Stephen Woolls (1729-1799) was an American actor and singer, and member of the American and Old American Company. Woolls was born in

Bath Bath may refer to: * Bathing, immersion in a fluid ** Bathtub, a large open container for water, in which a person may wash their body ** Public bathing, a public place where people bathe * Thermae, ancient Roman public bathing facilities Plac ...

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

. He first appeared on stage in New York at the John Street Theatre on December 7, 1767, playing the role of Gibbet in ''

The Beaux' Stratagem ''The Beaux' Stratagem'' is a comedy by George Farquhar, first produced at the Theatre Royal, now the site of Her Majesty's Theatre, in the Haymarket, London, on 8 March 1707. In the play, Archer and Aimwell, two young gentlemen who have falle ...

'' and Mercury in ''Lethe'' (a satire by

David Garrick David Garrick (19 February 1716 – 20 January 1779) was an English actor, playwright, Actor-manager, theatre manager and producer who influenced nearly all aspects of European theatrical practice throughout the 18th century, and was a pupil a ...

). The primary singer in the company (and part owner at one point), he continued to perform and sing until shortly before his death.Singleton, Esther
Social New York under the Georges, 1714-1776
p. 283 (1902)Fifty-years of a Play-goer's Journal
pp. v (1860)Ireland, Joseph N
Records of the New York Stage: From 1750 to 1860, Volume 1
p. 44 (1866) According to John Durang, Woolls and Miss Wainwright of the American Company had both been students of

Thomas Arne Thomas Augustine Arne (; 12 March 17105 March 1778) was an English composer. He is best known for his patriotic song " Rule, Britannia!" and the song " A-Hunting We Will Go", the latter composed for a 1777 production of '' The Beggar's Opera'', w ...

.Sonneck, Oscar
Early Opera in America, Volume 2
pp. 37-38 (1915) Woolls would perform "entertainment between the acts" of plays, meaning songs, which were a popular part of the program.

William Dunlap William Dunlap (February 19, 1766 – September 28, 1839) was a pioneer of American theater. He was a producer, playwright, and actor, as well as a historian. He managed two of New York City's earliest and most prominent theaters, the John Str ...

wrote in his ''History of the American Theatre'' that Woolls (spelled Wools) "was for many years the first singer of the company, continuing to figure as such long after all voice had left him, and snuff and snuffle characterized his attempts."Dunlap, William. istory of the American Theatre, Vol. 1 p. 54 (1833) Woolls died in New York on June 14, 1799, and was buried in the churchyard of St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

.Abstracts of Wills, Vol. XV
p. 190 (1907) (Transcription of Woolls' will)

References

1729 births 1799 deaths British emigrants to the Thirteen Colonies 18th-century American male actors American male stage actors Male actors from Bath, Somerset {{US-stage-actor-stub