Grand Opening of the Union Square Theatre

Event Information

Venue(s):
Union Square Theatre

Manager / Director:
Robert W. [manager] Butler

Conductor(s):
David Braham

Price: $.75; $1.50 orchestra chair; $.25 family circle; $1 reserved seat, dress circle; $10 private box

Event Type:
Variety / Vaudeville

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
1 September 2023

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

11 Sep 1871, Evening
12 Sep 1871, Evening
13 Sep 1871, Evening
13 Sep 1871, 2:30 PM
14 Sep 1871, Evening
15 Sep 1871, Evening
16 Sep 1871, Evening
16 Sep 1871, 2:30 PM

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
LIST OF PERFORMER(S)/ORGANIZATION(S)
Participants:  Martinetti-Ravel Troupe;  Marie Bertha [dancer, actor];  Hughey [minstrel] Dougherty;  Maria Bonfanti;  William [clog dancer] Ashcroft;  Felix [comedian] Rogers;  J. W. [dancer] Morton;  Annie [serio-comic vocalist] Adams;  Fred [vocalist] Foster
2)
"Young girl of the period"
Composer(s): Howard
Participants:  Fred [vocalist] Foster
3)
"Tommy Dodd"
Composer(s): Clarke
Participants:  Fred [vocalist] Foster
4)
"I dote on the military"
Composer(s): Unknown composer
Participants:  Fred [vocalist] Foster
5)
Song and dance
Participants:  William [clog dancer] Ashcroft;  J. W. [dancer] Morton
6)
Ulysses; or, The return of S. G.
7)
"I walk the grand parade"
Composer(s): Unknown composer
Participants:  Annie [serio-comic vocalist] Adams
8)
"That's the man for me"
Composer(s): Wall
Text Author: Wall
Participants:  Annie [serio-comic vocalist] Adams
9)
"Piccadilly"
Composer(s): Unknown composer
Participants:  Fred [vocalist] Foster
10)
Pat-a-cake, baker’s man; or, The adventures of Paul and Virginia
aka Pat a cake
Participants:  Martinetti-Ravel Troupe
11)
Home of the butterflies, The
12)
Bad Dickey
Participants:  Hughey [minstrel] Dougherty

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 10 September 1871, 8.

“Burlesque, Terpsichore, pantomime, comedy, and Ethiopian specialties.” Complete cast listings.

2)
Review: New-York Daily Tribune, 12 September 1871, 5.

No mention of music. 

3)
Review: New York Sun, 12 September 1871, 2.

No mention of music. 

4)
Review: New York Herald, 13 September 1871, 4.

Critique of the new theatre precedes review of the performance. “The language [of the burlesque] is wretched, the music execrable and the acting decidedly poor.”

5)
Review: New York Post, 14 September 1871, 2.

Brief; no mention of music; “worst possibilities of burlesque and variety rather than the best.”  

6)
Review: New-York Times, 15 September 1871, 4.

No mention of music. 

7)
Announcement: New York Clipper, 16 September 1871, 190.

Forthcoming inauguration of the new theatre; names of company members.

8)
Announcement: New York Clipper, 23 September 1871, 198.

Elegant appearance of the auditorium.