Williamsburg

Williamsburg, Va., probably the first English settlement in the New World to have a theatre. In 1716 a merchant named William Levinston, assisted by his indentured servant Charles Stagg and Stagg's wife Mary, formerly actors and teachers of dancing and elocution in England, produced some plays, one of which was possibly given in 1718 before the Governor. Little is known of the building in which they were acted. If it was specially erected it would be the first theatre in America, a distinction claimed also by the Southwark Theatre in Philadelphia; but it may have been adapted from an existing building. From the evidence that remains it appears that the auditorium was only 30 ft. wide by 86 ft. long, with two tiers of boxes on either side and a gallery at the back. It continued in occasional use as a playhouse until 1745, and was demolished about 1769. A second playhouse, located at the back of the Capitol building, was opened in 1751 by Walter Murray and Thomas Kean for their theatrical company. They met with little success, perhaps because of the poor quality of their productions, and left Williamsburg after two seasons. Their theatre was later remodelled by the elder Lewis Hallam, who opened there in 1752 with The Merchant of Venice and a farcical after-piece by Ravenscroft, The Anatomist; or, The Sham Doctor. It is not known how long they stayed, or when the building was demolished.