New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-03-10

COMPANY TO BE RETAINED
Metropolitan, After Next Sea-
son, May Give Opera Comique
There, Founders Hope
Loss, S400,000.

.NDi Shl b'hlN dNth VII .NpNNlliDti i''''
ito the services OF the drama and to the
citizens of New York will he aban-
| doned. Announcement to this effect was
made last night by Winthrop Ames. the
director The New Theatre movement
is to go on. however They said last
night the fault was in the building
which was not adapted to the class OF
performances contemplated by them
1T is the hope Of the founders" Mr.
Ames said last night. that, in co-opera
tion with the Metropolitan Opera Com
pany, the present New Theatre building
will eventually become the home for the
production Of such operas as require fol
most effective presentation a smaller
auditorium than the Metropolitan Opera
House"
Won't Abandon the Idea
The founders plan to proceed imme.
diatcly to erect upon site conveniently
/ accessible to all classes Of theatregoer:
theatre of moderate size, adapted tC
the production by a stock company Of q
/ repertory of modern and classical plays
chosen primarily for their artistic merit.
The statement reads;
The founders Of The New Theatre have
no thought Of abandoning The New Theatre
movement The experience of the pas,
two years has demonstr ated that the
present building, although designed under
the advice Of leading theatrical expert
Is not suited for the class Of dramatic
performances contemplated by the founders.
Productions such scale THE Blue
Bird' and THE Piper would undoubtedly ~
| have filled the theatre for the entire sea
son: but the foun lers have been unwilling
10 limit the performances TO plays OF that
class, rneritoriouS as they are. because the
aims Of the enterprise and the claims OF
box owners and subscribers have called Tor
a wider range Of productions.
Although. during the two seasons now
closing. The New Theatre has beer more
literally supported than any other theatre
/ in New York devoted exclusively 10 ORA
matte productions. the founders have beei
compelled to reach conclusion adverse
to the continued use Of the present build
ing as the home Of the enterprise.
The founders firmly maintain their heller
ir the mission and purpose Of The New
Theatre and in order to thoroughly teS'
the soundness of their belief and the VIII
ingLess of the people Of New York 10 lenu
their cooperation they will Immediately
proceed to erect upon site conveniently
accessible 10 all classes Of theatregoers a
theatre Of moderate size especially adapted
10 .hc production Dy stock company ol
a repertoTy OF modern and classical plays
chosen primarily for their artistic merit.
Will Provide Subsidy.
To enable the enterprise to .be indepen-
6ent OF immediate commercial success the
founders viii provide for term OF years
a guaranty fund which will correspond to
the subsidy 10y which theatres with similar
aspirations arc supported in most ~ the
CAPITALS Of Europe.
.ft,- t,, trl -t,t
scribcrs TOR boxes and seats in the present
New Theatre TO continue as subscribers ~
the performances in The new building IN
der al arrangement which viii permit
greater latitude in the distribution Of pro
ductions than Is possible under the present
arrangement
Plans are under discussion for maintain.
ing the present company OF players aS an
organization. to the end that. with such
changes i'm the personnel as may be deemed
advantageous, II may appear in the new
home a year from the coming fall Dur
ing the season OF i9ll-i9l2 IL may be sent
on tour under the direction Of Mr.. Win
throp Ames. in selection of PLAYS from
the present repertory. possibly playing Tor
a few weeks i'm New York
II f. the hope Of tho founders that In CO.
operation with the Metropolitan Opera
Company the present New Theatre build
ing will eventually become the home for
the production Of such operas as relule
for their most cffe ,'ivc presentation "A
smaller auditorium than the Metropolits an
0por, House. a purpose FOR which the
building is admirably adapted.
As no definite arrangements to that cnd
arc i'm immediate contemplation. tho house
will he leased COR the coming year Tor
dramatic productions Of a character suited
TO The building.
The New Theatre which was founded
nv William X. Vanderbilt and other well
known New Workers, was formally
opened TO the public on Saturday. No
vembcr &. 1909
Morgan Makes Speech.
Tho dedication speech was made by J.
piorront Morgan. after an emblematic
kew Of gold had been turned over to the
dnancicr by Mr. Hastings, Of the firm
- CorrAre & Hastings. architects.
notable gathering was present IN
c1uding Governor Hughes. Senator Root
several college presidents and Other peo-
Mo nrominent in the life of the city
,rbo principal members OF the dramatic
urorossion throughout the country also
attended the ceremonies
,rhc first production was that oi
chokospeares Antony and Cleopatra
,.Iicb took place on the evening follow
,..a, ,ho dedication. Z. II. Sothern played
fh. mart Of Mark Antony and MISS
u.lia Marlowc that Of Cleopatra.
Deenite the fact that Winthrop hmes
tho director. and others associated IN the
,,,oroqenent made every endeavor tc
,,.ir success. il was said that the theatre
lost SlOO. 900 during the seasons OF lNt
and 1910. Previous to this announce
mont Of financial loss fault had beel
found with the acoustics, and the IN
terror was remodelled.
Many Rumors OF Change
rho carly part Of the present month II
,,as reported that because of the many
discouragements those in charge of the
or,ornriso had suffered the original plan
would be abandoned and the building
used for such productions as other man
| acors might wish to place there. NJ
| announcement on the part Of those II
cor,roI was made however. the found
crs giving 1t To be understood that theil
rIans for the future would not he SIFei
out until later In the month.
The directorate declared That II was
,,,,iro,v Satisfied with the way that tn,
horse had been run. The members said
,hev did not expect 20 reap financial
,r 6t from their enterprise, for IT was
intended 10 be theatre Where pays
could be presented that "ou'd ho' earn
money elsewhere. ~, ,s
%nliow,ng this first report that tn,
,i. .,'hn,ee Vould be abandoned by its
founders. it was unoiiicially reported
tTat the directorate had decided To erect
'''"' ,t.<,,so further downtown. II