Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-11
NATIONAL THEATER IN VIEW
HOns for the Dramatic Art to Be Main
tSinsd by Government
RICHARD MANSFIELD OUTLINES A PLAN
Directory to He Made I'D of Literary
Authorities, with MannEer Elected
by People and Company
by Directors.

Mr.. Richard Mansfield explained to a
reporter for The Bee Friday afternoon, his
ideas regarding a national theater. The
subject was brought up by the news from
New York that a definite move had been
made there towards something of the kind.
The foremost actor of the American stage
possessed only meagre information about
the matter, however, and was not in a
position to discuss the concrete project
II was plain from what he said, that
basng his conclusions on the little he had
heard. he is not in accord with the scheme.
He had no aversion to giving his opinion
on the subject generally.
Il have contended for a national theater
for long time said he standing just
outside his private car at the Union sta
ton, gloved and carrying stick, about
to start on his daily walk. But, you
understand, any idea OF making money
must be divorced from a national theater,
\ If the theater is to be what l have in
mind. No man should be at the head of
1t whose object is to make money out
of it.
management of the Theater.
THE American national theater should
be governed as far as the annual produc-
ton of plays is concerned by literary
board comprising the best minds in the
country and including the presidents of the
universities.
The financial side Of the enterprise
should be in the hands Of a board of
trustees, appointed in the first place by
the founders and thereafter by the presi-
dents Of the universities.
The director or acting chief should be
elected by the people, and, after the lit
erary board has decided upon the plays
to be produced each season, his decision
in all matters appertaining to their pro-
duction should be final The elections could
be held at the individual theaters all over
the country
Formation of Company.
1.-THE members of the acting company
should be elected by the literary board.
Any actor, that is to say actor or actress,
remaining an active member of the ma
tional theater until retired, should be en-
titled to pension from the national
theater fund. All profits from perform
ances given by the national theater should
go to the fund.
THE stage director, president or acting
chief, should receive a salary fixed by
the financial board and have no share
whatever Of the profits of the national
theater.
1.-THE actors eligible should be either
American or English.
"'rhe national theater should be estab-
lshed not only in New York, the capitol
Of the east, but in Chicago, the capitol of
the west. Half the season should be de-
voted to the east and half to the west.
"A library should be established in con-
nection with the theatre. Also a theatri-
cal college for study of the drama, literary
and acting.
These are my views concerning ma
! tional theatre, and, in my opinion, anything
short of this would be a delusion and a
snare and would not be accepted by the
/ American people as a national theatre"
Two Theaters Necessary.
He was asked particularly why he con-
! sidered dual location of the national the
atre necessary.
/ The country is altogether too big for a
/ single location" the actor replied. 1T
; would be unfair to the west to have it sit
uated only in the east MY observa ton
has been that the people of the west study
the drama much and are keenly interested
in it
! Mr. Mansfield was asleep when his nine
/ car special train pulled into the Union