McCaull Comic Opera Company
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The McCaull Comic Opera Company, also called the McCaull Opera Comique Company, was an American theatral production company founded by Colonel John A. McCaull in 1880. The company produced operetta, comic opera and musical theatre in New York City and on tour in the eastern and midwestern U.S. and Canada until McCaull's death in 1894. It nurtured such stars, in their early careers, as Lillian Russell and DeWolf Hopper.
History
Early years
McCaull (1846–1894) was born in Scotland. He served as a colonel in the
McCaull explained the goals of his opera company to
The company appeared in
Later years
Late in 1888 in Chicago, McCaull fell on ice, receiving a deep cut on his head. This caused a brain injury that led to paralysis of the muscles of his throat and right side. For about a year afterwards, he continued to direct the company, although his speech was so difficult to understand that he eventually had to give up directing. The De Wolf Hopper Opera Company was then formed with some of McCaull's singers.[3] Francis Wilson also formed his own opera company. By 1890, there were rumors that McCaull's company would disband.[9] By 1891, McCaull had sold his properties and rights to perform works to Harry Askin. But McCaull and his wife sued Askin for not paying the full amount.[10] McCaull continued to control his companies, using hired managers, nearly until his death in 1894.[2][11]
Biographer Johnson Briscoe remarked: "Col. John A. McCaull was one of the greatest light opera's impresarios that this country has ever known, and the McCaull Opera Company was a truly wonderful organization, the like of which we shall probably never know again."[12]
References
- ^ a b Bordman, Gerald and Thomas S. Hischak. "McCaull, John A." in The Oxford Companion to American Theatre, 2004, Encyclopedia.com, accessed 21 September 2011
- ^ a b c d e f Busch, Stephen E. "John A. McCaull Comic Opera Companies", at the Opera in Old Colorado website, accessed September 21, 2011
- ^ a b c d "The Late John A. M'Caull", The New York Times, November 14, 1894, accessed September 22, 2011
- ^ Fiske, Stephen. "Dramatic Feuilleton," The Art Amateur, Vol. 12, No. 1 (December 1884), p. 4. Fiske noted: "Colonel McCaull produced the new opera magnificently. ... The scenery and costumes were superb."
- ^ Fiske, Stephen. "Music and Drama", The Art Amateur, Vol. 12, No. 3 (February 1885), p. 58
- ^ Fiske, Stephen. "Music and Drama", The Art Amateur, Vol. 13, No. 4 (September 1885), p. 68
- ^ According to critic Stephen Fiske (in The Art Amateur, Vol. 13, No. 1 (June 1885), pp. 3–4, the break in relations necessitated performing The Black Hussar at Wallack's Theatre.
- ^ "Comic Opera in America", The New York Times, October 7, 1888
- ^ "The 'Seven Saubians' in Trouble: Rumors that the McCaull Opera Company Will Disband", Critic-Record, October 20, 1890.
- New York Herald-Tribune, July 5, 1891.
- ^ On February 11, 1892, a benefit performance was given for McCaull at the Metropolitan Opera House, raising $8,000. Another benefit that year in Chicago raised an additional $1,450. In 1893, McCaull moved to Greensborough, North Carolina, where he died on November 11, 1894. His funeral was held on November 14, 1894 at St. Martin's Catholic Church in Baltimore, where he was buried. He was survived by three daughters, Winifred, Angela (both actresses) and Margaret. See: "Death of John A. McCaull", The New York Times, November 12, 1894, p. 8.
- ^ Briscoe, Johnson . "Angela McCaull", The Actors' Birthday Book: an Authoritative Insight into the Lives of the Men and Women of the Stage Born Between January 1 and December 31, Moffat, Yard & Company (1907), p. 71