Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-04-23
A THEATER ON A NEW PLAN.
How Steele Mackaye win Manage the
Madison Square Theater.
New York Tribnne.l

New lork ~Ifloune.l
Steele Mackaye, in becoming the
manager of the Madison Square thea
ter, formerly Fifth Avenue hall. in
West Twenty-fourth street, intends to
depart from the broken track and
introduce a new, and in some particu-
lars original plan of management. As
he himself expressed his purpose last
evening: 1T is my aim to work earn
estly aud devotedly fer the best inter-
estS of the art | represent by conduct
ing a select little theater, where the
best stock company | can secure will
be employed, with the view of build
ing up a dramatic art in this city.
occupying the same relative position
in the New York theatrical field that
Meissonier does in modern painting.
To this end | must get dramatic
authors and artists interested in the
work, and if a good thing is pro-
duced the public will not be Slow
to recognize it. My plan is this.
1t is true that the theatrical
manager is more indebted to the dra.
matte author for the money he makes
than to any n else. If he does not
get the right play, it little matters how
good the acting may be. Now l am
going to recognize this obligation to
the author by paying him twenty-five
per cent. of the receipts, and don't
care who he may be, American, Eng
lishman or Frenchman, any author
who brings me a play that succeeds
shall have that share of the receipts.
Pie successful foreign author, unable
to obtain a copyright in this country.
by putting his play at the disposal of
the Madison Square Theater, will be
paid as if he had an American copy
right.
Twenty per cent, or one-ffth of
the profits Of the season, will be di-
vided among the six or eight leading
actors of the company, who on that
account will receive no smaller weekly
salaries. This bonus is only a fair
recognition of the managers indebted
ness to the fidelity and enthusiastic
cooperation of the leading members
of his company. They have an inter
est in the success of the theater be-
yOnd their weekly salary. This is alike
beneficial to the author, for it secures
to him the hearty cooperation of those
who are to interpret his work. | am
going to produce only plays that mir
ror the romance and comedy of modern
society.
My expenses will be so light that
| can afford to depend on So per cent.
of the receipts to pay the salaries and
give the manager a profit. | have
rented the theater of Amos Emo for
four weeks, sure, at $500 a week, with
the privilege of renewal during a term
of years. My expenses will foot up
about $500 a night, and with the adj
mission fees fixed at $1.50 for the best
orchestra seats, 81 for the others and
90 cents general admission, the house.
small as it is, when full, will be worth
5000. With these expenses and re-
ceipts the profits would be as great as
on a full house a Wallack's. If |
succeed in producing a good art stand
ard in this first season. and in secur-
ing an %appreciative public, Mr.. Emo
promises to rent the interior with gal
leries as it was when it was DAYS
Fifth Avenue Theater. | shall open
it a week from Saturday with my play.
Won at Last, which succeeded at
Wallack's; and thereafter produce the
best plays | can get. My play has
been revised from five acts into four
acts, condensed and rechristened Af-
termath. Miss Gabrielle Du Saudi
will act Sophie Bunker" the part she
made such a hit in originally at Wal
lacks, and j. H. Shannon, by Mr..
Wallack's permission, will assume his
original character of Baron Won
Spiegel." Edward Lamb plays Major
Bunker" Miss Agnes Loring will
make her debut in this city in the part
Of Grace Fleming " | shall act
+" John Fleming, " and G. W. Couldock
will fill, | think, the character of
Professor Tracy"