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Richard Madden Starlight Musicals Programs

 Collection
Identifier: MSS094

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of several programs for musical and musical theater productions by Starlight Musicals, held at the Hilton U. Brown Theater or the Butler Bowl, and for two Broadway musicals held at Clowes Hall. The collection spans from 1965 to 1984. The programs were collected by Richard Madden, who also attended musicals across the United States and on Broadway. Playbills for non-Butler productions were deaccessioned during processing.

Dates

  • Creation: 1961 - 1984

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright restrictions apply.

Historical Note

Starlight Musicals performed musical productions in Indianapolis from 1944 to 1993. Productions initially rotated between Garfield Park, the Butler Bowl, and the Indiana State Fairgrounds. In 1955, the Hilton U. Brown Theatre opened near the Hinkle Fieldhouse on the Butler University campus and served as a home for Starlight Musicals until their bankruptcy in 1993. The Hilton U. Brown Theatre was torn down in 2005.

Extent

0.24 Linear Feet (1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This collection consists of programs for musicals and productions shown at Clowes Hall and by Starlight Musicals in Indianapolis, which held performances at the Butler Bowl and later the Hilton U. Brown Theatre on the Butler University campus.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in one series.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Richard Madden donated this collection to Butler University Libraries circa 2000 (Accession Number 2000.006).

Separated Materials

Issues of Playbill programs for musicals and theater productions held outside of Butler (on Broadway, etc.) were deaccessioned during processing.

Bibliography

“Starlight Musicals” Stars under the stars, “ Indianapolis Star, published July 22, 2016, accessed May 24, 2024, https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2016/07/22/starlight-musicals-stars- under-stars/87336058/

Genre / Form

Topical

  • Issues of <title>Playbill</title> programs for musicals and theater productions held outside of Butler (on Broadway, etc.) were deaccessioned during processing.
Title
Guide to the Richard Madden Starlight Musicals Programs
Author
By Erika Kovach, April 2024 Revised by Annie Benefiel, June 2026
Date
2026
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Butler University Special Collections and University Archives Repository

Contact:
4600 Sunset Avenue
Irwin Library 345
Indianapolis Indiana 46208 United States