The Washington herald., 1914-03-15
Staging VIII Be Under Su-
pervision Of New York
Concern, Representative Of
! Which Has Been in City.

As IL the public taste were hardening
back to the earliest expressions of dra-
matte art. the psgeant-drama is receiv-
also seems to be a demand for public en-
tertainment that gives an opportunity
for local TALENT to display its ability.
This is seen In Washington In connec-
ton with the plan. to stage Sidney NJ.
Hirsch's Greek paseant-drama, The
Fire Regained.' In this city this spring.
and joint committee representing the
Board OF Trade. Chamber Of Commerce
and Retail Merchants Association. will
meet Tuesday night in the rooms OF the
Chamber OF Commerce to complete the
organization ef committee to give a
successful production in the interest OF
local non-sectarian charity.
Isaac Cans, chairman of the joint COM
mittee representing the trade bodies. VINO
was authorized to name prominent
washingtonian to become the director
general of the committee. announced last
night that he has secured the acceptance
of Preston Gibson. the Washington oiuo-
man-author-playwright. to direct the big
work.
Mr.. Gibson is recognized as having
big Following in society. and ne taxes
= an active part in originating and staging
some of the most unusual entertainments
that are witnessed in the Capital
Miss Clark In Leading Role.
Announcement already has been made
that Miss Genevieve Clark. daughter OF
the Speaker OF the House, Is scneouieo
for the principal role Pallas Atnene. II
is sahd that about two hundred OF MISS
rrran "a in
and that a part of the proceeds OF the
production will be applied to charity
in which Miss Clark and her friends are
interested.
The scene of the production, which IT
is proposed to inaugurate Saturday even
ing, May 16 and continue through the
evenings of the next week. with prooapiy
matinee for the orphan children OF the
city. has not been determined upon.
1t has been suggested that the horse
show grounds at Eighteenth and d streets
northwest, would be an ideal location, and
in order to facilitate the work OF the
committee, Chairman Cans addressed
letter to Arthur d. Addison, secretary Of
the National Capital Horse Show As
sociation asking for the use of the
grounds for the staging of the pageant
drama on the dates suggested. 1t is un-
derstood that the request has been re-
association.
The original idea was to ask for the
use of the Ellipse or Monument Grounds.
but at the suggestion of number in
terested in the pageant-drama, Chairman
Cans has asked for the use OF the horse
show grounds. Inasmuch as the National
Capital Horse Show for 1919 VIII be over
by Saturday. May s. il is thought that
nothing would prevent the use Of the
grounds for the pageant. Il IS hoped
favorable response from the horse show
association will be received by the time
Oit the committee meeting Tuesday night
Plan Advertising Campaign.
Among other matters to be taken up
at the meeting will be the appointment OF
committees on railroad rates and ad-
vertising. 1t is the purpose or the pro-
moters to make the pageant-crama the
means of attracting large numbers Of
people from out Of town, and an exten-
sive advertising campaign has been
planned to be carried forward in the
territory covered by special or excursion
rates to Washington. 1t is declared that
during the production of THE Fire Re
gained in Nashville. Tenn. last spring
the business interests of the city enjoyed
a marked impetus in trade.
The production will be staged under the
direction of the American Pageant Com
pany of New York. There will be a
wealth of electrical effects, which. with
wonderful costume effects and a sue
ccssion of spectacular and highly dra-
matt incidents. will make a production
quite out of the ordinary.
The joint committee of the three trade
hodies that will complete the permanent
committee for the production consists of
the following:
Board of Trade-E. c. Graham. chair
man; George w. Harris. c. J. Gockeler,
William II. Singleton. and Odell s. Smith.
Chamber of Commerce-Isaac Cans.
chairman: William F. GUIDE, ]. !. Lever
Berberich.
Retail Merchants Association-Joseph
Strasburger. chairman; r. p. Andrews. |