Finding Aid for Thomas Schleis Papers, 1972-2012 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

By Aaron Romm

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Collection Overview

Title: Thomas Schleis Papers, 1972-2012

ID: 12/5/62

Primary Creator: Schleis, Thomas H. (1949-2012)

Extent: 10.0 cubic feet

Arrangement: Organized into four series. Series 1: Opera Theater Department Administrative Records, 1981-2012, Series 2: Class Instruction and Presentations, 1974-2012, Series 3: Research, Publications, and Program Notes, 1972-2012, Series 4: Personal Papers, 1972-2007.

Date Acquired: 10/21/2012

Subjects: Music, School of, Music - Instruction and study, Opera, Theater orchestra music

Languages: English, German, French, Italian

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Consists of class lecture notes, research and publications, event programs and program notes, correspondence, photographs, Opera Theatre production records, and personal papers documenting Schleis' career as a student, vocal coach, accompanist, and manager of the School of Music Opera Theater program between 1972 and 2012. In addition the collection also includes program notes written for Sinfonia da Camera and Champaign-Urbana Symphony concerts.

Biographical Note

Thomas H. Schleis (December 13, 1949 - July 19, 2012) was raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin by Samuel and Jeanette (Hall) Schleis. He earned his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from Lawrence University and the University of Wisconsin, and spent a year studying German opera as a Fullbright Scholar. In 1981 he joined the University of Illinois as an adjunct faculty member for the School of Music and taught music history and performance for the Opera Theatre Program. He remained with the University until his death in 2012, and also served as a vocal coach and accompanist for the Opera Department as well as manager of the Opera Theatre program. In addition he served as principal organist for the University's St. John's Chapel between 1979 and 2012, and taught non-credit classes for the University's Senior Scholars and the Elderhostel programs for over ten years.

Subject/Index Terms

Music, School of
Music - Instruction and study
Opera
Theater orchestra music

Administrative Information

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Acquisition Source: School of Music

Acquisition Method: Transfer

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Opera Theater Department Administrative Records, 1981-2012],
[Series 2: Class Instruction and Presentations, 1974-2012],
[Series 3: Research, Publications, and Program Notes, 1972-2012],
[Series 4: Personal Papers, 1972-2007],
[All]

Series 1: Opera Theater Department Administrative Records, 1981-2012

Consists of records, scores, programs, program notes, and photographs. Arranged chronologically and alphabetically thereafter. Boxes 4-5 Oversize Materials, Box 6 Audio-Visual Materials.

Box 1

Folder 1: IOT Production History/Research, 1949-1971
Folder 2: Excerpt from Ricci, L : "Puccini His Own Interpreter", 1954
Folder 3: Opera Degree, 1958-1980
Folder 4: Hoddinott, Alan: A Roman Dream, for Soprano & Instrumental Ensemble, 1969
Folder 5: Illinois Opera Theater Look-in, Director's Copy, 1978
Folder 6: IOT Presentations & Scheduling, 1980-1996
Folder 7: Ariadne auf Naxos Program, 1982
Folder 8: Audition Correspondence, 1982
Folder 9: Audition & Production Schedule, 1983
Folder 10: Cast Lists, 1983
Folder 11: IOT Season, 1983-1984
Folder 12: Various Programs & Clippings, 1984-1986
Folder 13: Fox: Sid the Serpent Who Wanted to Sing, 1985
Folder 14: Fox: Sid the Serpent Who Wanted to Sing, 1985: Duplicate, with different stage directions.
Folder 15: Promotion & Tenure Policies, 1985
Folder 16: IOT Programs, 1986-1990
Folder 17: A Little Night Music Libretto, 1988
Folder 18: Damn Yankees Libretto, BFH Musical Theater, 1988
Folder 19: Programs, 1988-1989
Folder 20: IOT Administrative Documents, 1989
Folder 21: IOT Administration, 1989-1990
Folder 22: Budget, 1989-1990
Folder 23: Old Budgets, before 1990
Folder 24: Correspondence, 1990
Folder 25: Performance Division Bylaws, 1990
Folder 26: Auditions, 1990-1991
Folder 27: Budget, 1990-1991
Folder 28: Budget, 1990-1991
Folder 29: Rodgers & Hammerstein, 1990-1992
Folder 30: Box Office Reports, 1990-1993
Folder 31: Graduate Contracts, 1990-1993
Folder 32: IOT Newslines, 1990-2000
Folder 33: Treemonisha, 1990-2000
Folder 34: "Afroamericanist" Newsletter and Correspondence, 1991
Folder 35: Stage Director Search, 1991
Folder 36: U of I Department of Dance, 1991
Folder 37: Virginia School of the Arts Summer Program Brochures, 1991
Folder 38: Visiting Artist Agreements, 1991
Folder 39: Auditions, 1991-1992
Folder 40: IOT Program Notes, CU Symphony, 1991-1992
Folder 41: Budget: Box Office Reports, 1991-1996
Folder 42: Production Proofs and Programs, 1991-2005
Folder 43: Publicity/Royalty Agreements, 1991-2007
Folder 44: La Boheme, 1992
Folder 45: "Orpheus in the Underworld" (UI Opera) Program Notes, 1992
Folder 46: "Orpheus in the Underworld" Program, Notes, 1992
Folder 47: Auditions, 1992-1993
Folder 48: The Barber of Seville, IOT, 1993: Score
Folder 49: IOT Enthusiasts, 1993
Folder 50: Auditions, 1993-1994
Folder 51: Grad Contracts, 1993-1994
Folder 52: IOT Season, 1993-1994
Folder 53: IOT Season, 1993-1994

Box 2

Folder 1: Silver Jubilee, 1994
Folder 2: Carmen, 1994
Folder 3: Correspondence, Cosmopolitan Club Dinner, 1994
Folder 4: Budget, 1994-1995
Folder 5: IOT Season, 1994-1995
Folder 6: "Simply Broadway" Score, 1995
Folder 7: Hansel and Gretel - Sketches & Photos, 1995
Folder 8: IOT Program Notes & Lectures, 1995-1998
Folder 9: Don Giovanni, 1996
Folder 10: Productions, 1996
Folder 11: Illinois Opera Theater, 1996-1998
Folder 12: Assistantships, 1996-2003
Folder 13: La Traviata Production Proofs, 1997
Folder 14: The Magic Flute Production Proofs, 1997
Folder 15: SOM San Diego Opera Reception, 1997
Folder 16: IOT The Elixir of Love Program Notes & Press, 1998
Folder 17: IOT The Merry Widow Notes, 1998
Folder 18: La Boheme Production Proofs, 1998
Folder 19: Elixer of Love Production Proofs and Orders, 1998
Folder 20: The Merry Widow Production Proofs, 1998
Folder 21: Audition Forms, 1998-1999
Folder 22: I.O.T.E. Account, 1999
Folder 23: Dialogues of the Carmelites Programs and Notes, 1999
Folder 24: Dialogue of the Carmelites Production Proofs, 1999
Folder 25: Illinois Opera Theater, 1999-2000
Folder 26: Board of Producers, 2000
Folder 27: CHP, SOM, Street Scene, Figaro cuts, 2000-2001
Folder 28: Krannert & Opera Administrative Records, 2000-2004
Folder 29: Complimentary Ticket Request Forms, 2001
Folder 30: "Cosi fan tutte" Press Materials, 2001
Folder 31: Marriage of Figaro Biographies and Program, 2001
Folder 32: Figaro Press Materials, 2001
Folder 33: Hedlund/Hadley Music, 2001
Folder 34: Street Scene Press Materials, 2001
Folder 35: Assistants & Auditions, 2001-2002
Folder 36: Opera Division Audition Notes, 2001-2002
Folder 37: Opera Budget, 2001-2002
Folder 38: IOT Auditions, 2002
Folder 39: "Romeo et Juliette" Press Materials, 2002
Folder 40: "Six Characters in Search of an Author" Press Materials, 2002
Folder 41: "Tales of Hoffman" Press Materials, 2002

Box 3

Folder 1: Various Opera Reviews, 2002-2005

Folder 2: "Hansel and Gretel" Press Materials, 2003

Folder 3: Opera Season Press Materials, 2003

Folder 4: "Suor Angelica" Supertitles, 2003

Folder 5: "The Impresario" and "Unicorn in the Garden", 2003

Folder 6: Evening of Gilbert & Sullivan, 2004

Folder 7: "The Fairy Queen", 2004

Folder 8: IOT Don Giovanni Set Design, 2004

Aaron Benson, designer

Jacque Trussel, director

Eduardo Diazmunoz, conductor.

Folder 9: Production Director Search Committee, 2004

Folder 10: "Sweeney Todd", 2004

Folder 11: Letters of Recommendation, 2004-2008

Folder 12: Cecilia Bartoli Concert Program & Notes, 2005

Folder 13: Ethics Training Certificate, 2005

Folder 14: Ground plan, La Vida Breve & L'Heure Espagnole, 2005

Folder 15: IOT Audition and Production Information, 2005

Folder 16: Letters of Recommendation, 2005

Folder 17: School of Music Faculty Memos, 2005-2006

Folder 18: Strike, 2005-2006

Folder 19: Programs & "Illinois" Magazine, 2005-2007

Folder 20: IOT Course Outline, 2006

Folder 21: ISYM Musical Theatre, 2006

Folder 22: La Vida Breve, 2006

Folder 23: "The Soldier's Tale" and "Mahogonny Songspiel", 2006

Folder 24: Hal Leonard Vocal Music Catalog, 2006-2007

Folder 25: PR Material for Opera/Show, 2006-2008

Folder 26: Miscellaneous Opera Correspondence, 2006

Folder 27: Correspondence and Planning, 2007

Folder 28: Crafts: From a Distant Mesa, 2007

Folder 29: Literatures, Cultures, & Linguistics Convocation Music, 2007

Folder 30: Tom Schleis/Jerry Herman, 2007

Folder 31: Letters of Recommendation, 2007-2008

Folder 32: Audition Complaint Letter, 2008

Folder 33: Opera Division Handbook, 2010-2011

Folder 34: IOT The Magic Flute Revisions & Guide, 2011

Folder 35: An Actor's Revenge Libretto, undated

Folder 36: Audition and Welcome Notes, undated

Folder 37: Audition Materials : Poulenc, "Vers le sud" from Calligrammes - Bizet, "Agnus Dei", undated

Folder 38: Company Script, undated

Folder 39: Erie Mills Photographs, undated

Folder 40: Eugene Onegin Excerpt, Piano-Vocal Score, undated

Folder 41: Festival Theatre, 1997

Folder 42: Illinois Kabuki Performances, undated

Folder 43: Illinois Opera Theater Opera Look-in, undated

Folder 44: J & J Lubrano Catalog, Library of Josef Marx, undated

Folder 45: King & I Production Photos, undated

Folder 46: The Magic Flute Photo Orders, undated

Folder 47: Man of La Mancha and Various Notes, undated

Folder 48: The Merry Widow Piano-Vocal Score, undated

Folder 49: A Midsummer Night's Dream Notes & Drafts, undated

Folder 50: Mikado Photos, undated

Folder 51: Photograph: Unknown Production, undated

Folder 52: Supertitles Drafts, undated

Folder 53: "Talking to the Reporter" Presentation, undated

Box 4

Folder 1: Baksa "Red Carnations" and Ravel "L'Heure Espagnole" Vocal Scores, 1981 and undated
Folder 2: Performance Posters, 1984-1985
Folder 3: Orpheus in the Underworld Script, Manuscript Scores of "Music, You're My Lover" and "I Guess This Must Be Music", c. 1991

Box 5

Folder 1: Miscellaneous Production Photos, c. 1994: Barber of Seville, Rigoletto, Oklahoma, Fledermaus, Carmen, Don Giovanni, The Wise Woman, Elixer of Love.
Folder 2: Agreement of License with G. Schirmer, Inc., 2000
Folder 3: Subtitles, 2002
Folder 4: Champaign-Urbana News Gazette Review of La Boheme, 2007
Folder 5: The King and I Production Photos, undated
Folder 6: Mozart: Figaro - Production Photos and Slides, undated
Folder 7: Program Notes Drafts & Subtitles, undated

Box 6

Audio-Visual Recording 1: Three-Penny Opera, April 21, 1988: VHS Tape. Open Dress Rehearsal. Recording location: U of I Krannert Center.
Audio-Visual Recording 2: The William Olsen Farewell Concert, April 27, 1996: VHS Tape. Performer: The Varsity Men's Glee Club.
Audio-Visual Recording 3: La Boheme, February 1998: VHS Tape.
Audio-Visual Recording 4: The Elixer of Love, November 6, 1998: VHS Tape.
Audio-Visual Recording 5: Dialogues of the Carmelites, February 27, 1999: VHS Tape.
Audio-Visual Recording 6: "Figaro", February 16, 2001: VHS Tape.
Audio-Visual Recording 7: Street Scene, Part 1, April 20, 2001
Audio-Visual Recording 8: Street Scene, Part II, April 20, 2001
Audio-Visual Recording 9: Cosi Fan Tutte, November 2, 2001: VHS Tape. Recording location: Krannert Center. Tape 1.
Audio-Visual Recording 10: Cosi Fan Tutte, November 2, 2001: VHS Tape. Recording location: Krannert Center. Tape 2.
Audio-Visual Recording 11: Cosi Fan Tutte (Mozart/DaPonte), November 3, 2001: VHS Tape. UI Opera. Recording location: KCPA FT. Tape 1 of 2.
Audio-Visual Recording 12: Cosi Fan Tutte (Mozart/DaPonte), November 3, 2001: VHS Tape. UI Opera. Recording location: KCPA - FT. Tape 2 of 2.
Audio-Visual Recording 13: "Tales of Hoffman", February 15, 2002: VHS Tape. Prologue, Act I, Act II. UI Opera. Recording location: KCPA-FT. Tape 1 of 2.
Audio-Visual Recording 14: "Tales of Hoffman", February 15, 2002: VHS Tape. Act III, Epilogue. UI Opera. Recording location: KCPA-FT. Tape 2 of 2.
Audio-Visual Recording 15: "Six Characters in Search of An Author", April 5, 2002: VHS Tape. UI Opera. Acts I and II. Recording location: KCPA-FT. Tape 1 of 2.
Audio-Visual Recording 16: "Six Characters in Search of An Author", April 5, 2002: VHS Tape. Act III. UI Opera. Recording location: KCPA-FT. Tape 2 of 2.
Audio-Visual Recording 17: "Six Characters in Search of an Author", April 6, 2002: VHS Tape. Acts I and II. UI Opera. Recording location: KCPA-FT. Tape 1 of 2.
Audio-Visual Recording 18: "Six Characters in Search of an Author", April 6, 2002: VHS Tape. Act III. UI Opera. Recording location: KCPA-FT. Tape 2 of 2.
Audio-Visual Recording 19: Romeo and Juliet, November 8, 2002: VHS Tape. Acts I and II. U of I Opera.
Audio-Visual Recording 20: Romeo and Juliet, November 8, 2002: VHS Tape. Act III.
Audio-Visual Recording 21: Romeo and Juliet, November 9, 2002: VHS Tape. Acts I and II.
Audio-Visual Recording 22: Romeo and Juliet, November 9, 2002: VHS Tape. Act III.
Audio-Visual Recording 23: "The Impresario" and "The Unicorn in the Garden", April 25, 2003: VHS Tape.
Audio-Visual Recording 24: "The Impresario" and "The Unicorn in the Garden", April 26, 2003: VHS Tape.
Audio-Visual Recording 25: Suor Angelica, November 6, 2003: VHS Tape. 1st rehearsal. "Master has problems."
Audio-Visual Recording 26: Suor Angelica, November 6, 2003: VHS Tape.
Audio-Visual Recording 27: "Schicchi", November 8, 2003: VHS Tape.
Audio-Visual Recording 29: The Fairy Queen, April 23, 2004: VHS Tape. Act I.
Audio-Visual Recording 30: The Fairy Queen, April 23, 2004: VHS Tape. Act II.
Audio-Visual Recording 31: The Fairy Queen, April 24, 2004: VHS Tape. Act I.
Audio-Visual Recording 32: The Fairy Queen, April 24, 2004: VHS Tape. Act II.
Audio-Visual Recording 33: Don Giovanni, November 11, 2004: VHS Tape. Act I. Master. Recording location: Krannert Center.
Audio-Visual Recording 34: Don Giovanni, November 11, 2004: VHS Tape. Act II. Master. Recording location: Krannert Center.