Act 1, Scene 1 in King Lear banishing Cordelia, painted by Henry Fuseli in 1803

A scene of Act 1, Scene 1 in King Lear banishing Cordelia, painted by Henry Fuseli (1741 -1825) in 1803.

Der Zapfenstreich (1903) written by Franz Adam Beyerlein at the Lessing-Theater, Berlin, in 1903

Scenes from Der Zapfenstreich (1903) written by the German playwright Franz Adam Beyerlein (1871 -1947) at the Lessing-Theater, Berlin, in 1903.

Franz Adam Beyerlein with his Family

The Merchant of Venice, 'supported by an English-speaking company' at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and performed on the English language stage in May 1903, starring Jacob P. Adler in the role of Shylock.

   Scenes from The Merchant of Venice, 'supported by an English-speaking company' at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and performed on the English language stage in May 1903, starring Jacob P. Adler in the role of Shylock.

   Yiddish-theatre great Jacob P. Adler made his first appearance on the English language stage in May 1903, playing Shylock in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. The production, which toured Philadelphia, Baltimore, Boston, and finally New York, where it ran for months in multiple theatres. The run was so successful taht Adler returned to Broadway in 1905 in a repeat polyglot production, albeit with a different English-speaking cast.

The merchant of Venic, starring] Jacob P. Adler

Merchant of Venice, Jacob P. Adler

Jacob P. Adler (far right) as Shylock in ‘The Merchant of Venice’ 

The merchant of Venice [starring] Jacob P. Adler 

König Nicolo oder So ist das Leben (1901) written by Frank Wedekind and produced at the Neues Theater, Berlin, in 1903

   A scene from König Nicolo oder So ist das Leben (Such is Life, 1901) written by the German playwright Frank Wedekind (1864 - 1918) and produced at the Neues Theater, Berlin, in 1903.

   In 1902, several of his plays were performed: King Nicolo or So ist das Leben premiered at the Munich Schauspielhaus, Der Marquis von Keith premiered in Munich, Der Erdgeist was staged at Max Reinhardt's Theater in Berlin. In 1906, Wedekind finally achieved his artistic breakthrough with the Berlin premiere of Frühlings Erwachen under the direction of Max Reinhardt. Together with Tilly, Frank Wedekind is on stage as an actor, tirelessly planning guest performances and tours.

Ghosts written by Henrik Ibsen and produced by George Fawcett at Mrs. Osborn's Playhouse, New York City, starring Mary Shaw as Mrs. Alving. Frederick Lewis played Oswald, in 1903

A scene from Ghosts written by the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen (1888 - 1906) and produced by George Fawcett (American theatre director, 1860 - 1939) at Mrs. Osborn's Playhouse, New York City, starring Mary Shaw as Mrs. Alving. Frederick Lewis played Oswald, having run for 16 performances from March 3, 1903.

See the Full Cast and the Staff

In Dahomey (negro musical comedy) produced by McVon Hurtig and Harry Seamon at the New York Theater in 1903

A scene from In Dahomey (negro musical comedy) produced by McVon Hurtig and Harry Seamon at the New York Theater with the cast of Hattie McIntosh, George Walker, Ada Overton Walker, Bert Williams, and Lottie Williams, running for 53 performances from February 18, 1903 to April 4, 1903.

More Information about this Musical Play

Nachtasyl (The Lower Depths) written by Maxim Gorki (1868-1936) and first performed in Germany under the direction of Richard Vallentinin at the Kleines Theater, Berlin, on 23 January 1903.

Scenes from Nachtasyl (The Lower Depths) written by the Russian playwright Maxim Gorki (1868-1936) and first performed in Germany under the direction of Richard Vallentinin at the Kleines Theater, Berlin, on 23 January 1903.