Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1923-07-20
STAGE" "AMERICANUS"
ATSEATTLE SIX DAYS
Great Historical Pageant is
Center Of Attraction for
Northwest.

Pageantry, combined wi t h
drama, oratorio and grand opera.
on scale never before attempted
III this country, is the promise OF
the management of "American-
us, to be presented at the Uni
verSity stadium at Seattle each
evening in the week of July 1928.
This gigantic production will take
The place of "The Wayfarer" as
the outstanding entertainment
feature in the Pacific Northwest
this summer.
During "Americanus" week the
American battleship feet will be
assembled in Seattle harbor and
President Harding, returning from
his trip to Alaska, will review the
fighting machines, the largest col
lection of naval strength ever seen
in Pacific waters. President Hard
ing will make his Alaskan speech
at the University stadium and on
the evening Of the same day, prob
ably July 27, will attend the
"Americanus" production. Be
cause of its wonderful appeal for
world peace, founded on princi-
pies of justice and right, 1t Is ex-
pected "Americanus" will be of
vital interest to the president.
Thousands of sailors and mar
ines from the fieeet and soldiers
from the surrounding army posts
will participate in the production
besides the 10000 actors and sing
ers from Seattle and other cities.
The great chorus which will have
upwards of 5000 voices will be
the largest body ever assembled
to render the works of the world s
most famous composers. The
chorus will be accompanied by a
100-piece orchestral band and in
the grand finale a massed band Of
100 instruments will play.
Another big feature will be the
singing of Miss Sophie Braslau.
nationally famous operatic star.
direct from the Metropolitan OPP
era company of New York. Each
evening Miss Braslau, who will
take the role of the Indian woman
Sacajawea, will sing the "Robin
Woman's Song" with which she
created an international sensation
in the American opera, "Shane.
wis.
With $4,000 worth of lighting
equipment, scenery and costumes
"Americanus" will be produced
on the largest stage IN the world,
which was used for two seasons
in presenting "The Wayfarer.
"Americanus'' represents the
Edmond S. Meany, professor Of
American history at the Univer-
sity of Washington, and Mont
gomery Lynch, producer of "The
Wayfarer," who will produce the
new pageant.
spirit that guided Washington,
Jefferson, Lincoln-the spirit Of
"grcater freedom that lies in the
way of peace. /" "Americanus" is
founded on and depicts in series
of thrilling episodes the two con
fiicting forces--war and peace
that have run throughout Ameri-
cas- history. The story of " Ameri-
canus" is the story of the birth
and development of the world Is
greatest republic from the time of
Washington to the present day.
How Washington refused to al
low his country to become entangl-
ed in foreign alliances when
France demanded that America
assist her in her war against Eng
land is spectacularly shown in
the production. The Louisiana
purchase expedition portray iii
thrilling climaxes the westward
expansion of this country.
Another episode, entitled Ezra
of Good Feeling depicting the
pronouncement of the Monroe doe
trine and the joy among the Lat
in-American countries when this,
the longest single thread in Ameri-
can history, was made to the
world. This gorgeous episode
gives ample opportunity for a riot
of color and rhythm as 200 Span