# Orson Welles theatre credits

This is a comprehensive listing of the theatre work of Orson Welles.
   There isn't one person, I suppose, in a million, who knows that I was ever in the theatre.

## 1918

| Date | Title | Author | Role | Company | Theatre | Director | Notes | References |
| July 10 | Madame Butterfly | Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, libretto Giacomo Puccini, score | Trouble | Chicago Opera | Ravinia Opera House | Cleofonte Campanini | | $^{:58}$$^{:326}$ |
| 1918 | Samson and Delilah | Ferdinand Lemaire, libretto Camille Saint-Saëns, score | walk-on | Chicago Opera | | | | $^{:326}$ |

## 1925

| Date | Title | Author | Role | Company | Theatre | Director | Notes | References |
| 1925 | Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde | Robert Louis Stevenson, novella) Orson Welles, adaptation | Dr. Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde | Camp Indianola | Governor Nelson State Park | Orson Welles | | $^{:326}$ |
| 1925 | A Christmas Carol | Charles Dickens, novella Orson Welles, adaptation | Scrooge | | Washington School, Madison, Wisconsin | Orson Welles | | $^{:326}$ |

## 1926

| Date | Title | Author | Role | Company | Theatre | Director | References |
| 1926 | Nativity play | | Mary | Todd Seminary for Boys | Todd Seminary for Boys | Roger Hill | $^{:12}$$^{:326}$ |
| 1926 | The Servant in the House | Charles Rann Kennedy | Jesus | Todd Seminary for Boys | Todd Seminary for Boys | Roger Hill | $^{:12}$ |
| 1926 | Dust of the Road | | Judas Iscariot | Todd Seminary for Boys | Todd Seminary for Boys | Roger Hill | $^{:12}$ |

## 1927

| Date | Title | Author | Role | Company | Theatre | Director | Notes | References |
| May 27 | It Won't Be Long Now | Roger Hill, libretto Carl Hendrickson, music | Jim Bailey | Todd Troupers | Durand Art Institute | Roger Hill | | $^{:135,275–276}$ |

## 1928

| Date | Title | Author | Role | Company | Theatre | Director | Notes | References |
| May 5 | Finesse the Queen | Roger Hill, libretto Carl Hendrickson, music | William J. Spurns | Todd Seminary for Boys | Lindo Theatre, Freeport, Illinois | Roger Hill | | $^{:135}$$^{:49–50}$ |

## 1929

| Date | Title | Author | Role | Company | Theatre | Director | Notes | References |
| 1929 | Julius Caesar | William Shakespeare, play Orson Welles, adaptation | Mark Antony Cassius | Todd Troupers | Todd Seminary for Boys | Orson Welles | | $^{:327}$ |

## 1930

| Date | Title | Author | Role | Company | Theatre | Director | Notes | References |
| 1930 | Androcles and the Lion | George Bernard Shaw, play Orson Welles, adaptation | Ferovious | Todd Troupers | Todd Seminary for Boys | Orson Welles | | $^{:327}$ |

## 1931

| Date | Title | Author | Role | Company | Theatre | Director | Notes | References |
| 1931 | Winter of Our Discontent | William Shakespeare, plays Orson Welles, adaptation | Richard III | Todd Troupers | Todd School for Boys | Orson Welles | [i] [j] [k] | $^{:327}$ |
| October 13–31 | Jew Süss | Lion Feuchtwanger, novel Ashley Dukes, adaptation | Duke Karl Alexander of Württemberg | Dublin Gate Theatre Company | Gate Theatre, Dublin | Hilton Edwards | [l] [m] [n] [o] | $^{:327}$ |
| November 3–14 | The Dead Ride Fast | David Sears | Ralph Bentley | Dublin Gate Theatre Company | Gate Theatre, Dublin | Hilton Edwards | | $^{:328}$ |
| November 20– December 5 | The Archdupe | Percy Robinson | Marshal François Bazaine Mexican Colonel | Dublin Gate Theatre Company | Gate Theatre, Dublin | Hilton Edwards | | $^{:328}$$^{:105}$ |
| December 6 | The Circle | W. Somerset Maugham | Lord Porteous | | Abbey Theatre, Dublin | | | $^{:329}$$^{:105}$ |
| December 26– January 9, 1932 | Mogu of the Desert | Padraic Colum | Chosroes, King of Persia | Dublin Gate Theatre Company | Gate Theatre, Dublin | Hilton Edwards | [s] [t] | $^{:328}$ |
| December 27 | Alice in Wonderland USA | Lewis Carroll, novel William Sherwood, adaptation | | Peacock Players | Peacock Theatre, Dublin | | [u] [v] [w] [x] | $^{:329}$$^{:102}$$^{:75}$ |
| 1931 | The Lady from the Sea | Henrik Ibsen | | | Dublin | Orson Welles | | $^{:329}$$^{:75}$ |
| 1931 | Three Sisters | Anton Chekhov | | | Dublin | | | $^{:75}$ |
| 1931–32 | Hay Fever | Noël Coward | | | Dublin | Orson Welles | | $^{:329}$ |
| 1931–32 | Mr. Wu | Harry M. Vernon and Harold Owen | Mr. Wu | | Dublin | Orson Welles | | $^{:329}$ |
| 1931–32 | The Only Way | Frederick Longbridge and Freeman Wills | | | Dublin | Orson Welles | | $^{:329}$ |
| 1931–32 | Peer Gynt | Henrik Ibsen | Peer Gynt | | Dublin | | | $^{:329}$ |
| 1931–32 | The Father | August Strindberg | Acting role | | Dublin | | | $^{:329}$ |
| 1931–32 | The Rivals | Richard Brinsley Sheridan | Acting role | | Dublin | | | $^{:329}$ |
| 1931–32 | The Emperor Jones | Eugene O'Neill | Acting role | | Dublin | | | $^{:329}$ |
| 1931–32 | La locandiera | Carlo Goldoni | Acting role | | Dublin | | | $^{:329}$ |
| 1931–32 | The Play's the Thing | P. G. Wodehouse and Ferenc Molnár | Acting role | | Dublin | | | $^{:329}$ |
| 1931–32 | Man and Superman | George Bernard Shaw | Acting role | | Dublin | | | $^{:329}$ |
| 1931–32 | Grumpy | Horace Hodges and T. Wrigley Percival | Acting role | | Dublin | | | $^{:329}$ |
| 1931–32 | The Makropulos Affair | Karel Čapek | Acting role | | Dublin | | | $^{:329}$ |
| 1931–32 | The Dover Road | A. A. Milne | Acting role | | Dublin | | | $^{:329}$ |
| 1931–32 | Volpone | Ben Jonson | Acting role | | Dublin | | | $^{:329}$ |
| 1931–32 | Rope | Patrick Hamilton | Ronald Kentley | | Dublin | | | $^{:329}$ |
| 1931–32 | Richard III | William Shakespeare | Acting role | | Dublin | | | $^{:329}$ |
| 1931–32 | Macbeth | William Shakespeare | Acting role | | Dublin | | | $^{:329}$ |
| 1931–32 | Timon of Athens | William Shakespeare | Acting role | | Dublin | | | $^{:329}$ |
| 1931–32 | King John | William Shakespeare | Acting role | | Dublin | | | $^{:329}$ |

## 1932

| Date | Title | Author | Role | Company | Theatre | Director | Notes | References |
| January 12–26 | Death Takes a Holiday | Alberto Casella, play Walter Ferris, adaptation | Baron Lamberto | Dublin Gate Theatre Company | Gate Theatre, Dublin | Hilton Edwards | | $^{:328}$ |
| February 2–13 | Hamlet | William Shakespeare | The Ghost Fortinbras | Dublin Gate Theatre Company | Gate Theatre, Dublin | Hilton Edwards | [aa] [ab] | $^{:328}$ |
| 1932 | Dr. Knock | Jules Romains | | Peacock Players | Peacock Theatre, Dublin | | | $^{:329}$$^{:106}$ |
| 1932 | The Chinese Bungalow | Marion Osmond and James Corbet | acting role | | Dublin | Orson Welles | | $^{:337}$ |
| February 16 - 27 | The All Alone | Henry B O'Hanlon | | The Dublin Repertory Theatre | Peacock Theatre, Dublin | William Sherwood | [ae] [af] [ag] | $^{:106}$ |

## 1933

| Date | Title | Author | Role | Company | Theatre | Director | Notes | References |
| May | Twelfth Night | William Shakespeare | | Todd Troupers | Todd School for Boys | Roger Hill and Orson Welles | [ah] [ai] [aj] | $^{:330}$ |
| July | Twelfth Night | William Shakespeare | | Todd Troupers | Chicago Drama Festival, A Century of Progress Exposition, English Village | Roger Hill and Orson Welles | [ak] [al] [am] | $^{:330}$ |
| November 29– June 20, 1934 | Romeo and Juliet | William Shakespeare | Mercutio Chorus | Katharine Cornell repertory company | National tour beginning at the Erlanger Theatre in Buffalo, New York, Cornell's hometown | Guthrie McClintic | [an] [ao] [ap] [aq] | |
| December 2– June 20, 1934 | The Barretts of Wimpole Street | Rudolf Besier | Octavius Moulton-Barrett | Katharine Cornell repertory company | National tour beginning at the Erlanger Theatre in Buffalo, New York | Guthrie McClintic | [ar] [as] | $^{:330}$ |
| December– June 20, 1934 | Candida | George Bernard Shaw | Eugene Marchbanks | Katharine Cornell repertory company | National tour | Guthrie McClintic | | $^{:331}$ |

## 1934

| Date | Title | Author | Role | Company | Theatre | Director | Notes | References |
| July 12–22 | Trilby | George du Maurier | Svengali | Todd School for Boys | Woodstock Opera House | Orson Welles | [au] [av] [aw] | $^{:165}$$^{:58}$$^{:76}$ |
| July 26– August 5 | Hamlet | William Shakespeare | Claudius Ghost of Hamlet's Father | Todd School for Boys | Woodstock Opera House | Hilton Edwards | [ax] [ay] | $^{:165}$$^{:62}$$^{:74}$ |
| August 9–19 | Tsar Paul | Dmitry Merezhkovsky | Count Pahlen | Todd School for Boys | Woodstock Opera House | Hilton Edwards | | $^{:165}$$^{:62}$$^{:331}$ |
| August 22–25 | The Drunkard | William H. Smith | Cameo appearance | Todd School for Boys | Woodstock Opera House | Charles O'Neal | [ba] [bb] | $^{:331}$$^{:49}$ |
| December 3–9 | Romeo and Juliet | William Shakespeare | Tybalt Chorus | Katharine Cornell repertory company | Cass Theatre, Detroit, Michigan | Guthrie McClintic | [bc] [bd] [be] [bf] | $^{:7}$ |
| December 10–11 | Romeo and Juliet | William Shakespeare | Tybalt Chorus | Katharine Cornell repertory company | Hanna Theatre, Cleveland, Ohio | Guthrie McClintic | | |
| December 14–15 | Romeo and Juliet | William Shakespeare | Tybalt Chorus | Katharine Cornell repertory company | Nixon Theatre, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Guthrie McClintic | | |
| December 20– February 23, 1935 | Romeo and Juliet | William Shakespeare | Tybalt Chorus | Katharine Cornell repertory company | Martin Beck Theatre, New York City | Guthrie McClintic | [bi] [bj] [bk] [bl] | $^{:144–151}$ |

## 1935

| Date | Title | Author | Role | Company | Theatre | Director | Notes | References |
| March 14–16 | Panic | Archibald MacLeish | McGafferty | Phoenix Theatre | Imperial Theatre, New York City | James Light | [bm] [bn] [bo] [bp] | $^{:159}$ |

## 1936

| Date | Title | Author | Role | Company | Theatre | Director | Notes | References |
| April 12 | Macbeth | William Shakespeare, play Orson Welles, adaptation | | Federal Theatre Project | Lafayette Theatre, Harlem, New York City | Orson Welles | | $^{:198}$ |
| April 14 – June 20 | Macbeth | William Shakespeare, play Orson Welles, adaptation | | Federal Theatre Project | Lafayette Theatre, Harlem, New York City | Orson Welles | [br] [bs] | $^{:333}$ |
| July 6–18 | Macbeth | William Shakespeare, play Orson Welles, adaptation | | Federal Theatre Project | Adelphi Theatre, New York City | Orson Welles | [bt] [bu] [bv] | $^{:333}$ |
| July 21–25 | Macbeth | William Shakespeare, play Orson Welles, adaptation | | Federal Theatre Project | Park Theatre, Bridgeport, Connecticut | Orson Welles | | |
| July 28 – August 1 | Macbeth | William Shakespeare, play Orson Welles, adaptation | | Federal Theatre Project | Hartford, Connecticut | Orson Welles | | |
| August 6 – ? | Macbeth | William Shakespeare, play Orson Welles, adaptation | | Federal Theatre Project | Exhibit Theatre, Dallas, Texas | Orson Welles | | |
| August 13–23 | Macbeth | William Shakespeare, play Orson Welles, adaptation | | Federal Theatre Project | Amphitheater, Texas Centennial Exposition, Dallas, Texas | Orson Welles | [bz] [ca] [cb] | |
| August 25–29 | Macbeth | William Shakespeare, play Orson Welles, adaptation | | Federal Theatre Project | Keith's Theatre, Indianapolis, Indiana | Orson Welles | [cc] [cd] | |
| September 1–13 | Macbeth | William Shakespeare, play Orson Welles, adaptation | | Federal Theatre Project | Great Northern Theater, Chicago, Illinois | Orson Welles | | $^{:333}$ |
| September 1936 | Macbeth | William Shakespeare, play Orson Welles, adaptation | | Federal Theatre Project | Detroit, Michigan | Orson Welles | | |
| September 1936 | Macbeth | William Shakespeare, play Orson Welles, adaptation | | Federal Theatre Project | Cleveland, Ohio | Orson Welles | | |
| September 23–25 | Macbeth | William Shakespeare, play Orson Welles, adaptation | | Federal Theatre Project | Civic University, Syracuse, New York | Orson Welles | | |
| September 26 – December 5 | Horse Eats Hat | Eugène Labiche and Marc-Michel, play Orson Welles and Edwin Denby, adaptation | Mugglethorp | Federal Theatre Project | Maxine Elliott's Theatre, New York City | Orson Welles | [ci] [cj] | |
| October 6–17 | Macbeth | William Shakespeare, play Orson Welles, adaptation | | Federal Theatre Project | Majestic Theatre, Brooklyn, New York | Orson Welles | | $^{:393}$ |
| October 23 – November 1 | Ten Million Ghosts | Sidney Kingsley | André Pequot | | St. James Theatre, New York City | Sidney Kingsley | | |

## 1937

| Date | Title | Author | Role | Company | Theatre | Director | Notes | References |
| January 8 – May 29 | The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus | Christopher Marlowe | Faustus | Federal Theatre Project | Maxine Elliott Theatre, New York City | Orson Welles | | |
| April 21–23 | The Second Hurricane | Edwin Denby, libretto Aaron Copland, score | | Henry Street Settlement Music School | Henry Street Settlement Playhouse, New York City | Orson Welles | [cn] [co] | |
| June 16 – July 1 | The Cradle Will Rock | Marc Blitzstein | | Federal Theatre Project | Venice Theatre, New York City | Orson Welles | [cp] [cq] | |
| Summer | The Cradle Will Rock | Marc Blitzstein | | Federal Theatre Project | Tour of steel districts of Pennsylvania and Ohio | Orson Welles | | $^{:338}$ |
| November 11 – May 28, 1938 | Caesar | William Shakespeare, play Orson Welles, adaptation | Marcus Brutus | Mercury Theatre | Mercury Theatre, New York City | Orson Welles | [cs] [ct] [cu] | $^{:324}$ |
| December 5–19 | The Cradle Will Rock | Marc Blitzstein | | Mercury Theatre | Mercury Theatre, New York City | Orson Welles | [cv] [cw] | $^{:325}$ |
| December 25 | The Shoemaker's Holiday | Thomas Dekker | | Mercury Theatre | Mercury Theatre, New York City | Orson Welles | [cx] [cy] | $^{:50–51}$ |

## 1938

| Date | Title | Author | Role | Company | Theatre | Director | Notes | References |
| January 1 – April 28 | The Shoemaker's Holiday | Thomas Dekker | | Mercury Theatre | Mercury Theatre, New York City | Orson Welles | | $^{:341}$ |
| January 3 – April 2 | The Cradle Will Rock | Marc Blitzstein | | Mercury Theatre | Windsor Theatre and Mercury Theatre, New York City | Orson Welles | [da] [db] | |
| April 29 – June 11 | Heartbreak House | George Bernard Shaw | Captain Shotover | Mercury Theatre | Mercury Theatre, New York City | Orson Welles | | |
| August 16–29 | Too Much Johnson | William Gillette, play Orson Welles, adaptation | | Mercury Theatre | Stony Creek Theatre, Stony Creek, Connecticut | Orson Welles | [dd] [de] [df] [dg] | $^{:50–51,152–153}$ |
| November 2–19 | Danton's Death | Georg Büchner | Louis Antoine de Saint-Just | Mercury Theatre | Mercury Theatre, New York City | Orson Welles | [dh] [di] | |

## 1939

| Date | Title | Author | Role | Company | Theatre | Director | Notes | References |
| February 27 – March | Five Kings (Part One) | William Shakespeare, dialogue Orson Welles, adaptation | Sir John Falstaff | Mercury Theatre | Colonial Theatre, Boston | Orson Welles | [dj] [dk] [dl] [dm] [dn] | $^{:350}$ |
| March 13 – ? | Five Kings (Part One) | William Shakespeare, dialogue Orson Welles, adaptation | Sir John Falstaff | Mercury Theatre | National Theatre, Washington, D.C. | Orson Welles | [do] [dp] | $^{:351}$ |
| March 20–25 | Five Kings (Part One) | William Shakespeare, dialogue Orson Welles, adaptation | Sir John Falstaff | Mercury Theatre | Chestnut Street Opera House, Philadelphia | Orson Welles | [dq] [dr] | $^{:428}$ |
| July–August | The Green Goddess | William Archer | Rajah | Mercury Theatre | RKO Vaudeville Theatre circuit (tour) | Orson Welles | | |

## 1941

| Date | Title | Author | Role | Company | Theatre | Director | Notes | References |
| March 24 – June 28 | Native Son | Paul Green and Richard Wright | | Mercury Theatre | St. James Theatre, New York City | Orson Welles | [dt] [du] [dv] | |

## 1942

| Date | Title | Author | Role | Company | Theatre | Director | Notes | References |
| October 23 – January 2, 1943 | Native Son | Paul Green and Richard Wright | | Mercury Theatre | Majestic Theatre, New York City | Orson Welles | | |

## 1943

| Date | Title | Author | Role | Company | Theatre | Director | Notes | References |
| August 3 – September 9 | The Mercury Wonder Show | Orson Welles and others | "Orson the Magnificent" | Mercury Theatre | Cahuenga Tent, Cahuenga Boulevard, Hollywood | Orson Welles | [dx] [dy] [dz] | |
| September 1943 – 1944 | The Mercury Wonder Show | Orson Welles and others | "Orson the Magnificent" | Mercury Theatre | Nationwide tour of army bases | Orson Welles | | |

## 1946

| Date | Title | Author | Role | Company | Theatre | Director | Notes |
| April 1–2 | The Airborne Symphony | Marc Blitzstein | Speaker | New York City Symphony Orchestra | New York City Center, New York | Leonard Bernstein | [eb] [ec] [ed] [ee] |
| April 28–May 4 | Around the World | Jules Verne, novel Orson Welles, adaptation Cole Porter, music | Inspector Dick Fix Japanese magician | Mercury Theatre | Boston Opera House, Boston | Orson Welles | [ef] [eg] |
| May 7–11 | Around the World | Jules Verne, novel Orson Welles, adaptation Cole Porter, music | Inspector Dick Fix Japanese magician | Mercury Theatre | Shubert Theatre, New Haven | Orson Welles | |
| May 31 – August 1 | Around the World | Jules Verne, novel Orson Welles, adaptation Cole Porter, music | Inspector Dick Fix Japanese magician | Mercury Theatre | Adelphi Theatre, New York City | Orson Welles | |

## 1947

| Date | Title | Author | Role | Company | Theatre | Director | Notes | References |
| May 28–31 | Macbeth | William Shakespeare | Macbeth | Mercury Production, Utah Centennial Festival | Kingsbury Hall, University of Utah, Salt Lake City | Orson Welles | [ej] [ek] [el] [em] | $^{:401}$ |

## 1950

| Date | Title | Author | Role | Theatre | Director |
| June 15 – July | The Blessed and the Damned | Orson Welles | Various (Lobster) Faustus (Time Runs…) | Théâtre Édouard VII, Paris | Orson Welles |
| August 7 – August | An Evening With Orson Welles | Orson Welles Oscar Wilde | Faustus (Time Runs…) Algernon (Earnest) | Altjakobstheater am Zoo, Frankfurt | Hilton Edwards |
| August 15 – August | An Evening With Orson Welles | Orson Welles Oscar Wilde | Faustus (Time Runs…) Algernon (Earnest) | Hamburg | Hilton Edwards |
| August 21 – August | An Evening With Orson Welles | Orson Welles Oscar Wilde | Faustus (Time Runs…) Algernon (Earnest) | Munich | Hilton Edwards |

## 1951

| Date | Title | Author | Role | Theatre | Director | Notes |
| October 1–7 | Othello | William Shakespeare | Othello | Theatre Royal, Newcastle | Orson Welles | [er] [es] |
| October 18 – December 15 | Othello | William Shakespeare | Othello | St James's Theatre, London | Orson Welles | |
| November | Midnight Matinee | Orson Welles | Himself | Coliseum Theatre, London | Orson Welles | |

## 1953

| Date | Title | Author | Role | Company | Theatre | Director | Notes | References |
| September 7 – October | The Lady in the Ice | Orson Welles, libretto Jean-Michel Damase, score | | Ballet de Paris | Stoll Theatre, London | Orson Welles | | |
| October | Une femme dans la glace | Orson Welles, libretto Jean-Michel Damase, score | | Ballet de Paris | Paris | Orson Welles | | |

## 1955

| Date | Title | Author | Role | Company | Theatre | Director | Notes | References |
| June 16 – July 9 | Moby Dick—Rehearsed | Herman Melville, novel Orson Welles, play | An Actor-Manager Father Mapple Captain Ahab | | Duke of York's Theatre, London | Orson Welles | [ex] [ey] | |

## 1956

| Date | Title | Author | Role | Company | Theatre | Director | Notes | References |
| January 12–29 | King Lear | William Shakespeare | King Lear | New York City Center Theater Company | Lincoln Center Theater, New York City | Orson Welles | [ez] [fa] | |
| February 22 – March 13 | Variety act | Orson Welles | Himself | | Riviera Hotel, Las Vegas | Orson Welles | [fb] [fc] | |

## 1960

| Date | Title | Author | Role | Company | Theatre | Director | Notes | References |
| February 13–18 | Chimes at Midnight | William Shakespeare, dialogue Orson Welles, adaptation | Sir John Falstaff | Gate Theatre Company | Grand Opera House, Belfast | Hilton Edwards | [fd] [fe] | $^{:427}$ |
| March 1 – March | Chimes at Midnight | William Shakespeare, dialogue Orson Welles, adaptation | Sir John Falstaff | Gate Theatre Company | Gaiety Theatre, Dublin | Hilton Edwards | [ff] [fg] |
| April 28 – June 7 | Rhinoceros | Eugène Ionesco | | English Stage Company | Royal Court Theatre, London | Orson Welles | [fh] [fi] | |
| June 8 – July 30 | Rhinoceros | Eugène Ionesco | | English Stage Company | Strand Theatre, London | Orson Welles | | |