The Theatre Comique, formerly Wood's Minstrel Hall, was a venue on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

Manhattan, New York City Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five Boroughs of New York City, boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the List of co ...

. It was built in 1862, replacing a synagogue on the site.

History

William Lingard debuted at the theater in 1868. ''Pluto'', the first Broadway musical to feature music by

David Braham David Braham (1834 – April 11, 1905) was a London-born musical theatre composer most famous for his work with Edward Harrigan and Tony Hart. He has been called "the American Offenbach". Early life (1834–1873) David Braham was born in L ...

, debuted at the venue in 1869. In 1871, Josh Hart, who had formerly managed the

Howard Athenaeum The Howard Athenæum (1845–1953), also known as Old Howard Theatre, in Boston, Massachusetts, was one of the most famous theaters in Boston history. Founded in 1845, it remained an institution of culture and learning for most of its years, fina ...

in Boston, took over and made the renamed Theatre Comique a variety house, vying with

Tony Pastor Antonio Pastor (May 28, 1837 – August 26, 1908) was an American impresario, variety performer and theatre owner who became one of the founding forces behind American vaudeville in the mid- to late-nineteenth century. He was sometimes referr ...

to secure the best artists and the biggest popular theater audience in New York. Ned Harrigan and

Tony Hart Norman Antony Hart (15 October 1925 – 18 January 2009),Debrett's People of Today 2008, Debrett's Peerage Ltd, 2007. known professionally as Tony Hart, was an English artist best known for his work in educating children in art through his role ...

began a run at the theater in 1872, with Harrigan taking over from Hart as manager in the fall of 1876. Harrigan moved on to a

New Theatre Comique The Church of the Messiah at 728–30 Broadway, near Waverly Place in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York City, was dedicated in 1839 and operated as a church until 1864. In January 1865 it was sold to department store magnate Alexander Tur ...

further up Broadway and the old building was demolished in 1881., George C.D. Odell, ''Annals of the New York Stage (New York: Columbia University Press, 1927-1948).

References

External links

* 1862 establishments in New York (state) Broadway (Manhattan) Former Broadway theatres Buildings and structures demolished in 1881 Demolished buildings and structures in Manhattan Demolished theatres in New York City SoHo, Manhattan Theatres completed in 1862 {{US-theat-struct-stub