El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-03-22

EVTTHIN a f,w weeks the New
w Theater, the first attempt in
America toward the establ-
lishment of national theater along
the lines of the government institu-
lions of France and Germany, Will
round out its first season in New York
Throwing open its doors to the public
early in November. the last five months
have been fraught with many trials
for the palatial temple Of art which
occupies the entire block from Sixty
second street to Sixtythird street.
Central Park West The history
of its inception. the work which it
has accomplished and the aims which
it hopes to realize. all form an inter-
esting chapter in the history of dra-
matte art in the New World.
The New Theater was established by
80 of Americas most representative
business men, and, according to their
announcement upon the occasion of its
dedication, ii is intended primarily as
an institution of service-to serve the
cause of dramatic art and so serve the
playgohg public. Three million dol
lars was subscribed to be used for
the theater building and for the en-
dOwment fund. Should any profits &C
crue, no dividends will be paid, but
created for charging the scope Of
the enterprise.
Heinrich Conried's Work
While numerous enterprises have
been started in America, mainly in
New York, looking toward the eleva~
ton of the drama from the commercial
features which now surround IT, the
one man to whom most credit Is given
for the capitalization of the ideas and
the ideals on which the New Theater
has been founded was Heinrich Con-
RED who was the director of the Ger
man repertory theater in New York
before his work attracted the atten-
ton of the directors of the Metropoli-
tan opera house.
Herr Conried accomplished so much
artistically for the drama of the higher
type that in spite of the fact that he
was neither a musician nor musical
impressario, he was made director OF
the Metropolitan opera and gave dis
tinguished service in that position
While acting in that capacity he was
thrown in close contact with the men
who have since become the founders
of the institution which now graces
Central Park West, and which for the
past year has been the storm center
of adulation and of vituperation-
1t was Herr Conried who urged the
establishment of such a playhouse
along the lines of the German theater
in New York, but of a much wider
and more comprehensive scope. The
fruition of this golden dream came true
several months after the death of the
director. The brilliant Conried began
life as a scene shifter in the magnifi-
cent Hofburg theater in Vienna
Classic Dramas
BY all odds the handsomest play
house in America, and ranking as one
of the three finest in the world, the
New Theater was thrown open to an
invited audience on the afternoon OF
November s. 1909, when the dedication,
exercises took place 1t was a notabl;
event. adding dignity and standing
TO dramatic art in America
On the stage were some Of the
worlds greatest fipanciers. while the
state of New York was represented by
governor Hughes and by senator Elihu
Root Johnston Forbes-Robertson
probably the foremost living English
speaking actor, read Hamlet's Address
to the Players" as the creed of the
New Theater company.
During its first season, which is
nearing its close, the New Theater has
produced four classic dramas-"Antony
and Cleopatra" " Winters Tale
Twelfth Night" and The School for
Scandal"
In addition TO these John Galswor-
thy's Strife a modern drama OF capt.
tai and labor; Edward Sheldon's Mig
ger" a play dealing with the race
question in the south; The witch
having as its theme the Salem witch
craft horrors: Sister Beatrice one of
Maurice Maeterlinck's latest works:
the fourth act of Ibsen's Brandt"
Rudolph Besier's Don and Edward
Knoblaugh's The Cottage in the Air
have been offered to the public.
In addition to these dramatic works
the Metropolitan Opera company has
presented several of the lighter OPP
eras. This is a feature which has been
found Improbable, however, and will
be abandoned next season, although
1t was aoriginally intended that
measure be an adjunct Of the
Metropolitan opera house. where
the lighter operas might be presented
in the more favorable surroundings of
a smaller auditorium
Discord I'm Evidence.
The triumvirate chosen TO direct the
destinies Of the New Theater is COM
posed of Winthrop Ames. of Boston.
director; Lee Shubert. head of the indie
pendents Gas opposed TO the theatrical
syndicate or trust in the theatrical
warfare now being waged) as business
manager; and John COrbin, formerly
dramatic critic of the New York Sun.
as literary director.
Mr.. Ames will continue in his pres
ent position next year. and probably
Mr.. Shubert also, but Mr. Corbin. whose
lot it has been to read the plays sub
mittej for production, has resigned
with the statement that the reading
of 2000 manuscripts of plays good. bad
and Indifferent, has been entirely too
irksome a task for him to continue in
his present post This statement has
not entirely. explained internal condi-
tions to the satisfaction of the public.
which sees in his resignation an evil
dence of discord.
The theatrical trust and its subsid-
larry organizations have been openly