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Robert Stevens (1882–1963) was an American theater actor, director and producer in New York City and Rochester, NY in the first half of the Twentieth Century. He was the first Executive Director of the Rochester Community Players, one of the earliest theater professionals to manage an amateur community theater, serving there for 28 years and guiding that Little Theater through the Great Depression and World War II. ==Family and background== Born in New York City on January 28, 1882,〔Passport application of Robert Stevens, April 1924〕 he was the son of Robert E. Stevens (born c. 1837 in Philadelphia PA), a theatrical manager.〔1900 and 1910United States Census information〕〔New York Times, "The Early Perils of Minnie Madden", July 2, 1916〕 His father had joined the United States Navy just before the Civil War, rising to the rank of Lieutenant.〔Obituary; Robert E. Stevens, New York Times, July 23, 1918〕 According to the New York Times, Robert E. Stevens "took out the first traveling theatrical company" from New York City.〔 He also managed actor Lawrence Barrett for many years.〔"Stevens Aids Drive for New Players"; newspaper clipping from October 1926, in the 1924-1927 Scrapbook of the Rochester Community Players, stored in the Local History Depart, Rundel Library of the Rochester NY Public Library〕 His mother, Emma Maddern, was an actress, as was his sister, Emily Stevens.〔Rochester Times Union newspaper, April 18, 1953, pg. 4, Editorial Page, article by Elmer R. Messner (archived in the 1946-1952 Scrapbook, Rochester Community Players collections, Local History Department, Rochester NY Public Library, Rundel Building|()〕 He is the cousin of Mrs. Fiske, one of the greatest American actresses of the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth Centuries.〔〔Newspaper article, c. Sept, 1928; archived in the 1928-1930 Scrapbook, and Newspaper article, c. Sept. 1931, archived in the 1931-1932 Scrapbook, both found in the Rochester Community Players collections, Local History Department, Rochester NY Public Library, Rundel Building|()〕 Mrs. Fisk herself, while appearing in Rochester in the late 1920s in an Ibsen play, visited the Rochester Community Players Playhouse, in the company of Stevens, and again was described as his cousin in a newspaper report of the visit.〔Rochester Democrat and Chronicle newspaper article, "Mrs. Fiske Likes Atmosphere of Community Players", unknown date, archived in the 1924-1927 Scrapbook, archived in the Rochester Community Players collections, Local History Department, Rochester NY Public Library, Rundel Building|()〕 According to a New York Times interview with his sister, Emily Stevens, their mother, Emma Maddern, was a sister of Mrs. Fiske's mother, Elizabeth Madden, and also a sister of Mary Madden, who played with Mrs. Fiske for many years.〔New York Times interview with Emily Stevens, December 6, 1914〕 Stevens performed as an actor in a number of Mrs. Fiske's productions.〔 His first job after school, at age 18, was as a bank clerk,〔〔1900 United States Census information〕 but he left to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.〔 He had performed a minor walk-on part in a Shakespeare play performed by E. H. Sothern and Julia Marlowe when he landed his first major role, as Romeo in ''Romeo and Juliet''.〔 He was hired by the play's director, Cecil B. DeMille to take over for an actor who departed a road company production in Sioux City, Iowa.〔 He appeared in the cast of The Bat, during the play's three year run on Broadway,〔 He directed the play and took his own company on the road to present it.〔 He performed in numerous theatrical productions, co-starring with Margaret Anglin, Holbrook Blinn, and Lou Tellegen.〔 Stevens appeared with the Ben Greet Players in Shakespeare productions for three years.〔 He also worked in the motion pictures industry, as an assistant director for actress Alla Nazimova at Metro Films (one of the predecessors of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer).〔 On August 12, 1911, he married Ada Walsh Stevens (born c. 1887 in Utica, NY) in New York City.〔〔1930 United States Census〕 His first wife died in 1945 and he married a second time, to Constance B. Stevens, in June 1951.〔Rochester Times Union newspaper article Sept. 18, 1951, archived with the Rochester Community Players collection, Rochester Public Library.〕〔Rochester City Directories 1952-1956, showing Robert B. and Constance B. Stevens residing at 170 Spring Street, Rochester〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Robert Stevens (theater director)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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