Grace Van Studdiford
Encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Grace Studdiford, a Hollywood silent film actress who died in 1947
Grace Van Studdiford (January 8, 1873 – January 29, 1927) was an early twentieth-century American
opera singer and actress. She never recorded for gramophone or made motion pictures. Her Broadway roles are limited as she toured all over the country.
. She made her first appearance on the stage in Chicago in The Black Hussar. In 1899 she toured with Jefferson De Angelis
in The Jolly Musketeer. After her tour with De Angelis she started to perform opera and on October 24, 1900 appeared at the Metropolitan Opera House
in the title role of Martha. She also appeared there as Michaela in Carmen
, Marguerite in Faust
, Fleur-de-Lys in Esmerelda, Josephine in H.M.S. Pinafore
and Leonora in Il trovatore
.
in the part of Arline. In late 1910 she toured in 'A Bridal Trip' before bringing it to Broadway's Herald Square Theater in January 1911 under the name 'The Paradise of Mahomet'. In 1911 she appeared at the Winter Garden Theatre
in 'La Belle Paree' as Mimi and later toured in 'A Bridal Trip' now renamed 'The Paradise of Mahomet'. In 1914 Van Studdiford toured the US in 'Oh! Oh! Delphine' playing the title character. Her last recorded performance in an opera or play is in the musical comedy A Trip to Chinatown
as Mrs Guyer. In this play Van Studdiford toured many military camps as World War I wound to a finish. This musical was later made into a 1926 silent movie by Fox Studios.
Grace Van Studdiford (January 8, 1873 – January 29, 1927) was an early twentieth-century American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
opera singer and actress. She never recorded for gramophone or made motion pictures. Her Broadway roles are limited as she toured all over the country.
Early life
Grace Quive was born in North Manchester, IndianaNorth Manchester, Indiana
North Manchester is a town in Chester Township, Wabash County, Indiana, United States. Peter Ogan, acting as the town’s founder filed for recording the 'Original Plat of Manchester' on February 13, 1846...
. She made her first appearance on the stage in Chicago in The Black Hussar. In 1899 she toured with Jefferson De Angelis
Jefferson De Angelis
Jefferson De Angelis born Thomas Jefferson De Angelis in San Francisco was a 19th-20th century stage actor who specialized in comedy and acrobatic clowning and who achieved fame in Vaudeville and on Broadway. He was also a stage director and producer. He began in Baltimore at age 10...
in The Jolly Musketeer. After her tour with De Angelis she started to perform opera and on October 24, 1900 appeared at the Metropolitan Opera House
Metropolitan Opera House (39th St)
The Metropolitan Opera House was an opera house located at 1411 Broadway in New York City. Opened in 1883 and demolished in 1967, it was the first home of the Metropolitan Opera Company.-History:...
in the title role of Martha. She also appeared there as Michaela in Carmen
Carmen
Carmen is a French opéra comique by Georges Bizet. The libretto is by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée, first published in 1845, itself possibly influenced by the narrative poem The Gypsies by Alexander Pushkin...
, Marguerite in Faust
Faust (opera)
Faust is a drame lyrique in five acts by Charles Gounod to a French libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré from Carré's play Faust et Marguerite, in turn loosely based on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust, Part 1...
, Fleur-de-Lys in Esmerelda, Josephine in H.M.S. Pinafore
H.M.S. Pinafore
H.M.S. Pinafore; or, The Lass That Loved a Sailor is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and a libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It opened at the Opera Comique in London, England, on 25 May 1878 and ran for 571 performances, which was the second-longest run of any musical...
and Leonora in Il trovatore
Il trovatore
Il trovatore is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Salvadore Cammarano, based on the play El Trovador by Antonio García Gutiérrez. Cammarano died in mid-1852 before completing the libretto...
.
Stardom
In 1903 Van Studdiford opened the opera 'Maid Marian' and later debuted 'The Red Feather' which was specially written for her. This opera also boasted some of the most elaborate costumes up to that date. She played in and toured The Red Feather for two years. After finish touring with 'The Red Feather', Van Studdiford chose her next title part in the opera 'Lady Teazle' which was not performed on Broadway but at several popular music halls throughout the country. In July 1908 she was back on Broadway in 'The Mimic World'. In October 1908 she was at New York's Broadway Theater as Ilma Walden in 'The Golden Butterfly' and toured this opera into 1909. 1910 found Van Studdiford in the popular opera The Bohemian GirlThe Bohemian Girl
The Bohemian Girl is an opera composed by Michael William Balfe with a libretto by Alfred Bunn. The plot is loosely based on a Cervantes tale, La Gitanilla.The opera was first produced in London at the Drury Lane Theatre on November 27, 1843...
in the part of Arline. In late 1910 she toured in 'A Bridal Trip' before bringing it to Broadway's Herald Square Theater in January 1911 under the name 'The Paradise of Mahomet'. In 1911 she appeared at the Winter Garden Theatre
Winter Garden Theatre
The Winter Garden Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 1634 Broadway in midtown Manhattan.-History:The structure was built by William Kissam Vanderbilt in 1896 to be the American Horse Exchange....
in 'La Belle Paree' as Mimi and later toured in 'A Bridal Trip' now renamed 'The Paradise of Mahomet'. In 1914 Van Studdiford toured the US in 'Oh! Oh! Delphine' playing the title character. Her last recorded performance in an opera or play is in the musical comedy A Trip to Chinatown
A Trip to Chinatown
A Trip to Chinatown is a musical comedy in three acts by Charles H. Hoyt with music by Percy Gaunt and lyrics by Hoyt, that became a silent film featuring Anna May Wong half a century later. In addition to the Gaunt and Hoyt score, many songs were interpolated into the score at one time or another...
as Mrs Guyer. In this play Van Studdiford toured many military camps as World War I wound to a finish. This musical was later made into a 1926 silent movie by Fox Studios.
Grace Van Studdiford Amusement Company
In 1908 Van Studdiford and Charles Bradley partnered to form a production company in her name. This was seemingly for the sole purpose of producing the opera she performed in that season The Golden Butterfly. The venture didn't last long as they were sued in 1909 by a Joseph Weber for back wages.Personal life
As Grace Quive she married Charles Van Studdiford in 1897. In 1908 she sued for divorce for desertion.External links
- Grace Van Studdiford at IBDB.com
- Grace Van Studdiford portrait gallery New York Public Library Billy Rose Collection
- Grace Van Studdiford portrait gallery Univ of Washington J Willis Sayre Collection
- Grace Van Studdiford portrait gallery Univ. of Louisville Macauley Theatre Collection (enter her name)
- Grace Van Studdiford in The Actors Birthday Book by Johnson Briscoe