Black Crook

Event Information

Venue(s):
Grand Opera House

Proprietor / Lessee:
same address Academy of Music (2) after 1866

Conductor(s):
David L. Downing

Event Type:
Play With Music

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
25 December 2025

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

25 Nov 1874, 8:00 PM
26 Nov 1874, Matinee
26 Nov 1874, 8:00 PM
27 Nov 1874, 8:00 PM
28 Nov 1874, Matinee
28 Nov 1874, 8:00 PM

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
Black crook, The, [play]
Participants:  Valdis Sisters;  London Madrigal Boys;  Annie Kemp;  George [actor] Atkins;  Eliza Weathersby
2)
Black crook, The, [incidental music (Baker)]
Composer(s): Baker
3)
Ballet of all nations
4)
Demon revels

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 22 November 1874, 11.
2)
Announcement: New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung und Herold, 24 November 1874, 5.

“The opening performance at the Grand Opera House was scheduled for last evening but had to be postponed on account of some stage decorations not being completed on time. Tickets purchased for yesterday’s performance are valid for today’s.”

3)
Review: New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung und Herold, 26 November 1874, 5.

Notes reopening of the theater and good attendance; no mention of music.

4)
Review: New-York Daily Tribune, 26 November 1874, 4.

Brief; no mention of music. 

5)
Review: New-York Times, 26 November 1874, 5.

No mention of music. 

6)
Review: New York Herald, 26 November 1874, 5.

No mention of music. 

7)
Review: New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung und Herold, 27 November 1874, 5.

“For the current performances of the ‘Black Crook’ at the Grand Opera House, no fewer than 312 ladies have been engaged: of these, 117 are American, 102 English, 47 German, 40 Irish, and 3 Italian. Since only ladies of a certain age are engaged as ballet dancers, in the interest of public morale, we may not be far off in claiming that the total age of the dancers well exceeds 12,000.”

8)
Review: New York Clipper, 28 November 1874, 278.

Cast listing; “…Annie Kemp Bowler, who originally acted Stalacta, was effective as Carline, and won an encore for a song…”

9)
Announcement: New York Herald, 12 December 1874, 10.

Baker is the composer of the original music.