Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-28
IN VIRGINIA CITIES.
PLAN FOR HAVING A HIGH CLASS
OF THEATRICALs.
STOCK COMPANY BEING GOTTEN UP.
Richmond, Lynchburg, Peters""rs'
and Norfolk to he Embraced In the
Circuit With Two Performances a
Week Here.

A theatrical enterprise OF greater mag
nitude and public interest than any I'M
dertaken I'm Virginia since the organiza-
ton of the old Richmond Theatre STOCK
comnany IN ante-bellum days will, In all
probability be launched in this city on
or before the LIST day of next February.
II Is the purpose OF the promoters OF
the scheme. which has been In course OF
development for some days past, TO pre-
sent In Richmond, Norfolk. Lynchburg,
Petersburg, and probably one or more
other cities of the State, series OF the
old standard English comedies, with
stock organization made up of actors OF
national representation and headed by
some of the best known favorites OF the
legitimate stage in America. The pro-
auctions are 20 be sumptuously mounted
special scenery and costumes being pro-
vided for each individual play, every de-
tail of which is TO be historically accu-
rate.
SOME OF THOSE WANTED.
While the leading people for the COM
pany have not as yet been definitely de-
cided upon, the management is now In
correspondence with n number of noted
stage folk with a view Of engaging some
among them for the season, which Is to
be extended through February, March,
April, and as late thereafter as the
weather will permit. OF these the more
prominent are Robert Hilliard, Maurice
Barrymore, Il. j. Henley, AL Lipman
Joseph Wheelock, Elita Proctor Otis
Virginia Buchanan Amy Ricard, Rose
Eytinge, and Gra e Huntington. The
projected venture, which promisesF so
much to the play going public of the cities
embraced in the circuit to be played, has
been carefully planned. after mature de-
liberation and a thorough investigation
into its feasibility. Mr.. Ben Tuthill, the
wel-known director of theatrical enter
prises, who has conducted the tours of
many successful stars, as well as having
been connected with some OF the most
important theatres Of the country, is the
directing spirit in the undertaking. He
has been in the city the past ten days
perfecting his plans for the organization
of the stock company. Before coming
to Richmond Mr.. Tuthiil consulted Mana
ger Thomas G. Leath, of the Academy of
Music, as TO the feasibility of the scheme
and the prospects for pushing it through
to such financial success as would justify
him in attempting an undertaking of
such magnitude. Mr.. Leath ex-
pressed himself as being favorably i'm
pressed and confident of the success or
the scheme. He agreed to assist Mr..
Tuthil TO the extent of arranging the
booking at his various theatres, so as to
conform TO the dates OF the stock COM
pany.
MAKE A TOUR EVERY WEEK.
The route to be followed will be so adj
justed as to have the company appear
one day weekly in each city on the cir
cult, probably playing two days in each
week here. The contamination OF the
plans mapped out will be dependent upon
adequate assurance of financial support
being given in advance by the cities
taken into the circuit. Manager Tuthnl
has sounded the best element OF the
people in Virginia TO whom
he unfolded his ideas on the subject. and
is both fattered and encouraged by the
endorsement given him on every hand.
Since the Richmond Theatre Stock
Company went out of existence, at the
close of the war, the people Of Richmond
and other Virginia cities. who so sub
stantially supported the grand old COM
panes that fiourshed here in the days
when the Booths. Mccullough. Joseph
Jefferson. w. j. Florence. and other emil
nent players headed the casts at the
Richmond Theatre, have not been privi-
legged to enjoy the dramatic feasts af-
forded in the metropolitan cities OF the
Mr.. Tuthill proposes to offer
them such an opportunity by reviving
the stock system in this State, believing
that proper appreciation will be forth
coming
The sale of season tickets will be
opened to-day. Subscribers will be Of
fered extra advantages and inducements,
the regular box-office sale being At the
usual prices. Among the plays already
selected for the repertoire are THE
Rivals" 1.-THE School for Scandal"
Masks and Faces" and Caste"