The sun., 1912-07-02
ANNIE RUSSELL IS TO
HAVESMALL THEATRE
viii Seat Less Than 800 and
House Old English
Comedies.
ION WEST BOTH STREET
Opposite the Maxine Elliott
Names of Some Of the
BackerS.

Annie Russell will have new theatre
rs the home of "1he Annie Russell Old
Comedy Company" which she has formed
to act old English plays from November
II for nine weeks. This new house,
which will be situated directly opposite
the Maxine Elliott Theatre. will seat
less than 800 persons and will be the
smallest theatre in New York with the
exception Of the Little Theatre. 1t will
be provided with a row Of twelve boxes.
Miss Russell will present repertoire
which includes. so far as II is at present
settled. "She Stoops to Conquer" much
Ado About Nothing" and "The Rivals"
Miss Russell will give several matinee
performances each week, rs one OF tho
objects Of the enterprise is 10 provide
plays suited to juvenile audiences.
The idea Of the company. which has
now become reality. originated at a
luncheon when discussion arose as to
the difficulty Of finding plays suited to
children and the impossibility Of making
them acquainted with the classical Eng
lish comedies. Miss Russell, who was
present at the luncheon. was requested
by the ladies' to form company which
might produce some of the dramas now
80 rarely seen on the New York stage.
As an evidence OF their enthusiasm they
all agreed to take tickets for such an
engagement on condition that the COM
pany really came into existence. Miss
Russell was requested to put her ideas
as to the policy Of such a theatre in writ
ing, which she did. This paper was
read in various schools and the plan
appealed so much to the heads Of the
families who learned Of it that there
was no difficulty in finding many sub
scribers. Interest was not entirely con-
fined to New York. as parties will come
from as remote points an Cleveland, q.
to attend the first performance. The
Shuberts arranged to build for Miss
Russell the Princess Theatre in Thirty
ninth street. which will be devoted for
nine weeks Of next season to this scheme.
Associated with Miss Russell will he
Oswald Yorke. who has had a long expert
ence with r. X. Bensons productions
q the classical drama IN England Miss
known only az n monologist, will make
her first appearance as an actress in
in .The Rivals and Mrs. Hdrdcastie
In "She Stoops to. Conquer Albert
Herter, has designed the Costumes for
tDe DeIIDTIIl0I1GS OF huCu hGO hbOut
Nothing" Among the subscribers are
%nany who were formerly associated
with the New Theatre.
Among the organizers Of the Comedy
company are:
Mrs Edwin Blashneid Mrs. Pierre Jay
Miss CnaCin Mrs Edward Durham
Mrs. Henry POmery Miss CaT"''a
DAWSON Russell Loweii
Mr.. Christian HeJ'er Miss \. j. McleAl
Mrs. E!lwood Hendrick Mrs. Samuel Il. Ortway
Mrs. Edward L. hcn- MRS. janicA b. Reynolds
dcrson Mrs Charles Sprague
Mrs. Edward II. Hewitt smith.
Mrs. Richard Hoe
Among some OF the we'll known names
Of the subscribers are:
Mrs. Andrew Carne ge Amos Pinchot
edward Bok Mrs. J. ID. Rockefeller
Horace Mann Mrs. W. J. Scneneln
MIS-. James 4. Bur- Mrs. II T. hltncy
den. Jr. Mrs Payne Whitney
Mr.. alter Damrosch Mis-. August Bclmon,
Mrs, Harry Harkness Mrs Arthur ID. Bran
flaglcr dcis
Mrs, \, l.ycrI, Macy Mrs. Belle Freedman.