David, Sonja, and Benjamin Saar Papers

The David, Sonja and Benjamin Saar Papers are comprised of correspondence, hand- and typewritten notes, newspaper and periodical articles, board meeting notes, national and international conference ephemera, script development, photographs, slides, production materials, drawings and paintings by Benjamin Saar, VHS and AV materials, HIV/AIDS resources, and lesson plans. The collection documents David Saar's professional contributions, including his writing of The Yellow Boat, as well as artwork and notes from his wife, Sonja Saar. Benjamin's life inspired the writing of The Yellow Boat.

Series I: Professional History documents David Saar's education as an undergraduate and graduate student at Valparaiso University and Arizona State University as well as career highlights at Childsplay. Sub-Series A: Resumes and Awards documents Saar's teaching experiences at Mesa Public Schools and highlights achievements including the Winifred Ward Fellowship Award Announcement, recognition from the Tempe Municipal Arts Commission, and the Ann Shaw Fellowship as well as international work including travel to the Netherlands Festival. Sub-Series B: Calendars includes personal notebooks with schedules and important dates for David Saar from 1978-2015.

Series II: Conference Participation includes programs, ephemera, and correspondence from David Saar's contributions to international theatre and playwriting, as well as his work as a panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts.

Series III: Committee Participation documents David Saar's involvement in local, regional and international efforts to improve access and funding to the arts. Sub-Series A: Tempe Municipal Arts Commission includes meeting minutes, planning materials, and memorandums from 1991-1996. This subseries includes materials documenting the planning and construction of the Tempe Arts Center and revitalization of downtown Tempe. Sub-Series B: Arizona and National Committees documents David Saar's involvement in the Arizona Theatre Alliance, the Flinn Scholars Program at Arizona State University, and his support for the Herberger College of Fine Arts as an alumnus.

Series IV: Teaching Materials houses David Saar's early lesson plans as an instructor, notes from his graduate studies in Child Drama at Arizona State University, handwritten notes from coursework with Lin Wright, and various lesson plans developed at Childsplay. Series V: Directing documents David Saar's work with Seattle Children's Theatre for the production of Charlotte's Web, The Origins of Happiness in Latin, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane at Coterie Theatre, and notes and correspondence from Bonderman Playwriting Project.

Series VI: The Yellow Boat, Sub-Series A: Play Development documents David Saar's entire playwriting process for The Yellow Boat, including Saar's award from the Winifred Ward Fellowship to fund the writing process, time spent at the New Visions, New Voices Festival in Washington, DC to further develop the script, and correspondence between Saar and Suzan Zeder. There are 18 versions of scripts included, with notes and revisions documented between versions. Sub-Series B: Benjamin Saar Biographical Information includes photographs, scrapbooks, short stories, and letters from Benjamin. Restricted materials include correspondence from school teachers and medical records. Sub-Series C: Artwork includes original drawings by Benjamin Saar prior to and during his treatment for HIV/AIDS. Several pieces directly inspired the writing of The Yellow Boat.

Sub-Series D: Productions documents performances of The Yellow Boat by Childsplay in Tempe, Arizona, Metro Theatre Company in St. Louis, Missouri, and national and international performances following its premiere. Materials include programs, correspondence with Carol North Evans, photographs, cast lists, and such administrative materials as payment and expenses. The Yellow Boat premiered at Tempe Performing Arts Center in 1992 and toured for additional development at UT-Austin in 1993. In October 1993, the play was performed in Tucson, Arizona and Tempe, Arizona at the Tempe Performing Arts Center. Of significance in this series are letters from audience members, chiefly children, who attended performances and provided feedback from 1993-2009.

Sub-Series E: HIV/AIDS Resource Materials includes educational and informational materials for patients and family members regarding treatment in the 1980s to 1990s. It also includes material from The National Hemophilia Foundation and newspaper articles about HIV/AIDS. Sub-Series F: Audiovisual Materials includes photographs, cassette tapes, and VHS from performances of The Yellow Boat.