Two Spenser Lecturers Scheduled This Year

Tom Patterson and Lincoln E. Kirstein '30, two of America's outstanding leaders in the field of repertory theatre, will deliver this year's Theodore Spenser lectures on drama. Archibald MacLeish, Boylston Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory, announced yesterday.

The lectures, given in honor of the former Boylston professor, will be centered this year on the different types of possible repertory companies. MacLeish believes that with "everyone hoping for the creation of a theatre at Harvard, these lectures will focus some light on what type to have."

One Lecture Usual

Generally, there is only one Spenser speaker, but with the opportunity to have both these prominent artists speak, it was decided to have two. Patterson will talk in Fogg Auditorium on March 17, and Kirstein will speak on March 29 in New Lecture Hall.

Patterson is artistic director of the Shakespeare festival, which has been presented in Stratford-on-Ontario. MacLeish has called this festival "the most exciting new repertory theatre in America." Patterson will speak about his Stratford company, and will also show a motion picture, which highlights the festival activities.

Kiratein Directed Ballet

Kiratein, the former director of New York's City Center theatre, is the founder and former leader of the City Center Ballet Company, one of the first America ballet companies. His topic is "The Future of the Lyric Theatre," but it will probably encompass the future of the whole artistic theatre, MacLeish believes.

After Kirstein's talk, the floor will be open to questions, and MacLeish hopes that important ideas on a future theatre at Harvard may be brought out then.

In past year Spenser Lecturers have included such well-known playwrights as T. S. Eliot '09 and Thornton Wilder.