The sun., 1900-07-21
VAST CHANGES
NADE TO THE NEW
ACADEMY OF MUSIC
Delaware Avenue Playhouse to
be the Home of
Drama.
MAY OPEN WITH "QUO VADIS''
Box Office Changed, Lobby Re
modelled, Auditorium Repainted,
Stage Enlarged, and the
Entire House Undergoes
Wonderful Change.

The dramatic world will receive a
splendid addition to the number of play-
houses when the New Academy of Music
at Tenth and Tatnall streets opens about
the first OF September. A wonderful
change has come over the pretty little
theatre on Delaware avenue since it
passed into the hands of Dunn 4 Wal.
dron and was added to their circuit.
Genuine American business energy
characterizes the movements of Mr..
Montgomery Moees, the resident mana
ger OF the New Academy. With J. P.
Campbell, the general press representa-
tive of the Dunn & Waldron circuit,
Manager Moses spends each day at the
Academy uperintendiug the vast i'm
provements.
Entertaining number of persons at
the Academy yesterday Manager Moses
called attention to The improvements
and outlined the policy of the proprie-
tors.
The front of the playhouse will be
finished in gold and white. Entering the
lobby, brilliant with gold trimmings
with sub base of white, the old.timer
will hardly recognize the place. The
box office is now one of spacious pro-
portion and stands to right of the en-
trance. From the box office a large door
communicates to the private office of
Manager Moses.
The color tone Of the main part of the
house is to be silver, pink and gold. Re-
vanished and recovered chairs in the
dress circle are surprising improvement
while the pure white chairs of the
balcony and the rows OF new seats in the
gallery catch the eye Immediately.
The greatest changes are to be found
on the stage. Preparations have been
made Tor the proper handling of the
heaviest stage settings on the road. The
ugly cum bersome groves on which slid
ing scenery was operated have al disap-
peared. Drop curtains are to be used.
No one will be more thankful for this
Improvement than the actor. Valuable
space has thus been added to the stage
and New Academy of Music's platform
is now of considerable size.
The additional room on the stage has
enabled Manager Moses to draw up
plans for star dressing room. Such a
dressing room is to be placed at the dis
posal OF the star of each company play
ing at the Academy. The other dress
ing rooms are below the stage and not
so easy of access.
Harry Clayton, the head carpenter OF
the Dunn Il Wal6ron circuit, was busiiy
engaged yesterday with his force of
workmen in putting the finishing
touches on pretty room at the rear vi
the chairs in the first balcony. Manager
Moses explained that the room would be
known as the Children's Retiring Room.
In it will be placed a crib. dolls and
other articles calculated to change the
cry of fretful baby to cheerful laugh.
A maid will be in attendance. To the
patronage of women at the matinees the
management will especially cater.
The New Academy of Music will open
either on August 80 or September 8.
1t Is highly probable that the fret at
traction at Wilmington's new home of
the drama will be ''Quo Vadis." The
matter OF booking the first show will be
closed by Manager Moses today. III
"Quo Vadis" is obtained for the fret at.
traction, the opening will be held on
August 30. Under the opposite ciicum
stances September will see the Aca-
demy's opening with a dramatic reper-
toire company.
The Academy's orchestra will be COM
posed of five pieces, piano, two yiollns.
a cornet and the drums.
The attaches of the house, including
doorkeepers and special officers will be
uniformed. The ushers will always be
found in evening dress.
The new Academy is visited every day
by a curious crowd who watch the
progress OF the improvements with mani
lest inter est.