Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-04
Musical
n HERE is promise of an extended

I 4
and meritorious season of musical
Il comedy and light opera at the
Majestic theater, where the newly or
ganized Morosco Musical Comedy COM
pany will make it's debut tonight in
Sergeant Kitty" Manager Morosco
promises an organization of abillty--a
promise which seems to be borne out
by the personnel of its principals
and works of worth, though, for the
present at least, only the hghtest or
summer shows will be attempted. Ihe
company's opening bill is new here, but
the composer is A. Baldwin Sloane,
who was responsible for the music Of
1.-THE Gingerbread Man and other
popular scores, and that fact leads to
hopeful expectations regarding his To-
cally untried effort For it's second Of
fering the company will present "a
Runaway Girl" an excellent example
of musical comedy and which has not
been heard here for the past four years
or more.
At the head of the new Morosco or
ganization as director is Harry Girard,
whose robust and pleasing baritone was
heard to advantage from the Burbank
stage a few weeks ago, when he sang
his own composition, for which Oliver
Morosco had written the lyric, Prairie
Land" Mr.. Girard is a young man Of
impressive personality, tremendous en-
ergy and marked versatility. He is
composer of note, having composed the
music for 1.-THE Alaskan" which was
heard here last winter. He Is also the
author of several more serious works.
In the east he has headed his own
grand opera company, and is up in a
very large number of operas. In Sc
attic he organized and directed a SYM
phony orchestra and made of it a huge
success. Thus his four-sided genius
embraces singing, acting, directing and
composing. Seemingly, Mr.. Morosco
could scarcely have found a man better
suited to the position in which he has
placed Mr.. Girard.
Agnes Caine-Brown, In private life
Mrs. Harry Girard. who will sing the
name role in Sergeant Kitty" like her
talented husband. has been heard at
the Burbank, where she sang the part
of Favorita in 1.-THE Circus Girl" She
is a small woman with a surprisingly
big voice of sweet quality and accurate
placement. In the east she has been
prominent in grand opera, having been
a member of the Savage English Opera
company, has sung leads with the Bos-
tonians and has been soloist with the
Cleveland Symphony orchestra.
Miss Marie Nelson, another promi-
nent member of the company, came.
west under a special engagement to
play the prima donna role of Peggy
from Paris in San Francisco. Mr..
Morosco heard her sing the part and
was SO delighted, both with her voice
and her acting, that he at once engaged
her for his Los Angeles company. For
five years Miss Nelson was at the
Casino theater New York city, under
Shubert management. Last season she
was featured on tour in an extrava-
ganza.
Miss Maybelle Baker is the Kolb 6
Dill show girl who jumped into the
prima donna role In Lonesome Town"
one night with less than an hours no.
tlce and both sang and acted 1t so well
that she carried her audiences by
storm. At the Majestic she will have
her first real opportunity, and there is
little doubt that she will give a good
account of herself.
Percy V. Bronson, the Juvenile man
of the company held similar position
with Kolb & Dill. He is a graduate of
Columbia university, an athlete, and
has been remarkably successful in his
stage work.
Miss Grace Marvin, who will have
the contralto role, is well known local.
ly. Fred Huntly comes here from
Daly's theater New York.
There will be a chorus of fifty voices
in Sergeant Kitty" The chorus has
had two weeks of almost constant re-
hearsal, and Friday night was pro-
nounced book perfect, yesterday being
devoted to rest. A full dress rehearsal
will be held on the Majestic stage this
morning. and tonight the new organ
ization will make it's first public ap-
pearance.
There is every prospect of a success
full season.
s.
Three free scholarships were awarded
Thursday afternoon to the most indus
trious students at the Won Stein
Academyof Music by the faculty of the
institution. A large audience was
present when Miss Mona Newkirk, not
yet IA years of age, received the first
prize, consisting of two free terms of
music, valued at $I60.
The little lady responded to the cheers
by eXcellently performing the big
Mozart sonatas in c minor, adding as
ancore the G major protude by Chopin
This is the third time in succession
Miss Newkirk has won the prizes Of
fered for industry by the Won Stein
academy, winning second prize in the
first competition and receiving first
prizes in the following present contests.
This young girl has studied only three
years.
The second prize was taken by Miss
Clara Russakov, who in the preceding
competition gained like honors, giving
most finished reading to Chopin's
scherzo in B fiat minor.
The third scholarship prize went to
Miss Nellie Brigham of piano class of
/ i i \ !. + : 4 i i !. ! / i \ 4 J.
tion in Iowa, in the town of Alden,
which was named for the Alden fam
lily. Mrs. Wiley is direct descendant
of John Alden.
Ferdinand Dunkley, concert organist,
and Mrs. w. r. Wiseman, soprano,
will assist at the coming recital Of
Miss Madeline Lupher the child pian-
list of Long Beach, at the First Meth
odist church July 8. Mr.. Dunkley will
appear in concert at the Temple audi
torium, Los Angeles, July H.
s.
George r. Barndollar entertained the
Five Hundred club Wednesday after
noon. Mrs. Clay H. White and Mrs.
Jean G. Drake assisted in receiving.
Honors were won by Mrs. A. r. Ben
nett and Mrs. Herbert Coombs
VENICE