Evening star., 1917-05-19
NOTED ACTORS TO HELP
OPEN SYLVAN THEATER
Program for June 1 in Three Parts,
Portraying History of
the Drama.

The accompanying drawing shows the
arrangement of the stage and the de-
sign of seats for the National Sylvan
Theater in the Monument grounds.
which will be opened June /. with elab-
orate ceremonies The National Sylvan
Theater was planned and built by Col.
w. w. Harts, out Of funds appropriated
by Congress for the improvement OF
public buildings and grounds in Wash
ington. InaSmuch as 1t is the first thea
ter of any kind constructed under the
auspices of the national government.
it's opening marks an important epoch
in the history of the stage in this coun-
try. Some of the most celebrated play
ers on the American stage will come to
Washington to participate in the 1nau-
gural program which has been arranged
by Mrs. Christian Hemmick.
The United States Marine Band will
furnish the musical portion of the
program. A number of prominent
Washington people will assist in the
performance proper.
The pageant. or play. was written by
Mrs. Hemmicl<, and is to be called The
Drama Triumphant" The play repro
duces the history of the drama from its
birth to the present time, and has been
arranged in three distinct parts. The
first will be called 1.-The Birth of the
Drama" the second 1.-The Degradation
of the Drama" and the third The Tri-
umph of the Drama" The scene OF the
first act is Olympus. In this act Nine
Opera House will portray orpheus and
sing the celebrated aria from Cor
pheus" Other prominent artists who
will appear are Paul Swan, the classic
dancer; Izetta Jewell. Louis Thompson
singer; Katherine Lee of the Boston
Grand Opera Company, and thirty
prominent Washington society women
In addition to these, there will be
twenty classic dancers.
The scene of the second part is Eng
land about the middle of the fifteenth
century. At this time the stage as a
profession had sunk to a very low ebb
1t is about this time, also. that there
is a record of the first actress who
ever appeared on the stage, women
prior to the fifteenth century being for
hidden by the church to participate IN
theatrical performances of any KIND
whatsoever. These historical facts have
been made the basis of The Degradation
of the Drama" Among the prominent
John Mason, Frank McIntire and Gladys
Hanson. Two well known Washington
men, Edward Steele and George OCon-
nor, will also portray roles. while An
dres Pavley, the celebrated RUSSIAN ar
tist, will dance.
In act three, "The Triumph of the
Drama" the modern stage will be re-
vealed in all its power and glory. In
this act the following well known ac-
tors and actresses will give excerpts
from the plays that have made them
world famous: Otis Skinner. James X.
Hackett, Viola Allen, Ethel Barrymore.
Robert Mantell, r. d. Mclean and
Odette Tyler.
.'The government supports every form
of art but the drama. 1t encourages
and supports public libraries, 1t main
tains art galleries, It has even gone on
record as appropriating money to sup
port music, but the drama, the greatest
of all these arts in the scope of Its ap-
peal, has been absolutely neglected by
the government
"Col Harts was particularly anxious
that the National Sylvan Theater be
dedicated this June. in spite of the
grave international situation. 1t is In
times like these, as matter of fact,
that the theater proves its true mis-
sion as means or wholesome dlFer-
sion.
"It must not be forgotten that the
stage has always proved powerful
medium for the exploitation of patriot
ism. honor, courage. self-sacriiice and
the nobler virtues of life.
Every one knows that the theater in
America has become hopelessly COM
mercialized. This is where the National
Sylvan Theater really comes in and
where a government-owned theater
will be of inestimable value to public
education In the future. The govern
ment. through public libraries. public
art galleries and public bands and or
chestras. educates and uplifts the great
mass of people to what they should
read, see or hear in the realms of lit
erature. art and music, so must the
government eventually recognize the
fact that through the medium of the
stage 1t must contribute to the public
welfare by the right sort of dramatic
entertainment which will go a long
way in shaping national thought. con-
duct and morality"