List of American women in 19th century theater

A

• Emma Abbott - (December 9, 1850 - January 5, 1891) Operatic soprano from Chicago, Illinois. Played at the Royal Opera in London, Covent Garden. Returned to America and founded the Abbott English Opera Company with her husband Eugene Wetherell. Sang in the Abbott English Opera Company as Juliette in Charles Gounod's Romeo et Juliette (1867).
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emma_Abbott

• Bessie Abott (1878-February 9, 1919) Born Bessie Pickens in Heuvelton, New York. American operatic soprano who made her professional debut at Pickens Hall (built by her grandfather, John Pickens Sr.). Performed in Charles Gounod's Romeo et Juliette as Juliette.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bessie_Abott

• Florence Adelaide Fowle Adams (October 15, 1863 - July 31, 1916) Born Florence Adelaide Fowle in Chelsea, Massachusetts. Dramatic reader and teacher at the Boston School of Oratory.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Adelaide_Fowle_Adams

• Maude Adams (November 11, 1872 - July 17, 1953) Born Maude Ewing Adams Kiskadden in Salt Lake City, Utah. Greatest success as Peter Pan on Broadway, 1905. Portrayed Juliet in Romeo and Juliet in (1899), Portia in The Merchant of Venice (1931), and Maria in Twelfth Night (1934).
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maude_Adams

• Suzanne Adams (November 28, 1872 - February 5, 1953) Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, debuted at the Paris Opera in 1894/1895 in Charles Gounod's Romeo et Juliette. Appeared at Covent Garden in London as Hero in C.V. Stanford's Much Ado About Nothing (1898).
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzanne_Adams

• Sara Adler (May 26, 1858 - April 28, 1953) Born Sara Levitskaya in Odessa, Ukraine, Russian Empire.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sara_Adler

• Ullie Akerstrom (March 17, 1864 - August 10, 1941) Born Ulrika Akerstrom in New York City, she was a dancer, actress and playwrite.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ullie_Akerstrom

• Viola Alberti (July 10, 1871 - May 8, 1957) Born Mary Viola Alberti in Lewistown, Pennsylvania.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viola_Alberti

• Viola Allen (October 27, 1867 - May 9, 1948) Born Viola Emily Allen in Huntsville, Alabama, she played leading roles in Shakespeare and other plays. Twelfth Night, A Winter's Tale, As you Like It (1911). Played the roles of Cordelia and Desdemona, among others.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viola_Allen

• Mary Anderson (July 28, 1859 - May 29, 1940) Born Mary Antoinette Anderson in Sacramento, California. Later became Mary Anderson de Nevarro. Played Lady MacBeth in 1877, Romeo and Juliet (1884), The Winter's Tale double role of Perdita and Hermione (1887)
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Anderson_(actress,_born_1859)

B

• Emily Bancker (1861/62 - June 5, 1897)
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_Bancker
• Charlotte Mary Sanford Barnes (1818 - April 14, 1863) Born in Massachusettes, Barnes was an American actress and playwrite.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_Mary_Sanford_Barnes
• Ethel Barrymore (August 15, 1879 - June 18, 1959) Born Ethel Mae Blythe in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she was a member of the Barrymore family of actors. Played in the Garrick Theatre in London's West End in 1901. Played Juliet in Romeo and Juliet (1922).
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethel_Barrymore
• Isabel Bateman (December 28, 1854 - 1934) Born in Cincinnati, Ohio. Played Desdemona in Othello at the Lyceum theatre, London.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabel_Bateman
• Kate Josephine Bateman Crowe (October 7, 1842 - April 8, 1917) Born Kate Josephine Bateman in Baltimore, Maryland. Performed excerpts from Shakespeare's plays around the country with her sister Ellen.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Josephine_Bateman
• Sidney Frances Bateman (March 29, 1823 - January 13, 1881) Born Sidney Frances Cowell in England. Referenced with Henry Irving. She became manager of the Sadler's Wells Theatre.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidney_Frances_Bateman
• Virginia Frances Bateman (January 1, 1853 - May 4, 1940) Born in New York, she was also known as Mrs. Edward Compton and Virginia Mackenzie. Played with Henry Irving.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Frances_Bateman
• Blanche Bates (August 25, 1873 - December 25, 1941) Born in Portland, Oregon.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blanche_Bates
• Nora Bayes (October 3, 1880 - March 19, 1928) Born Rachel Eleanora Goldberg in Chicago, Illinois. She was a singer, actress, and comedian.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nora_Bayes
• Louise Beaudet (December 5, 1859 - December 31, 1947) Born Marie Louise Anna Beaudet in Lothbiniere, Quebec, Canada. Discovered by Frank Drew of the Drew-Barrymore family.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Beaudet
• Rose Beaudet (1862 - 1947) Born Eliza Lang in Stockton, California near San Francisco.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Beaudet
• Laura Joyce Bell (May 1854 - May 30, 1904) Born Laura Joyce Maskell in London, England. Played at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Joyce_Bell
• Ann West Bignall (1760's - 1805) Born Ann West. Daughter of the founder of the Virginia Company, also known as the Virginia Comedians and South Carolina Company. A favorite of Aaron Burr.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_West_Bignall
• Amelia Bingham (March 20, 1869 - September 1, 1927) Born Amelia Swilley Bingham in Hicksville, Ohio.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amelia_Bingham
• Kitty Blanchard (1847 - December 14, 1911) Born Elizabeth Blanchard from Pennsylvania.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitty_Blanchard
• Lillian Blauvelt (1873 - 1947) Born in New York City, Lillian was an opera singer. Played at the Royal Albert Hall and Carnegie Hall.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lillian_Blauvelt
• Clara Bloodgood (August 23, 1870 - December 5, 1907) Born in Long Branch, New Jersey.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clara_Bloodgood
• Marjorie Bonner (d. November 15, 1895) Born Catherine F. Goodwin and not associated with Marjorie Bonner of the Ziegfeld Follies.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marjorie_Bonner_(19th_century_actress)
• Jessie Bonstelle (November 1871 - October 14, 1932) Born Laura Justine Bonstelle in Greece, New York. Described as "one of the pioneering women stage directors in the early twentieth century." Was a member in Augustin Daly's company. Had a stake in the Garrick Theater, but sold it in 1924. Did a production of Romeo and Juliet (1926) and Hamlet (1927). Opened one of America's first civic theaters called Bonstelle's Playhouse.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessie_Bonstelle
• Agnes Booth (October 4, 1843 - January 2, 1910) Born Marian Agnes Land Rookes in Sydney, New South Wales. In-law of the Booth brothers, having married Junius Brutus Booth, Jr. Played in Romeo and Juliet (1874).
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnes_Booth
• Elizabeth Crocker Bowers (March 12, 1830 - November 6, 1895) Born in Stamford, Connecticut and professionally known as Mrs. D.P. Bowers. Sister of actress Sarah Crocker Conway. In 1863, she played Juliet and Lady Macbeth at the Winter Garden (no longer in existence).
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Crocker_Bowers
• May Brookyn (1854/59 - February 15, 1894) Born in Greater London, England.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Brookyn
• Cora Urquhart Brown-Potter (May 15, 1857 - February 12, 1936) Born Mary Cora Urquhart in New Orleans, Louisiana. Stage debut at Theatre Royal in Brighton.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cora_Urquhart_Brown-Potter
• Nellie Marie Burns (1850s - June 16, 1897) Born Ellen Marie Sherman in Waltham, Massachusetts. Stage actress until her marriage to Thomas N. Burns.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nellie_Marie_Burns
• Marie Burroughs (1866 - March 4, 1926) Born Lillie Arrington in San Jose, California.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Burroughs
• Jessie Busley (1869 - 1950) Played in Garrick Theatre, Daly's Theatre, and productions of The Winter's Tale and Twelfth Night.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessie_Busley
• Sarah Hildreth Butler (August 17, 1816 - April 8, 1876) Born Sarah Jones Hildreth in Dracut, Massachusetts. Retired from stage performance after marriage.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Hildreth_Butler

C

• Marie Cahill
• Georgia Caine
• Beatrice Cameron
• Mrs. Leslie Carter
• Emma Carus
• Louise Carver
• Georgia Cayvan
• Henrietta Baker Chanfrau
• Beatrice Chanler
• Caroline Chapman
• Edythe Chapman
• Charlotte Baldwin
• Alfreda Chippendale
• Gertrude Claire
• Ada Clare
• Marguerite Clark
• Kate Claxton
• Viola Katherine Clemmons
• Josephine Clifton
• Ella Maria Dietz Clymer
• Laura Sedgwick Collins
• Nanette Comstock
• Ida Conquest
• Sarah Crocker Conway
• Ethyle Cooke
• Mabelle Gilman Corey
• Mae Costello
• Lotta Crabtree
• Marcella Craft
• Maida Craigen
• Laura Hope Crews
• Henrietta Crosman
• Charlotte Cushman
• Pauline Cushman
• Susan Webb Cushman

D

• Margaret Dale (actress)
• Helen Dauvray
• Alice Davenport
• Milla Davenport
• Phoebe Davies
• Fay Davis
• Henrietta Vinton Davis
• Jessie Bartlett Davis
• May de Sousa
• Julia Dean (actress, born 1830)
• Camille D'elmar
• Kate Denin
• Susan Denin
• Laura Don
• Frances Ann Denny Drake
• Virginia Dreher
• Louise Dresser
• Dorothy Drew
• Georgiana Drew
• Louisa Lane Drew
• Helen Dunbar
• Minnie Dupree
• Maud Durbin

E

• Virginia Earle
• Elise, Countess of Edla
• Eliza Crisp
• Eliza Riddle Field
• Elizabeth Hamblin
• Maxine Elliott
• Edith Ellis (playwright)
• Effie Ellsler
• Agnes Ethel
• Lizzie Evans
• Pearl Eytinge
• Rose Eytinge

F

• Maude Fealy
• Elsie Ferguson
• Bijou Fernandez
• Kate Field
• Margarita Fischer
• Minnie Maddern Fiske
• Harriet Ford
• Louise Woodworth Foss
• Della Fox
• Frances Denny Drake
• Irene Franklin
• Olive Fremstad
• Emma Sheridan Fry

G

• Minna Gale
• Bertha Galland
• Grace George
• Effie Germon
• Sylvia Gerrish
• Amelia Holman Gilfert
• Lulu Glaser
• Katherine Grey (actress)
• Louise Gunning

H

• Louise Closser Hale
• Laura Nelson Hall
• Pauline Hall
• Virginia Harned
• Alice Harrison
• Percy Haswell
• Ella Hattan
• Grace Henderson
• Ogarita Booth Henderson
• Beatrice Herford
• Adrienne McNeil Herndon
• Chrystal Herne
• Bijou Heron
• Matilda Heron
• Mabel Hite
• Edna Wallace Hopper
• Kate Horn
• Jean Hosmer
• Lotty Hough
• Jobyna Howland
• Caroline Miskel Hoyt
• Hyers Sisters

I

• Isabel Irving

J

• Ethel Jackson
• Fanny Janauschek
• Elsie Janis
• Marie Jansen
• Cornelia Frances Jefferson
• Maud Jeffries
• Izetta Jewel
• Susan Johnstone
• Avonia Jones
• Matilda Sissieretta Joyner Jones
• Pauline Joran

K

• Florence Kahn (actress)
• Bertha Kalich
• Kathleen Kerrigan (actress)
• Kathryn Kidder
• Jennie Kimball
• Sarah Kirby-Stark
• Mrs. Edward Knight

L

• Lucille La Verne
• La Sylphe
• Paulina Lavitz
• Lillian Lawrence
• Louise Le Baron
• Sarah Cowell Le Moyne
• Jennie Lee (American actress)
• Lillian Lee
• Mercedes Leigh
• Amy Leslie
• Elsie Leslie
• Annie Lewis
• Clara Lipman
• Keni Liptzin
• Little Tuesday
• Eliza Logan
• Olive Logan
• Marion Lorne

M

• Annie Mack
• Jessie Mackaye
• Marietta Judah
• Julia Marlowe
• Mary Maurice
• Olive May
• Kate Mayhew
• Margaret Mayo (playwright)
• Mollie McConnell
• Nancy McIntosh
• Margaret McWade
• Rose Melville
• Adah Isaacs Menken
• Ann Brunton Merry
• Maggie Mitchell
• Helena Modjeska
• Virginia Monier
• Annabelle Moore
• Polly Moran
• Jane Morgan (actress)
• Giuseppina Morlacchi
• Clara Morris
• Anna Cora Mowatt

N

• Miriam Nesbitt
• Alice Nielsen

O

• Alice Oates
• Maude Odell
• Peggy O'Neil
• Julie Opp
• Elita Proctor Otis

P

• Mabel Paige
• Minnie Palmer
• Charlotte Blair Parker
• Jane Peyton
• Annie Pixley
• Charlotte Wrighten Placide
• Jane Placide
• Eliza Poe
• Madame Ponisi
• Lily Post
• Kate Price (actress)
• Eva Puck

R

• Lulah Ragsdale
• Jessie Ralph
• Phyllis Rankin
• Dora Knowlton Ranous
• Kate Raymond
• Olive Redpath
• Ada Rehan
• Carrie Reynolds
• Fanny Rice
• Emily Rigl
• Blanche Ring
• Annie Robe
• Florence Roberts
• Florence Roberts (actress)
• May Robson
• Genevieve Rogers
• Rose Sydell
• Isadore Rush
• Ada Dwyer Russell
• Annie Russell
• Lillian Russell

S

• Josie Sadler
• Julia Sanderson
• Sibyl Sanderson
• Zelda Sears
• Evelyn Selbie
• Selene Johnson
• Effie Shannon
• Truly Shattuck
• Charlotte Shelby
• Sydney Shields
• Catherine Norton Sinclair
• Beverley Sitgreaves
• Rose Stahl
• Genevieve Stebbins
• Rowena Granice Steele

T

• Edith Taliaferro
• Fay Templeton
• Gertrude Thanhouser
• Bessie Thomashefsky
• Minnie Tittell Brune
• Helen Tracy
• Sarah Truax
• Carrie Turner (actress)
• Florence Turner
• Odette Tyler
• Elizabeth Tyree

U

• Geraldine Ulmar (June 23, 1862 - August 13, 1932) Born Annie Geraldine Ulmar in Charlestown, Massachusetts.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geraldine_Ulmar
• Isabelle Urquhart (December 9, 1865 - February 7, 1907) Born in New York City, she worked in musical comedy and opera. Signed on to play in Augustin Daly's company in 1882-1883.

V

• Grace Van Studdiford
• Marie van Zandt
• Vera Freeman
• Mary Ann Vincent
• Annie Von Behren

W

• Marie Wainwright
• Charlotte Walker
• Aida Overton Walker
• Blanche Walsh
• Fannie Ward
• Helen Ware
• Ida Waterman
• Stella Weaver
• Mary E. Webb
• Rebecca Weintraub
• Lucille Western
• Helen Westley
• Sarah Wheatley
• Blanche Whiffen
• Whitman Sisters
• Dora Wiley
• Bertha M. Wilson
• Jennie Worrell

X

Y

• Ellen Beach Yaw (September 14, 1869 - September 9, 1947) Born near Buffalo, New York.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_Beach_Yaw
• Annie Yeamans (November 19, 1835 - March 3, 1912) Born Annie Griffiths Yeamans outside of the United States.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annie_Yeamans
• May Yohé (April 6, 1866 - August 29, 1938) Born Mary Augusta Yohe in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania she was a musical actress.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Yoh%C3%A9
• Rida Johnson Young (February 28, 1875 - May 8, 1926) Born in Baltimore, Maryland she was a playwrite.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rida_Johnson_Young

Z