Laura Keene
Encyclopedia
Laura Keene was a British-born American stage actress and manager
. In her twenty-year career, she became known as the first powerful female manager in New York.
. Her parents were Jane Moss and Tomas King.
's Royal Olympic Theatre
and Royal Lyceum Theatre, including several months working under Madame Vestris. After less than a year performing in Britain, Keene accepted an offer from James William Wallack
to go to New York City
, and serve as the leading lady in the stock company at his successful theater.
She enjoyed great popularity during her time at Wallack's Theatre
(September 20, 1852, through November 22, 1853). In order to have greater control over her career, she then entered into theater management. Keene leased the Charles Street Theater, in Baltimore
, from December 24, 1953, to March 2, 1854, where she acted as manager, director and performer . This was followed by touring performances in California (April 6 through July 29, 1854), in Australia (October 23, 1854 through January 1855), and again in California (April 9 through October 4, 1855). During the first stint in California, she spent a month as the manager and lessee of the Union Theatre in San Francisco (from June 29 through July 29, 1854).
Upon returning to New York City, Keene leased the Metropolitan Theatre, remodeled it, renamed it Laura Keene’s Varieties, and served as manager, director and star performer from December 23, 1855 through June 21, 1856. She planned to continue at this location, but a rival theater owner, William Burton
, purchased the building, and moved his own operation there. (It was renamed Burton’s New Theatre, and then the Winter Garden.)
At this point, she lined up investors, along with an architect who specialized in theaters, and a new theater was constructed to her specifications. Named Laura Keene’s Theatre, it opened on November 18, 1856. Keene exercised complete control, managing, directing, and starring at this theater for seven seasons, through May 8, 1863.
After deciding to give up her own theater, Keene continued as manager and star of a company which toured the United States for most of the next ten years. She also served as manager of the Chestnut Street Theatre
in Philadelphia, from September 20, 1869, through March 25, 1870. Her final performance was on July 4, 1873, while touring in northern Pennsylvania.
Stage entertainment turned over quickly in that era, with few productions exceeding a dozen performances, but Keene bucked those odds. An 1857 show called "The Elves" ran for a record 50 performances. Moreover, 1860 was to prove itself an important year for her theater and American drama as well. On March 29, she premiered Dion Boucicault's The Colleen Bawn
, which ran for six weeks until the end of the season on May 12; the highlight of this play was the creation of an ocean island on stage in a scene which culminated with the hero diving into the ocean to save the colleen bawn Eily O'Connor. (Betting on the play's success, Boucicault took The Colleen Bawn to London, where it opened on September 10, 1860 and ran for 230 performances, becoming the first long run in the history of English theater.) In November 1860, Keene premiered the musical The Seven Sisters, which featured extravagant sets and ran for 253 performances, an astonishing total for the time.
debuted in Laura Keene's Theater. It was her company that was playing at Ford's Theatre
, Washington, on the night of Abraham Lincoln's assassination. Keene entered the presidential box at Ford's Theatre after the President was shot by John Wilkes Booth
, and cradled the wounded President's head in her lap.
at the age of 47 at Montclair, New Jersey
. She is buried in Green-Wood Cemetery
in Brooklyn.
Actor-manager
An actor-manager is a leading actor who sets up their own permanent theatrical company and manages the company's business and financial arrangements, sometimes taking over the management of a theatre, to perform plays of their own choice and in which they will usually star...
. In her twenty-year career, she became known as the first powerful female manager in New York.
Early life
Born Mary Frances Moss in Winchester, England, Keene was a niece of the British actress Elizabeth YatesElizabeth Yates (actress)
Elizabeth Yates was an English actress. She appeared on the stage under the names Miss Brunton, Elizabeth Brunton, Elizabeth Yates, Mrs. Yates, and Mrs. Yates late Miss Brunton.-Eary life and family:...
. Her parents were Jane Moss and Tomas King.
Career
Keene made her professional debut on October 8, 1851, starring in Romeo and Juliet at the Theatre Royal in Richmond (near London). This was followed by performances at LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's Royal Olympic Theatre
Olympic Theatre
The Olympic Theatre, sometimes known as the Royal Olympic Theatre, was a 19th-century London theatre, opened in 1806 and located at the junction of Drury Lane, Wych Street, and Newcastle Street. The theatre specialised in comedies throughout much of its existence...
and Royal Lyceum Theatre, including several months working under Madame Vestris. After less than a year performing in Britain, Keene accepted an offer from James William Wallack
James William Wallack
James William Wallack was an Anglo-American actor and manager, born in London, and brother of Henry John Wallack.Wallack's parents were comedians, who performed at the London minor playhouses and in the British provinces. His first appearance on the stage was as a child at the Surrey Theatre in...
to go to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and serve as the leading lady in the stock company at his successful theater.
She enjoyed great popularity during her time at Wallack's Theatre
Wallack's Theatre
Wallack’s Theatre , located on 254 West 42nd Street in New York, United States, was opened on December 5, 1904 by Oscar Hammerstein I. Wallack’s was Hammerstein’s 8th production theatre and was originally known as the "Lew Fields'", a name that Hammerstein gave it in recognition of his favourite...
(September 20, 1852, through November 22, 1853). In order to have greater control over her career, she then entered into theater management. Keene leased the Charles Street Theater, in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, from December 24, 1953, to March 2, 1854, where she acted as manager, director and performer . This was followed by touring performances in California (April 6 through July 29, 1854), in Australia (October 23, 1854 through January 1855), and again in California (April 9 through October 4, 1855). During the first stint in California, she spent a month as the manager and lessee of the Union Theatre in San Francisco (from June 29 through July 29, 1854).
Upon returning to New York City, Keene leased the Metropolitan Theatre, remodeled it, renamed it Laura Keene’s Varieties, and served as manager, director and star performer from December 23, 1855 through June 21, 1856. She planned to continue at this location, but a rival theater owner, William Burton
William Evans Burton
William Evans Burton , who often went by the nickname Billy, was an English actor, playwright, theater manager and publisher who relocated to the United States.-Early life:...
, purchased the building, and moved his own operation there. (It was renamed Burton’s New Theatre, and then the Winter Garden.)
At this point, she lined up investors, along with an architect who specialized in theaters, and a new theater was constructed to her specifications. Named Laura Keene’s Theatre, it opened on November 18, 1856. Keene exercised complete control, managing, directing, and starring at this theater for seven seasons, through May 8, 1863.
After deciding to give up her own theater, Keene continued as manager and star of a company which toured the United States for most of the next ten years. She also served as manager of the Chestnut Street Theatre
Chestnut Street Theatre
The Chestnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was the first theater in the United States built by entrepreneurs solely as a venue for paying audiences.-The New Theatre :...
in Philadelphia, from September 20, 1869, through March 25, 1870. Her final performance was on July 4, 1873, while touring in northern Pennsylvania.
Stage entertainment turned over quickly in that era, with few productions exceeding a dozen performances, but Keene bucked those odds. An 1857 show called "The Elves" ran for a record 50 performances. Moreover, 1860 was to prove itself an important year for her theater and American drama as well. On March 29, she premiered Dion Boucicault's The Colleen Bawn
The Colleen Bawn
The Colleen Bawn, or The Brides of Garryowen is a melodramatic play written by Irish playwright Dion Boucicault. It was first performed at Miss Laura Keene's Theatre, New York, on 27 March 1860 with Laura Keene playing Anne Chute and Boucicault playing Myles na Coppaleen. It was most recently...
, which ran for six weeks until the end of the season on May 12; the highlight of this play was the creation of an ocean island on stage in a scene which culminated with the hero diving into the ocean to save the colleen bawn Eily O'Connor. (Betting on the play's success, Boucicault took The Colleen Bawn to London, where it opened on September 10, 1860 and ran for 230 performances, becoming the first long run in the history of English theater.) In November 1860, Keene premiered the musical The Seven Sisters, which featured extravagant sets and ran for 253 performances, an astonishing total for the time.
First producer and star of Our American Cousin
In 1858, Our American CousinOur American Cousin
Our American Cousin is an 1858 play in three acts by English playwright Tom Taylor. The play is a farce whose plot is based on the introduction of an awkward, boorish but honest American, Asa Trenchard, to his aristocratic English relatives when he goes to England to claim the family estate...
debuted in Laura Keene's Theater. It was her company that was playing at Ford's Theatre
Ford's Theatre
Ford's Theatre is a historic theater in Washington, D.C., used for various stage performances beginning in the 1860s. It is also the site of the assassination of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865...
, Washington, on the night of Abraham Lincoln's assassination. Keene entered the presidential box at Ford's Theatre after the President was shot by John Wilkes Booth
John Wilkes Booth
John Wilkes Booth was an American stage actor who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre, in Washington, D.C., on April 14, 1865. Booth was a member of the prominent 19th century Booth theatrical family from Maryland and, by the 1860s, was a well-known actor...
, and cradled the wounded President's head in her lap.
Personal life
In 1844, she married Henry Wellington Taylor, by whom she had two children, Emma Elija and Clara Stella, before her husband abandoned the family. Her second husband was John Lutz.Death
Keene died of tuberculosisTuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
at the age of 47 at Montclair, New Jersey
Montclair, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 38,977 people, 15,020 households, and 9,687 families residing in the township. The population density was 6,183.6 people per square mile . There were 15,531 housing units at an average density of 2,464.0 per square mile...
. She is buried in Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery was founded in 1838 as a rural cemetery in Brooklyn, Kings County , New York. It was granted National Historic Landmark status in 2006 by the U.S. Department of the Interior.-History:...
in Brooklyn.