Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-04-27

The managers of the Chicago theatres
intend to provide plenty of attractions
| for the hordes of visitors that will pour
into the city for the next six months
to view the wonders of the earth at
Jackson Park.
The unfortunate experiences of the
Philadelphia and Paris managers dur
ing the terms of the Worlds Fairs in
those cities seem to have had stimu-
lating rather than deterrent effection
on the men who guide the fortunes
of Chicago's houses, and there is uG-
shaken confidence that the approach
ing season will be phenomenal.
Every class of amusement, from the
cheap and nasty exhibit of the dime
musium to the dazzeling splendor of
the spectacle, will find its patrons in
the cosmopolitan throng that is com
ing to the Worlds Fair city.
McVicker, the "dean" of the man.
agerial corps, will drive the season be-
tween the "Biack Crook" and the "Old
Homestead" Dave Henderson has
arranged to revive his burlesques from
the Arabian Nights" down to "All
Baba.n
Lillian Russo and troupe are to sing
in light opera at Hayman & Davis
Columbia. Uncle Dick HooIey will
stick faithfully to legitimate comedy
and drama. There will be an abun-
dance of farce comedy at the "Grand," J"
and the manager of the Schiller has
the latest adaptations" by Mr.. Froh-
man.
Abbey, Schoeffel & Grau, the re-
nowned triumvirate of Grand Opera
ipressarios, are preparing to put spec
tacle on the vast stage of the Auditori-
um that will attract and astonish the
atre-goers from one end of the country
to the other, Only a few details are as
yet known about the piece, but these
are sufficient to stamp it as the most
colossal, unique and magnificent work
of the kinu known to the modern
stage.
Plans for its construction were laid a
year and half ago under the guidance
of Imre Kiralfy, whose successful man
agement of spect ocular product ions has
gained him International fame.
1t comprises prologue and thirty
tableaux, bears the title America"
and has for its subject the rise and pro-
gress of this country from the time of
Columbus landing to the present.
This historic theme will be illustrated
by scenery, music, ballet and mimetic
action.
Dialogue will be used to some extent,
but will be subordinate to the other
features. The scenes, which are de-
scribed as enchantingly beautiful, were
painted in Paris by the corps of famous
artists connected with the Grand Opera
House.
Antonio Venanza, celebrated Itali-
an composer, wrote the entire musical
score, and is at present In Chicago 1i-
recting the preliminary rehearsals of
this particular department.
The costumes, exquisite In design
and texture, were made in London,
Paris and New York, and cost for
tune alone; cost, in fact, does not seem
to have been consideration in the
creation of this gigantic scheme. One
hundred and twenty thousand dollars
will have been the outlay before the
curtain rises on the opening night, ,and
heaven only knows what the expense
will be thereafter. Seven hundred
persons have already signed contracts
to appear in the piece. The ballet,
numbering two hundred, is to be a
vision of lovliness-a ballet worthy the
name-fresh from Vienna, Milan and
Paris, where the delightful thing was
born, and where il now exists in its
prime. Luigia Cerale, of the Hof The
atre, Vienna, will be the premiere
dancer. Others of no less celebrity,
from the other side of the Atlantic,
will assist her. The "Coryphees, "who
arrived with the chorus from Europe
the other day, are a lot of beauties, rep
resenting nearly every nation in
Europe, principally Italy and France,
The principal dramatic and vocal parts
will be assumed by Louise Beaudet,
Lottie Gilman, Miss Russell, Miss
Malcolm, Herr Barnemann and Sig
nors BIighenti, Otavi, Biagirelli aud
Campana.
The first performance is announced
for April 18th, and the season will con-
tinue for six months following the
date.