Evening star., 1909-06-25


Chicago Record Herald
NEW YORK, June "a. 1909.
| In 1905 number OF public-spirited gen.
tlemen, who are fond Of opera and the
drama. but who are not entirely satisfied
with the management Of those amuse-
| ments in New York, came to the con-
clusion that the time was ripe when
America. like France. Germany and Aus
| tria. should have at least one theater to
represent the highest standards and ira
ditions of the art. similar to those Of the
state theaters and operas Of the con-
tinent of Europe. They realized that they
could not expect any subsidy or financial
| assistance from the municipality or the
state or the federal government, as is
| the case abroad; therefore. they each
agreed to subscribe certain sums of money
and invite others to do SO. and erect
a model building in a convenient local
| ity. In order to sustain the enterprise
| 1t was proposed to sell the boxes in
perpetuity and as many seats as could
be disposed Of on the same basis. which
would furnish a guarantee fund to MAIN
| tain the institution.
| The financial scheme adopted is based
upon the expectation that the enterprise
will pay its own way, and even earn in
| terest upon the investment. but 1t will
pay no profit to any one, and IL sur
| plus shall remain at the end of a sea-
| son 1t will be reserved as a sinking fund
| to insure against deficits in the future.
| BY assuming a certain degree of risk in
this way the founders believe they will
| be guarded from the temptation to over
look public opinion and to fall into the
conventional mediocrity which Is the Pc
culiar danger of subsidized theaterS in
Europe, while on the other hand the guar
antee fund will shield the managers from
the temptation to sacrifice quality for
| financial profit.
Cost Foots Up to So, ,OOO, 900.
| The building is about completed at a
cost of 100000, and will be ready for
use about the first Of November. 1t oc-
cupies the entire frontage between sd
| and SD streets, on Sth avenue, facing
Central Park from the west. The archi-
| tects We're Messrs. Carrere and Hastings.
who are also the architects OF the new
public library at 9Th avenue and 42d
street and several other notable buildings.
| The design is simple classic, dignified and
! impressive. and resembles very closely
| those of the two new million-dollar Chris
| tian Science temples on the same street
| a few blocks distant. The building is en-
| tirely f1reprOOf: the apparatus for heat
| ing, lighting and ventilation the interior
arrangements, the stage equipment and
| machinery are as perfect as it is possible
to make them. The stage is large
| enough for elaborate productions, yet not
| TOO large for the proper staging of mod
ern dramas. There are entrances and
exits upon three streets The auditorium
will seat about 1000, and is decorated in
most artistic manner.
The New Theater represents the most
advanced and artistic ideas of modern
construction. and without doubt is unsur-
passed by any other similar buildings in
the world.
Purpose of the Undertaking.
One of the founders, in answer to my
questions. explained the purpose as fol-
lows
I'VE hope to found an institution here
which may ultimately stand in the same
relation to the American drama as does
the Comedie Franchise to the French
drama. The New Theater not being con-
Quoted for profit will attempt to establish
and maintain a standard of acting and
productions which private manager
would find difficult and often too expen-
sive: not because of any lack of desire
on his part, but because of his limita-
tions. We will try to do for the Ameri-
can drama what the Carnegie Institu-
ton at Washington is doing for science
and lterature: that is, we will do for
he sake of art what a private manager
cannot afford to do because he cannot see
any pecuniary reward
There is no tradition for such thea
ter in any English-speaking country, and
continental conditions are widely differ
ent. Thus the New Theater will be a
pioneer venture. At first we cannot be
expected to secure stock company equal
to those of the old subsidized theaters
abroad. but will endeavor to get the
best actors possible and maintain a. high
standard. While leading parts Will al
ways require interpreters of special emil
nence. the particular aim Of the theater
will be. by careful attention to minor
roles and all details of stage manage
ment and presentation. to insure produc-
tiOns of uniform artistic excellence.
In its selection of plays the New The
ater will seek to commend itself to the
approval of discriminating public Its
repertory will be chosen from the dra-
matte literature of all countries and pc
RODS from all classics. which will con
stitute one-third of it's productions, while
modern dramas and comedies will form
the remaining tWo-thirds.
Production of Dramas.
THE New Theater is to be devoted to
the production of dramas-not musical
comedies, spectacles or the like. But that
its repertoire is to consis; mainly OF
classics: that it is intended primarily for
that its plays are to be mainly advanced.
faddish and literary. is as far as possible
from the truth. The New Theater will
make It's appeal and depend for its sue
cess upon the whole body of intelligent
playgoers. 1t is hoped to make 1t as dis
ttnctiy a democratic and civic an institu-
tion as is the Comedie Franchise Brisk
wholesome comedy and popular drama
Will be as welcome to its stage as they