Grand re-opening of the 19^th season, following the theatre’s  thorough renovation and re-decoration. 

“For a real, genuine night’s fun, where one has nothing to do but laugh unrestrainedly from the time the curtain rises until it goes down, commend us, above all other theatres, to the pretty little house where Dan Bryant and his merry men black their faces. The opening of the season last night was an uproarious success. Every seat was sold in advance, and late comers had to stand and perspire. Dan Bryant and Nelse Seymour, as bright, particular stars of the dusky constellation, were received with rousing applause, and Dan made a very neat little speech in consequence. Negro minstrelsy seems to have condensed itself now into one troupe, and over that presides the immortal Dan. A few well sung ballads, rendered by the favorite Charles Templeton and Fred Waltz, with an excellent chorus, formed the salient features of the first part of the programme, and with Dan Bryant in charge of the tambourine and Dave Reed of the bones, the aesthetic qualities of the jokes were displayed in their best light. Bob Hart, whilom of ‘Mutton Trial’ fame, the elongated Nelse Seymour, of No. 12 pedal celebrity, Dave Reed, nimble as a Donnybrook champion; Donniker, a sensational violin player, and the sylph like Murska-voiced prima donna, W. Henry Rice, one of the best in his line on the minstrel stage, appeared last evening and won at once the favor of the public. The nineteenth season of Dan Bryant’s company, and few managers can point to such a long and unbroken career of success, has opened with an éclat that bids fair to carry the popular king of the minstrels on a tide of success to the end of the season. The final burlesque ‘School’ is indescribably funny, and will likely hold the boards for weeks to come. No material change has taken place in the company, Simpson and Ricketts, Dan Bryant and Nelse Seymour, Dave Reed and Bob Hart and Brockway and Hogan still occupying their respective positions. No brighter little house, more redolent of the true spirit of merriment, and so popular can be found in this city. A true temple Momus is the theatre where Bryant’s Minstrels nightly hold forth.”

“Dan Bryant reëntered upon his own stage on Monday evening, when his cosy and cheerful Opera House was reopened for the new season. It is a theater long and solidly established in the public esteem, and its rank has been well earned by its unbroken success in diffusing pleasure. The house on the opening night was crowded, the programme included the exceedingly amusing farce of ‘School.’ Mr. Bryant and Mr. Nelse Seymour remain the leading features of the company, which is unusually strong. Mr. Bryant was called before the curtain and obliged to respond to the public enthusiasm with a speech. The opening was attended with all the incidents of popular favor, and the season will evidently be a prosperous one.”

Names of company members.

“Mr. Dan Bryant has forsaken Irish drama for negro minstrelsy, and is nightly attracting large audiences to his pretty little theatre in Twenty-third street, between Sixth and Seventh avenues. He is well supported by Dave Reed, Nelse Seymour and numerous other established popular favorites. We can confidently recommend a visit to his establishment to persons who are afflicted with heartache.” 

“The nineteenth season of Bryant’s Minstrels in this city was commenced on Aug. 31 in the presence of an audience which completely filled in every part [of] their beautiful opera house in Twenty-third street near the Sixth avenue, and the attendance continued large during the week. As the curtain rose upon the sixteen people, grouped in a semicircle upon the stage, a cordial greeting was extended them by the audience. When Dan Bryant stepped upon the stage and stood in front of his accustomed position on the bone end, the applause became tumultuous, and several seconds elapsed before the audience became calm. Dave Reed occupied the tambo, and W. H. Brockway filled the middle chair. The instruments used in the first-part were a banjo, four violins, flute, clarionet, cornet, trombone and double bass. After a medley overture the sweet tenor voice of J. J. Kelly was heard warbling ‘Bring Back the Old Folks.’ Dave Reed in a humorous song informed us ‘My Love She Keeps a Candy Store.’ W. Raymond, another tenor familiar to the patrons of the house, effectually sang ‘Silver Threads Among the Gold.’ Dan Bryant sang a comic song in so droll a manner that he received a double encore. Charles Templeton’s baritone voice was heard to advantage in vocalizing ‘Beautiful Nora.’ Fred Waltz, a tenor, who sang with this band for the first time, laid a solid foundation for future favor by his correct rendering of ‘Little Robin, Tell Kitty I’m Coming,’ and an olla podrida wound up the first part. The vocal corps and instrumentation were excellent, and the quips and gibes of the end men were witty, and most of them fresh. In the olio those popular comedians Bob Hart and Nelse Seymour kept the audience well amused in the old-time sketch of ‘The Milliners,’ in which they were aided by J. Robinson and J. P. Hogan. W. Henry Rice made his first appearance since his transatlantic voyage, and gained the favor of the audience by his singing of burlesque ballads, while attired in female apparel of rich material and of the latest fashionable design. Hogan and Emerson deserve praise for their songs-and-dances, which were neat and free from vulgarity. J. B. Donniker performed a violin solo, and evinced no little skill in his manipulation of that instrument. ‘Fooling with the Wrong Man,' 'Glycerine Oil,’ and ‘School’ gave Dan Bryant, Dave Reed, Bob Hart, Nelse Seymour, W. H. Brockway and J. Robinson further opportunities to display their respective abilities.”