The Hanna Theater Curtain was sent out for conservation assessment in 2007 and is now being stored, indefinitely inaccessible for viewing. When we know what it will cost to perform the necessary preservation treatment and perhaps have it mounted somewhere for long-term viewing, we will probably need to conduct a fundraising drive. Comments, questions and suggestions are appreciated and may be sent to the Special Collections Librarian at w.barrow@csuohio.edu, or telephoned to him at (216) 687-6998. |
Hanna Theater Curtain The Hanna Theater Curtain is a unique part of Cleveland's theater history. It was common practice for traveling companies to leave their mark backstage on theater curtains; it might be a shirt or poster stitched to the lining; an original drawing by the scene designer; signatures of the cast; anything which proclaimed "we were here!" Over the years, the Hanna Theater Curtain accumulated hundreds of such posters, T-shirts, colorful, whimsical drawings, signatures of legendary names in the theater, and miscellaneous objects such as dolls and balloons. In time, the Hanna Curtain itself became a legend within the performing arts community of Northeast Ohio--a unique, unsurpassed collage of theater memorabilia. Today, all that remains of the elegant Hanna Theater Curtain is the canvas liner. By 2002, badly worn and in need of substantial restoration, the curtain liner was rescued from destruction by faculty members in the Dramatic Arts Department of Cleveland State University. It is now housed in the Special Collections Department of the University Library, awaiting restoration efforts. A unique treasure of Cleveland's theatrical past, the Hanna Theater Curtain has inestimable educational value for today's theater arts students, and for the broader performing arts community. |
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This web page was prepared by Lesley Jorbin, Humanities & Music Librarian, Cleveland State University Library, Cleveland, Ohio. |
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