Awards for Brill, Pask and Goldstein.

Christopher Isherwood, writing for Variety in February 1999 said of the show: "The political and cultural divides of American life are roundly decried even as they are exuberantly spoofed in 'The Mineola Twins,' a bright cartoon of a play that's been given dazzling life by director Joe Mantello and the inimitable, inestimable Swoosie Kurtz...[its] go-for-broke adventurouness is endearing, and it's a divinely funny vehicle for Kurtz who, like [Carol] Burnett, has the rare talent to be most heartbreakingly human when she is at her most absurd."

Directed by Joe Mantello, with set design by Robert Brill and Scott Pask, costume design by Jess Goldstein, lighting design by Kevin Adams, and sound design by David Van Tieghem. Hair design by Bobby Miller and musical staging by Ken Roberson.

Swoosie Kurtz played the roles of Myrna/Myra, Mo Gaffney played the roles of Jim/Sarah, Mandy Siegfried played the roles of Kenny/Ben, Daniel Sherman played the role of Man #1 and Jimmy Holder played the role of Man #2. Understudies/standbys: Ellen Folley, Drew Richardson and Matthew Montelongo.  

Paula Vogel is an American Pulitzer winning playwright and former chair of the playwrighting department at Yale University. The play, The Mineola Twins, is a farcical look at the American women's movement post-World War II as seen over the span of three decades through the lives of identical twins (played by the same actor). The production was first produced in Juneau, Alaska by the Perservence Theatre Company and then produced at the Trinity Repertory Company in Providence Rhode Island. Subsequent productions after Roundabout's include Stratz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa Florida and The Arts Square Theatre in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

The production files consist of 2 Hollinger Boxes containing production documentation, casting sessions, script, press clippings, playbills, and administrative files. Collection includes only select documents detailing artistic vision for the play (set, costume, and sound design). 

Photograph folder contains extensive 8 x 10 black and white production prints, full set of black and white production contact sheets, select color slides, 5 x 7 black and white prints from opening night, and black and white contact sheets from opening night. 

Digital file contains scanned photographs, scanned press clippings, scanned playbill, scanned opening night invitation, video b-roll and audio recording from the post-show discussion on the topic of feminism in art, show art used by the marketing department to promote the production and digital scans of Jess Goldstein's costume files.

Oversize set plans/elevations drawings (11 pages) housed in flat drawers.

Marketing mock up folder contains various versions of artwork and advertising drafts.
 

Access Restrictions: Open and available for research by appointment only.

Preferred Citation: The Mineola Twins (1999), Roundabout Theatre Company Archives