The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-14

i Whitney opera fame was the head
and front Of a movement to oper-
ate national theatre in this country
with headquarters in New York. Com
plying with request for definite facts
and data Mr.. Whitney said in regard
to his new theatrical enterprise:
81 had not intended to make my
plans pur " until they had been more
fully developed. as 1t has always been
my policy to perform rather than
prattle about what propose to do.
Nevertheless, rather than have my
plans distorted ! viii tell you frankly
what has been done toward the ud-
vancement Of this enterprise up to the
present time.
ut IL over twelve years since he
gan the work NJ organizing a syndicate
o. build and operate n national theatre
4 he located In the city Of New York
The work was progressing favorably
when the death of two Of the prime pal
workers and my enforced absence in
London and Paris. for theatrical enter
prises requiring my personal direction,
were the cause of my temporarily
abandoning the idea until more favor
able conditions would permit my
taking it up again. Meanwhile. as
you know. | have devoted my energies
to the various productions of the Whit
ney Opera Company Recently. how
ever have been approached by many
influential friends and have received
the assurance of support for the move
ment from many thousands Of patrons.
which has decided me to take up this
enterprise to the exclusion Of all other
interests. | propose 10 surround my
self with a corps of competent ad-
visers. who in addition to being trained
experts in their respective lines Of
work will he as enthusiastic for the
success - the national theatre as
am myself
MY idea Is TO establish theatre
that will i've nationa in fact as well a.
name--a theatre for all the people all
the timc--nOt an endowed or subsidized
theatre, as theatres of that kind arc
never successful, without the support
of the Government backed 10y the Ma
tional Treasury 20 supply deficits. The
plan proposed is to create a self-sup-
porting organization Of Ave thousand
subscribers for thirty weeks season
al the rate Il g. per week. each sub
scriber paying $50. securing thus one
seat each week for the entire season.
To the first five thousand subscribers
will be issued fun paid and non
essessahle stock in the Nati"nal
Theatre Company To the extent NJ their
subscription-s6O. After the first
season each stakeholder will pay for
seats at the same rate as the general
public. The original subscribers will
be entitled to the usual stockholders
privileges and founders shares. A
great many applications have already
been made for founders shares by
people in al walks of lie, who wish
the distinction Of being one Of the
original subscribers when the list ~
founders is made public. No subscriber
is to be liable for his or her subsCrip-
ton until the entire five thousand
names have been secured ana pub
iished
"The National Theatre have in
view Is 10 be managed and controlled
BY Americans, with an all American
company of players. but actors of for
eign birth are not to be dcbarred from
playing In this theatre. The basis
and policy is to he essentially Amer
can. Certain weeks of the season will
be- devoted to the production OF plays
b. American authors on an American
subject"
as It your intention to send any Of
your productions for presentation at
other Cities?"
While, as I said before, our plans
have not sufficiently matured to ou,-
line any definite policy, ! can say this
much IN that respect: The manage
ment of the National Theatre will not
depend on the so-Called r ad patronage
and proposes to eliminate SO far a
possible tho commercial element that
dominates most theatrical enterprises
As we have every assurance of ample
financial support on the part of sub
scribers supplemented nv the support
Of the general metropolitan public, II
will not he necessary to create a road
value for any one production by hav-
ing protracted run AT the home thea
tire. Thus every production will he
limited TO one week 1t is quite pos
sible that as the enterprise develops
we might cooperate with managers
and patrons of standard drama In
such cities as Boston and Philadelphia
and give them the advantage OF at
tending productions OF standard plays
at one OF their own theatres. For the
present, however, the movement only
provides for limited one week perform.
ances OF each play in New York. This
policy Will enable MS to give produc'
tons OF such a high order Of merit
that it will be no easy matter for the
al thn1tpiRl1