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Category: Theater

Woman with dark hair, fancy dress and pearls with eyes closed and mouth slightly open, singing

Sheet Music of the Week: Sewing Machine – the Musical! Edition

Posted by: Pat Padua

The following is a guest post by Senior Cataloging Specialist Sharon McKinley. Elias Howe (July 9, 1819-Oct. 3, 1867) was the recipient, in 1846, of the first American patent for a sewing machine using a lockstitch design.  The new machines revolutionized the garment industry, giving rise to sweatshops, and ultimately to the International Ladies Garment Workers …

Woman with dark hair, fancy dress and pearls with eyes closed and mouth slightly open, singing

Pic of the Week: Gone Fishing Edition

Posted by: Pat Padua

Last night I watched the host of Animal Planet’s River Monsters spend three hours trying to land a giant freshwater stingray. And I wondered, what might we have in the Music Divisions coffers that conveys such adventure and derring-do? I had to look no further than the Federal Theater Project collection, subject of the exhibit …

Woman with dark hair, fancy dress and pearls with eyes closed and mouth slightly open, singing

Oliver Smith Collection…On Display!

Posted by: Cait Miller

The following is a guest post from Theater Specialist Walter Zvonchenko. Among the most significant collections acquired by the Library of Congress in very recent time is the Oliver Smith Collection of theatrical design, now in the custody of the Music Division. One of the most highly regarded and sought after stage designers of the …

Woman with dark hair, fancy dress and pearls with eyes closed and mouth slightly open, singing

A little birthday music

Posted by: Pat Padua

His work has been interpreted by everyone from Barbara Streisand to Tim Burton. Lyricist-composer Stephen Sondheim, one of the great voices in American musical theater, was born on March 22,  1930. In 2000, The Library of Congress honored him with a Living Legend award, complete with an all-star 70th birthday concert in the Coolidge Auditorium. …