Jean Baptiste Le Sueur Fontaine
Encyclopedia
Jean Baptiste Fontaine, née Le Sueur, (Paris, France 1745-New Orleans, 5 July 1814), was a French actor and theatre director. He was director of the theatre in Cap-Haïtien
and an actor and newspaper editor in New Orleans. He was known under his stage name Fontaine.
Born in Paris, he moved to Saint Domingue before 1775, where he was employed at the Cap-Français Theatre. In 1780, he succeeded Deforges as the director of the theatre in Cap-Français, and under his leadership, the theatre reached its greatest success, interrupted only after the great revolution. In June 1793, he was one of the 10.000. refugees evacuated from Cap-Haïtien on American ships when the city was attacked, and in 1795, he was invited to New Orleans in Louisiana to be the director of the Theatre de la Rue Saint Pierre
, where he became an actor. In 1797–1811, he was the editor of Monituer de la Louisiane. He continued as an one of the most notable actors on the New Orleans theatre until his death. several of the other actors in the cast of the theatre was from Saint Domingue, such as Jeanne-Marie Marsan
, Mme. Clerville, Mme Delaure and Joseph Destinval.
Fontaine married his colleague Madame Le Prévost, born Marianne de Nonancour Du Bouchet, (1741–1819) in 1775, an actress who after her debut in Brussels in 1757 was known in Paris, Wien and Copenhagen. They separated in 1776, and she returned to France in 1785. In 1803, she came to live with him in New Orleans.
Cap-Haïtien
Cap-Haïtien is a city of about 190,000 people on the north coast of Haiti and capital of the Department of Nord...
and an actor and newspaper editor in New Orleans. He was known under his stage name Fontaine.
Born in Paris, he moved to Saint Domingue before 1775, where he was employed at the Cap-Français Theatre. In 1780, he succeeded Deforges as the director of the theatre in Cap-Français, and under his leadership, the theatre reached its greatest success, interrupted only after the great revolution. In June 1793, he was one of the 10.000. refugees evacuated from Cap-Haïtien on American ships when the city was attacked, and in 1795, he was invited to New Orleans in Louisiana to be the director of the Theatre de la Rue Saint Pierre
Theatre de la Rue Saint Pierre
Theatre de la Rue Saint Pierre, was the first theatre in New Orleans in Louisiana. It opened in 1792. It was described as a small building of native lumber near the center of the city. It was located on the Uptown side of St...
, where he became an actor. In 1797–1811, he was the editor of Monituer de la Louisiane. He continued as an one of the most notable actors on the New Orleans theatre until his death. several of the other actors in the cast of the theatre was from Saint Domingue, such as Jeanne-Marie Marsan
Jeanne-Marie Marsan
Jeanne-Marie Marsan was a French dramatic actress and an opera singer, active in France and Germany in Europe, and in the French West Indies and Louisiana...
, Mme. Clerville, Mme Delaure and Joseph Destinval.
Fontaine married his colleague Madame Le Prévost, born Marianne de Nonancour Du Bouchet, (1741–1819) in 1775, an actress who after her debut in Brussels in 1757 was known in Paris, Wien and Copenhagen. They separated in 1776, and she returned to France in 1785. In 1803, she came to live with him in New Orleans.