Evening star., 1901-09-07

SedSon IN washington Will De on III earn
est. At that time the Academy and Ker-
mans, the two playhouses which had the
distinction to be first set going, will be
joined by the National. Chases and the
Bijou. All this occurs September 16. One
week later on, the 23d instant, the Column
bia will throw it's doors open, and still an
other week farther in the season the La
fayette will join the ranks, and then the
entire theatrical machinery of the capital
will be in full motion. The Academy and
Kernan's have both got a fine start, and
are well into what promises to be most
prosperous season. The National will be
opened with the latest comedy production
of the times, Foxy Grandpa" with Joe
Hart and Carrie Demar heading notable
company. Mr.. Chase announces a worthy
vaudeville bill for his opening-a bill of
gratifying merit. The Bijou will open with
an excellent troupe. The Columbia's an
nounced initial attraction will be the very
newest of all musical comedies, Harry
Smiths Liberty Bellies.
The local managers are all just now ex-
periencing the busiest times of the year.
The last touches are being put on the
houses which yet remain closed, and elab-
crate preparations are being made in every
quarter for the most auSpiciouS Of open
ingS.
'I have received the most flattering COM
pliments from Mr.. Stair said Mr.. Osgood.
because of the phenomenal business the
house has been doing since it's opening,
August 26 He is a busy man indeed, as he
leases and owns more than a score or
theaters in his own name and also con-
trolls two score others all over the country,
SO that to receive such attention from him
l take as a compliment worth having. He
has expressed also his wish to come on and
see the Academy in it's new dress, and l
am equally as anxious, for l feel quite
proud of the beauty and cleanliness Of the
theater. There is much yet to be done,
however particularly in the way OF little
things, that will embellish the house inside
and outside. The most important is the ad-
dition of nearly a hundred electric IgntS
in the auditorium, which will flood the place
with illumination and make 1t as bright as
it can possibly be made. theater, above
| all other places, should present the bright
ness of day in order that it's beauties may
be appreciated. Audiences do not want to
sit in gloom or half light, as it depresses
them. For this reason l am opposed TO
what they call dark changes in the
scenes on the stage and wherever and
whenever I can l shall require them TO De
obyiated. 1 do this in order to make my au-
diences more comfortable. Owing to Mr.
Stairs unusual and excellent facilities Tor
Offering time to meritorious plays, the
Academy in the future will present produc-
tions more attractive and desirable than
it ever has in the past. For instance, the
Academy is enabled to present Barbara
Frietchie," the play made famous by Julia
Marlowe last season. and it will be given
in this theater with the same scenery and
accessories which were employee rso ny IN ner II
true Of THE Little Minister. Maude
Adams celebrated play. which has mad
success equal to that of THE Christian, as
everybody knows. Moreover, Joseph Ar
thurs latest work. Lost River" will be
produced in this house, and besides. there
will be 1.-The Dairy Farm which last sea :.
son played at the uptown theaters, ana
also the "Village Parson' and The Night
Before Christmas" These are but few OF
the really first-class plays that viii be pre-
sented this season at the Academy OF
Music with all of the original scenery ana
properties together with number OF the
original cast.
Morris s. Schlesinger, general manager
of G. A. Wegefarth's amusement enter
prfses who will direct the fortunes Of the
Bijou Theater of this city during the COM
ing season, is in the city, getting ready for
the occupancy of the Bijou stage by the
big stock company that will. it is expected,
furnish an unusually good season of the
best that there is in vaudeville to the
patrons Of the Bijou during the theatrical
year. For several years Mr.. Schlesinger
has managed Mr.. Wegefarth's Court Street
he believes that by applying the same pro-
gressive business methods to the Bijou the
Washington end of the Wegefarth enter
prises can be brought to high dividend
paying status. In speaking of the plans Of
the Bijou for the coming year Mr.. Schle-
singer says:
"The Bijou will offer only one travelling
burlesque company during the entire sea-
son. This will be the Howard and Emer-
aY.iz
account Of it's well-knOwn members to
open the season In washington The com
pany has been at the Lafayette and Shea's
theaters, Buffalo, all summer, and is with
out any doubt one of the strongest col
lections Of burlesque and vaudeville per-
formers that will tour the country during
the coming season. On September the
Bijou Theater Stock Company will be in
troduced to the theater-goers Of the capi-
tai. Mr.. John Grieves, who formerly man
aged the theater. has been engaged to pro-
duce the weekly burlesques. At present
Mr.. Grfeves Is in New York making the
final engagements. We will have a COM
pany Of over fifty. Among the principals
will be Emelie Beaupre. who was last in
Washington at the National Theater with
the Klaw and Erlanger production OF
Chris and the Wonderful Lamp. In which
she played the opposite part to Edna Wal
lace Hopper. Mildred Stoller and Adele
Archer will be the leading sopranos of the
company. Miss Stoller was last season a
member Of The Kings Carnival which
the Sires presented at the New York Thea
ter, New York, while Miss Archer has been
member OF Francis Wilson's and the
Casino companies She is a very beautiful
woman as well as an exceptionally fine
vocalist. The leading soubrette will be
Nellie v. Nichols, one of the popular Mich
OILS sisters, who have been at the Weber &
Fields New York Music Hall. John Rog-
ers the baritone of the company, was last
season one Of the soloists with Vests min
strels, and has a rich and powerful voice.
There will be quartet Of comedians. while
the chorus will consist Of thirty-two young
and beautiful women. We will provide
bright clever and sparkling burlesques in
tsrspersed with some of the very best
vaudeville acts known to the American
stage During the season we will cffer
such prominent vaudeville players as Mont
gomery and Stone. who were last here with
Edna May at the National Theater, as was
also Charles T. Aldrich. who will appear
early in the season; Maud Huth, formerly
of Clifford and Huth; Flo Irwin and WAL
ter Hawley, who Will be on the opening
bill; George Fuller Golden, the founder of
the White Rats: Lew Hawkins. Jess Dandy,
Haines and Vidocq, Hines and Remington.
Charles Sweet, the musical burglar; the
May Wentworth company, Sydney Drew
and company. the Gilmore sisters. Marion
Manola, Pauline Hall. Mr.. and Mrs. Mark
Murphy, the great Lafayette. Williams and
| ol,a~ ovJo r ri lot nEov To-