The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-02-15

An announcement which will doubtless
create considerable surprise and pleasure
is one made during the week past by
Manager Lovenberg of Keith's local thea
tire that the new leading woman OF the
Edward Il. Albee Stock company, for the
rapidly approaching spring and summer
season, will be that widely known and
talented acress, Miss Lillian Lawrence.
Had Manager Lovenberg searched the en-
tire dramatic field he could not have
found an artistic who could more worthily
fill that position with a company OF the
Albee company's calibre than Miss Law
renee. She has frequently been referred
TO by Americas leading dramatic critics
as the ideal leading stock actress OF this
country, and her extraordinarily brilliant
and successful career as leading woman
I'm several of the country's foremost stock
companies bears this statement out. Miss
Lawrence is a very beautiful woman
graceful and well-proportioned. with a
wealth OF gold hair and large gray eyos,
and she is said 10 have a magnificent
wardrobe.
She was born in Virginia, but received
her early education in San Francisco.
While at school there, she was chosen by
score OF children 10 play the Queens
Knight In big production OF THE Royal
MILDLY" After a most successful triumph
Che returned TO school and after the COM
pletion OF her education, again returned
TO the theatre in which she had made her
professional debut at the age Of u years.
She sang there for three years in light
opera, after which she was engaged for :,
travelling repertoire company which
no
covered by Rhea, and was engaged TO
tour the east with that celebrated actress
playing Marie Louise in Josephine"
After attracting considerable attention
from eastern managers by the freshness
and earnestness of her portrayal. she was
engaged TO play Henrietta in THE Two
Orphons" with Kate Claxton. Then fol-
lowed a season OF stock work at Dayton,
o. after which she played with Minnie
Seligman at the Madison Square theatre,
New York, with Katherine Clemens at the
Fifth Avenue theatre. New York, and
with Miss Turner In THE Crust OF So
ciety." Then followed a season OF Shakes
peare with Thomas W. Keane, after
which she was engaged 10 play Mrs Bull
ford In "The Great Diamond Robbery
and a widely different role in "A Bach
elors Baby" During the long Boston
run OF these plays, she established her
self in the favor OF Bostonians TO sucn
an extent that when the Castle Square
Stock company was organized In 1897 over
500 Boston playgoers petitioned that Miss
Lawrence be engaged for leading woman.
This was done. and for six years. broken
only by periods when she has taken her
usual summer vacation. Miss Lawrence
has held that position and is today a trem-
endous favorite with Boston theatreR oers.
During two OF her summers. when she has
temporarily left the Castle Square com
pany. Miss Lawrence has been lending
woman OF the Lafayette Stock company
I'm Washington. -. c.. and OF the Elitch's
Carderr stock company. I'm Denver.
During her stage career she has played /
over 800 different roles. and has shown
such a remarkable versatility that ~ Is
hard 90 say in which kind OF roles her
especial forte Hes.
A number OF improvements i'm the En- /
pire theatre. designed 20 add 90 its Sc
curity I'm time OF fire. have been mads AT /
the house A complete sprinkler system /
has been Installed. n new asbestos cur
tain of the best sort has been hung aud I
other changes have been made. mos, OF /
them OF a minor character. for the Empire /
was found in excellent condition during \
the recent fire inspection. being unedualed /
In It, smoke vent from the stage, one Of