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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.
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PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "Williamsburg." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "Williamsburg." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O79-Williamsburg.html PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "Williamsburg." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O79-Williamsburg.html |
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Williamsburg
Williamsburg Historic town in e Virginia, 50mi (80km) se of Richmond; seat of James co. Settled 1633, it was made state capital 1699–1780, when seat of government moved to Richmond. Williamsburg is visited annually by thousands of tourists and was made part of Colonial National Historic Park (est. 1936). Included in its landmarks are College of William and Mary (1693), Capitol, Public Gaol (1704), Magazine and Guardhouse (1715), Raleigh Tavern, Governor's Palace (1720), Bruton Parish Church (1715), Brush-Everard House (1717), Courthouse (1770). Inc. 1722. Pop. (1980) 9,870.
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"Williamsburg." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Williamsburg." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Williamsburg.html "Williamsburg." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Williamsburg.html |
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Williamsburg
Williamsburg
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"Williamsburg." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Williamsburg." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Williamsburg.html "Williamsburg." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Williamsburg.html |
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