Donnelly, Dorothy

Donnelly, Dorothy [ Agnes] (1880–1928), lyricist, librettist, and actress. Daughter of the manager and lessee of New York's Grand Opera House, she made her acting debut in the stock company run by her brother, Henry V. Donnelly, at the Murray Hill Theatre. She came to critics' and playgoers' attention in 1903 when she played the title roles in Yeats's Kathleen ni Houlihan and Shaw's Candida in their first American performances. The next year Donnelly was the first American to play the Lady in Shaw's The Man of Destiny. Her most celebrated performance was in the title role of Madame X (1910), and she continued to act for another decade. In 1916 she was co‐librettist for Flora Bella and two years later for Fancy Free. The success of her book and lyrics for Sigmund Romberg's adaptations of Schubert's melodies in Blossom Time (1921) prompted her to abandon performing. Further success came with her libretto for Poppy (1923), but her biggest hit was The Student Prince (1924), for which she wrote the lyrics to such popular Romberg songs as “Deep in My Heart, Dear,” “The Drinking Song,” “Golden Days,” and “Serenade.” Donnelly's other collaborations with Romberg were My Maryland (1927) and My Princess (1927).