Muriel Ellen Rahn (1911–1961) was an American vocalist and actress. She co-founded the Rose McClendon Players with her husband, Dick Campbell and was one of the leading black concert singers of the mid-20th century. She is perhaps best known for her starring role in the original Broadway production of '' Carmen Jones''. Rahn also served as musical director of the German State Theater in Frankfurt.

Biography

Muriel Ellen Rahn was born in Boston in 1911, the daughter of Willie and Elizabeth "Bessie" Rahn (''née'' Smith). After her father died, she moved with her mother to New York City, where Bessie met and married Cornelius M. Battey, who became director of photography of the

Tuskegee Institute Tuskegee University (Tuskegee or TU; formerly known as the Tuskegee Institute) is a Private university, private, Historically black colleges and universities, historically black land-grant university in Tuskegee, Alabama, United States. It was f ...

in Alabama. Muriel finished her high school at Tuskegee, then attended

Atlanta University Clark Atlanta University (CAU or Clark Atlanta) is a private, Methodist, historically black research university in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It was founded on September19, 1865, as Atlanta University, it was the first HBCU in the Southe ...

before earning a degree from the Music Conservatory of the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. She was also educated at

Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...

and studied voice at

Juilliard School of Music The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Founded by Frank Damrosch as the Institute of Musical Art in 1905, the school later added dance and drama programs and became the Juilliard School, named afte ...

. In 1929, she launched her professional career in New York City. One of her earlier appearances on Broadway was in the musical ''Come of Age'', written and staged by Clamence Dane with music by Richard Addinsell. In 1950, Rahn made one of her later appearances on Broadway. Opposite operatic legend

Lawrence Tibbett Lawrence Mervil Tibbett (November 16, 1896 – July 15, 1960) was an American opera singer and recording artist who also performed as a film actor and radio personality. A baritone with large, deep, and dark-timbred voice. His dynamic range (in ...

, she played the role of Cora Lewis in the musical ''The Barrier'', based on the play ''Mulatto'' by

Langston Hughes James Mercer Langston Hughes (February 1, 1901 – May 22, 1967) was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist from Joplin, Missouri. An early innovator of jazz poetry, Hughes is best known as a leader of the Harl ...

. Later stage credits included the off-Broadway production of Sara Reavin's melodrama ''The Ivory Branch'' with

Diana Barrymore Diana Blanche Barrymore Blythe (March 3, 1921 – January 25, 1960) was an American film and stage actress. Early life Born Diana Blanche Barrymore Blythe in New York, New York, Diana Barrymore was the daughter of actor John Barrymore and hi ...

. In 1959, Rahn became the first black musical director of the

Städtische Bühnen Frankfurt Städtische Bühnen Frankfurt () is the municipal theatre company of Frankfurt, the largest city of Hesse Germany. The name dates back to 1919. The company is structured today in two organisations, Oper Frankfurt for opera, and Schauspiel Frankfur ...

, Germany. Rahn died on August 8, 1961, at Sydenham Hospital in New York City from lung cancer.

Selected credits

Theatre

Television

Motion Pictures

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Rahn, Muriel 1911 births 1961 deaths Deaths from lung cancer in New York (state) Musicians from Boston 20th-century African-American actresses 20th-century American actresses Actresses from Boston 20th-century African-American women singers 20th-century American women singers 20th-century American singers