The times., 1901-05-05

| ton OF a greater number OF DeautIfu
young women with good, fresh muSica
voices than has ever before been secured
for like organization.
a cast embracing Billy B. Van. former
mian Burlesquers; <'Dick" German, All
| Hampton. Nellie O'Neill, Jessie Nhlars
| Hella Frank, and several other wei
known artists will head the organization
and it is said that the performance viii
| prove to be exceptionally rich in comedy
The company is claimed to number on'
hundred. Among the features is the La
! dies Military Band, composed OF mem
bers of the lady orchestra, which Mr.. Var
| Osten presented with his production OF
| Miss Philadelphia in this city a few
| years ago. The most suraPtuous produc-
| tion of living pictures which has ever
| been presented Miner & Van Osten claim
to have provided as one of the principal
| attractions of the production, and they
lay much stress on the fact that they
| have secured Lenore White. a California
| beauty, as the star of the series.
| The preliminary spring tour of The
Devils Daughter viii end IN Washing11 ll51
for the event from Saturday, May Is, TO
| Saturday, May %, and on the Following
| Monday the company Will inaugurate
| what is expected to be long season in
| Buffalo
Harrison Grey Fiske's press representa-
tive writes to The Times that something
definite and authoritative is at last an
| nounced as to the Manhattan Theatre,
New York City. The future management
| of this theatre has been a subject for gos-
| sip involving various persons ever since
| the announcement of the proposed retire
ment of its late holders It seems that
| negotiations that have been pending for
some time with the owners of the proper
| ty have just been concluded, and that
Harrison Grey Fiske, editor of the ORA
matte Mirror, has taken a lease of the
| theatre for a term Of years.
| Mr.. Fiske says that there has lately
| been no first-class theatre in New York
| City, wholly free from the control or in
! fuence of the theatrical syndicate, the
step he has taken was necessary in order
| to ensure a stage for independent pro-
/ ductions
| The Manhattan will remain closed until
| next autumn. In the meantime, the house
! will be extensively improved. The pur-
\ pose is to transform it into a theatre suit
| able in every way for artistic production
| and work. To this end. both the auditOri-
um and the exterior will be treated, while
| the region behind the curtain will be i'm
proved and equipped with every modern
device and appliance for the highest grade
of productions.
1t goes without saying that the Manhat-
tan hereafter will be devoted primarily 70
Mrs. Fiske's productions, although upon
occasion it will be open also to indepen-
dent artists of a high standard. Mrs
nual engagements in New York City. but
according to present arrangements she
will be seen annually In the spring IN sew
eraI other cities Within a short time she
has had several advantageous tenders
from London, in which city it is her wish
sooner or later to appear. Her plans have
been made so far ahead for this country,
however, that she has been unable to ar
range for a visit to the English metropo-
lis. and for the present, her attention will
necessarily be confined to New York and
the other important cities of this coun-
try.
me arrangement that has been entered
into will enable Mrs. Fiske to carry out
long cherished plans for the regular pro-
duction of new dramatic works 1t is the
purpose, in short. TO make the Manhattan
Theatre under its new management, a
first-class place of amusement of digni-
fed purpose, and its scope Will have every
aid that an artistic direction can suggest
and provide. Mrs. Fiske's enga cement in
the fall Will be marked by a notable new
production and IL is probable that more
than one new work wilT be put forward
during her first term in the house. Mrs.
Fiske's productions viii be of both for
eign and American plays, as circum-
stances determine; but her preference
always has been for American drama.
and all things being equal, she will con-
tinue with that preference.
Mrs. Fiske has been noted among other
things for the artistic excellence of her
supporting companies. Her coming to the
Manhattan, it is said. will be SignaliZed
by the assistance OF a company OF greater
strength than any with which she has yet
been associated The opening of her sea-
son in September will see the production
of the first of series of important new
dramatic works controlled by Mrs. Fiske
the work upon the scenery and costumes
for which is already under way.
Much to the liking of lovers of dramatic
art may be expected at the Manhattan in
the new circumstances of the theatre The
new mana cement offers no statement be-
yond this general announcement of plans .
and policy, except an assurance that in
the future the patrons of the theatre will
not be annoyed by ticket specuIators
measures for the suppression of whom at |
this house will from the first be taken. |
and promise that the orchestra of the |
theatre under the new management Will |
be larger than and superior in skill to |
any that theatregoers are accustomed to. |
A marvellous transformation of the New !
Grand into a summer vaudeville theatre |
has been planned by Manager Chase and |
it will emerge from its winter attire next !
Monday week 1t will probably be the /
most complete and beautiful change ever /
wrought in a theatre to make it a place |
of comeliness. GOODNESS, and comfort dur
ing the sultry evenings Of summer For /
this purpose the Grand presents unusual
natural advantages. it being isolated from /
other buildings on all sides, with great
windows and exits that will catch breeze
the compass. Even without any special
change it would prove agreeably COOL as
it's spaciOusness and situation are unsur-
passed in this city and give il degree of
immunity from the heat.
Notwithstanding this, Mr.. Chase intends
TO improve every opportunity afforded
him in order that the Grand shall be at
tractive not only because of its agreea-
BILE auditorium, but, as well. because of its
summer attire. 4 florist has been given |
carte blanche in designing the floral garb |
room, and the reading parlors Will contain
banks and inches of fresh flowers and |
plants. the choicest products of hOthOuSe /
and garden. Flowering vines springing !
from great pots will wreathe all the audi
torium pillars and balcony railings and |
fasteu their tendrils upon the ironwOrk
Of the western platforms outside the thea
tre. Pretty willow furniture will replace !
the gilt and mahogany chairs and diVdns
now in use. Japanese shades and pOr-
there's viii hang at all the dOorways. The
western exterior balconies will be closed
to view from the outside by Japanese
shades with gaudy lanterns lighted BY
electricity hanging overhead. Electric fans |
throughout the interior will
speed along every puff of air from the
wide eNpanse of trees and shrubs on the
White Lot to the west. The boxes and
balcony rails will be draped with CAV and
airy fabrics and the parlOrs will he redo
ent with the perfume from vines ana
lowers in the windows and inches
As permanent special attraction
Manager Chase has engaged a Hungarian
orchestra to supplement his regular corps
II musicians These foreigners will be
stationed on the elevation leading TO the |
main entrance to the auditorium, oppo- |
site the check room. and beginning at $50 |
Zach evening Will play until the regular |
performance begins. The iutermission |