The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-17
AMERICAS FIRST THEA TIRE

Williamsburg, the ancient capital o
ifhe Old Dominion--the Rome, to which
lonce all the roads OF Americas socia
and political life led and reccded--
claims among her honors unique
lone--that of having the first tlteatr,
fin America. To the visitor 10 th
modest. tranquil city to-day is pointed
out the elte of this first theatre.
vacant lot outgrown by several locus
trees, at the corner of Nicholson ant
Palace Streets. But not this site alone
is pointed out, for there Is another
and OF equal fame---the site OF the first
hhcatre's successor the famous theatre
OF colonial times, the ono in which was
rendered the first performance or
iAmerican soil by regular company OF
kEuropean comedians. This one stood
on Waller Street, in the eastern part
of the city, and was established after
THE first was begun to be used as q
n town hall.
The first playhouse, which stood or
Nicholson street. was erected In 1T18
and its founders were William living.
iston and Charles Stage and his wife,
Mar, stagg. In that year 1716, seven
lteen years after the capital had beer
moved to williamsburg from James
town, William Livingston, who had
formerly conducted itinerant dancing
schools in New Kent county, and
Charles and Mary Stagg, actors" en-
tered into contract to build theatre
in williamsburg and to procure for II
actors, scenery and music from Eng
land for the amusement OF ye ladies
and gentlemen Whereupon Living
ston procured ground upon which to
build-purcfased three half-acre lots
on Palace Street. lots numbered on an
- i 1xf II ,a,, fS,,,. -
165. Upon the lots he built a dwelling.
kitchen, stable and the theatre.
ChaHes and Mary for their part, were
not long in making ready some inter
esting programs. Whether they Sc
cured any music and scenery from Eng
land is not known, but they did not
secure any actors, for the first COM
pany of comedians which came to
America did not come until the year
lT5c.
Fcrvcnt spirit.
Very fervent indeed was the theatri-
raj spirit in williamsburg in those days.
The early members of the Virginia
Gazette give nuemrous notices regard
ing the theatre and of plays TO be
rendered. The issue of September 10.
I71s. says: "On this evening the young
gentlemen of the college civilian and
Nary) will perform at the theatre the
tragedy of Cato; and on Monday, We'd
nesday and Friday next will be acted
by the gentlemen and ladies OF the
country The Busy Body The Recruit
ing Officer and The Beaux Strate :
gem"
What centre of what social cir
Gle must have been this first temple
20 the dramatic muse in the New
World What a brilliant scene!-that
of handsome gallants in velvet and en-
broidery and powdered hair of smiling
danes in silken gowns and velvet
adorned with profuse lace at wrists
and neck, and smiling with eyes that
ehowne like their diamonds; the gall
lants ever bowling low, the danes ever
ready to courtesy in recognition of
the low bow. 1t being situated near
the Palace 1t Is not to be supposed
that Their NIajesues the royal Cover
nors. we've infrequent auditors at the
playhouse. Alexander Spotswood. In his
writings. mentions play as having
been acted before him by Charles
Stagg and his associates on His Males
tvs birthday. in Ills. In the audiences
there was often no less a parsonage