“Build me a theater.” These were the words Jacob’s Pillow founder Ted Shawn spoke to architect Joseph Franz in 1941. Shawn’s instructions resulted in the construction of the distinguished Ted Shawn Theatre. They also serve as the title of the latest exhibit to occupy Blake’s Barn, which gives the viewer a peek into the rich history of the Pillow’s performance spaces.
With artifacts and photographs from the Ted Shawn Theatre, the Doris Duke Theatre, the outdoor Henry J. Leir Stage, and the Bakalar Studio, the exhibit has something new for everyone to discover, whether a first-time visitor or long-time Pillow veteran. Carefully curated by Director of Preservation Norton Owen, with assistance from Associate Archivist Patsy Gay and Archives interns Willow Green and Adriana Ogle, “Build Me a Theater” offers a close look at moments in Jacob’s Pillow’s history that could only have played out in these special spaces.
“The exciting part of talking about
history is: how can you tell it differently? How can you organize it differently? How can you bring out different aspects of it?”
This exhibit is a timely way to tell the history of Jacob’s Pillow, as many spaces are currently being renovated or rebuilt. New bench seating has recently been installed at the outdoor Henry J. Leir Stage and construction on the Ted Shawn Theatre has begun, in addition to making preparations to rebuild the Doris Duke Theatre.
Visitors to the exhibit will have a chance to explore a curated selection of artifacts and images. One highlight includes a pair of doors from the Ted Shawn Theatre dressing rooms. On these doors, viewers can see many signatures left by performers, including Dorrance Dance, the company which opened the 2021 Festival. Additionally, visitors have an opportunity to learn more about the Pillow’s first performance space: the Bakalar Studio. On display are programs that were affixed to the wall of the Bakalar for decades, which Owen says is interesting because:
“you know instantly that this
place has been around a long time.”
Other highlights include the Doris Duke Theatre sign—which was salvaged by firefighters hours before the theater was fully consumed by a structure fire on November 17, 2020—and the original ghost light from the Ted Shawn Theatre, used to light the stage area when all other lights are out. On this treasured artifact, Owen says, “I kind of love that it’s called a ghost light because it gives a sense of the spirits that are there.”
Essentially, Owen says his job is to figure out which things are going to be memorable for visitors. “And they’re not always the same for everybody,” he says. “As I sometimes say about the Archives in general: if there was just one item that would make a lightbulb moment for everybody, we’d just show that one thing, and our jobs would be a lot easier. But, in fact, people are attracted by lots of different things. And so we try to give a wide range.”
To dig deeper, visitors are invited to enter the Archives adjacent to the exhibition space. There, one can explore the Pillow’s collection of nearly 10,000 videos and discover an impressive collection of dance books, photos, and other materials.
When speaking on what he enjoys most about working in the Archives, Owen says that he loves engaging with people. “I meet a lot of people—I get a chance to hear what they’re interested in, to answer their questions, and I think give people a more personal sense of what the Pillow is about,” he says. “I’ve missed this for the last couple of years and it’s great that we can do it again.”
“Build Me a Theater” is free and open to the public, and can be viewed in Blake’s Barn Tuesday and Sunday 12pm-5pm and Wednesday through Saturday 12pm-8pm.
Written by Megan Ruffalo. Published July 2021.