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M ICH ELLE S MITH PE R FOR MIN G ARTS L IB RARY
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L I B . UM D. E DU/ M S PA L
The MICHELLE SMITH PERFORMING ARTS LIBRARY (MSPAL) at UMD is a lab of inspiration for faculty, staff, students and community. As the central home of music, theater and dance materials on campus, it also houses a variety of performing arts special collections, preserving unique materials related to performance, education, recordings and scholarship. MSPAL strives to reimagine the library experience, coming to life through pop-up performances, plays, musical events and lectures, and providing spaces and services to enable the creative process from conception through presentation.
EXPLORE THE GALLERY AT MSPAL THIS SEASON! “Inspired! Jim Henson at Maryland” Exhibit open through May 26, 2020 This exhibit is a window into the profound impact Jim Henson’s experiences on campus had on his creative and professional development, laying the foundation for a remarkable career that included the creation of the Muppets and beyond. It features 25 pieces of original art created by Henson, theatrical programs and ephemera, photographs and an interactive digital archive of Henson’s sketchbooks, student projects and press clippings from The Jim Henson Company Archives, Special Collections in Performing Arts and UMD’s University Archives. Video clips from the 1950s and 1960s demonstrate the breadth of Henson’s genius, already evident in his early work on local Washington television.
Image of Jim Henson provided courtesy of The Jim Henson Company Archives