Raymond Allen (stage actor): Difference between revisions
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{{short description|American actor and singer}} |
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[[Image:RaymondAllen.jpg|right|thumb|Allen as Sir Joseph in ''[[H.M.S. Pinafore]]'']] |
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| ⚫ | '''Raymond Allen''' (c.1921 – January 29, 1994) was an American [[stage actor]] who was best known for his performances in [[Gilbert and Sullivan]] and other [[light opera]]s from the 1950s through the 1980s. He spent most of his career with the [[American Savoyards]] and later the [[Light Opera of Manhattan]]. |
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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Allen was born and raised in New York City. |
Allen was born and raised in New York City. He attended Richmond Hill High School in Queens, New York.<ref>Allen, p. 4</ref> Early in his career, Allen appeared at various [[Off-Broadway]] theatres, including [[Theatre de Lys]] in New York's [[Greenwich Village]] (later renamed the Lucille Lortel Theatre) and the Long Wharf theatre in [[New Haven, Connecticut]]. In the 1950s and 1960s, Allen performed with Dorothy Raedler's [[American Savoyards]], at first playing chorus and [[tenor]] roles and, in 1957, taking over the comic roles in the [[Gilbert and Sullivan]] operas.<ref name=Cast>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1913&dat=19570525&id=qtJKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=e_MMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3329,2750497 "American Savoyards to Feature Several New Cast Members"], ''Lewiston Evening Journal'', May 25, 1957, p. 3</ref> |
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Allen was the leading principal [[patter song|comic actor]] of the [[Light Opera of Manhattan]], from 1968 to 1989, starring in shows such as ''[[The Mikado]]'', ''[[The Pirates of Penzance]]'', ''[[H.M.S. Pinafore]]'', ''[[The Merry Widow]]'' and ''[[The Desert Song]]''. |
Allen was the leading principal [[patter song|comic actor]] of the [[Light Opera of Manhattan]], from 1968 to 1989, starring in shows such as ''[[The Mikado]]'', ''[[The Pirates of Penzance]]'', ''[[H.M.S. Pinafore]]'', ''[[The Merry Widow]]'' and ''[[The Desert Song]]''. After the company's artistic director, William Mount-Burke, died in 1984, Allen became co-artistic director of the company, together with choreographer Jerry Gotham. Allen, Gotham and music director Todd Ellison continued to stage new [[operettas]] and [[musical theatre|musicals]] after Mount-Burke's death, including the company's successful original musical ''Little Johnny Jones'' (first mounted in 1987), based on the songs of [[George M. Cohan]].<ref name=Kenrick>[[John Kenrick (theatre writer)|Kenrick, John]]. [http://www.musicals101.com/loomhistory.htm "A Brief History of LOOM"], Musicals101.com, The Cyber Encyclopedia of Musical Theatre, TV and Film, 2002, accessed May 19, 2000</ref><ref>[https://www.variety.com/article/VR118187.html?categoryid=25&cs=1 Obituary in ''Variety''], February 9, 1994; and Blandford, Linda. [https://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/07/arts/a-light-opera-troupe-rises-from-the-ashes.html "A Light Opera Troupe Rises from the Ashes"], ''The New York Times'', June 7, 1987</ref> |
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Allen also performed with [[New York City Opera]], among other companies from time to time.<ref name=Timesobit>[https://www.nytimes.com/1994/02/03/obituaries/raymond-allen-72-tenor-in-light-operas.html Obituary in ''The New York Times''], February 3, 1994, accessed May 19, 2009</ref> |
Allen also performed with [[New York City Opera]], among other companies from time to time.<ref name=Timesobit>[https://www.nytimes.com/1994/02/03/obituaries/raymond-allen-72-tenor-in-light-operas.html Obituary in ''The New York Times''], February 3, 1994, accessed May 19, 2009</ref> In 1990, Allen starred in a brief run of ''The Merry Widow'' at [[Westchester County, New York|Westchester]]'s Emelin Theatre.<ref name=Kenrick/> He also appeared in commercials and films.<ref name=Timesobit/> |
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Allen was married to Rhanda Spotton, another member of the Light Opera of Manhattan.<ref name=Timesobit/> |
Allen was married to Rhanda Spotton, another member of the Light Opera of Manhattan.<ref name=Timesobit/> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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* {{cite book|last=Allen|first=Raymond|title=''The Best of Gilbert & Sullivan: 42 Favorite Songs from the G&S Repertoire|publisher=Chappell Music Company|year=1978}} Book designed by Lee Snider. B&W photos of Light Opera of Manhattan. |
* {{cite book|last=Allen|first=Raymond|title=''The Best of Gilbert & Sullivan: 42 Favorite Songs from the G&S Repertoire''|publisher=Chappell Music Company|year=1978}} Book designed by Lee Snider. B&W photos of Light Opera of Manhattan. |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*[http://www. |
*[http://www.iobdb.com/CreditableEntity/26602 Raymond Allen at The Internet Off-Broadway Database] |
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*[https:// |
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050306083507/http://www.geocities.com/mdonadio/the_light_opera.html Numerous photographs of Allen and others at LOOM] |
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*{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027000802/http://geocities.com/mdonadio/ |date=October 27, 2009 |title=Links to LOOM history and photos of Allen and others }} |
*{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027000802/http://geocities.com/mdonadio/ |date=October 27, 2009 |title=Links to LOOM history and photos of Allen and others }} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, Raymond}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, Raymond}} |
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[[Category:American male stage actors]] |
[[Category:American male stage actors]] |
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[[Category:American opera singers]] |
[[Category:20th-century American male opera singers]] |
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[[Category:1921 births]] |
[[Category:1921 births]] |
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[[Category:1994 deaths]] |
[[Category:1994 deaths]] |
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[[Category:Male actors from New York City]] |
[[Category:Male actors from New York City]] |
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[[Category:20th-century American male actors]] |
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]] |
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[[Category:20th-century American opera singers]] |
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Latest revision as of 19:32, 18 January 2024
Raymond Allen (c.1921 – January 29, 1994) was an American stage actor who was best known for his performances in Gilbert and Sullivan and other light operas from the 1950s through the 1980s. He spent most of his career with the American Savoyards and later the Light Opera of Manhattan.
Biography
[edit]Allen was born and raised in New York City. He attended Richmond Hill High School in Queens, New York.[1] Early in his career, Allen appeared at various Off-Broadway theatres, including Theatre de Lys in New York's Greenwich Village (later renamed the Lucille Lortel Theatre) and the Long Wharf theatre in New Haven, Connecticut. In the 1950s and 1960s, Allen performed with Dorothy Raedler's American Savoyards, at first playing chorus and tenor roles and, in 1957, taking over the comic roles in the Gilbert and Sullivan operas.[2]
Allen was the leading principal comic actor of the Light Opera of Manhattan, from 1968 to 1989, starring in shows such as The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Merry Widow and The Desert Song. After the company's artistic director, William Mount-Burke, died in 1984, Allen became co-artistic director of the company, together with choreographer Jerry Gotham. Allen, Gotham and music director Todd Ellison continued to stage new operettas and musicals after Mount-Burke's death, including the company's successful original musical Little Johnny Jones (first mounted in 1987), based on the songs of George M. Cohan.[3][4]
Allen also performed with New York City Opera, among other companies from time to time.[5] In 1990, Allen starred in a brief run of The Merry Widow at Westchester's Emelin Theatre.[3] He also appeared in commercials and films.[5]
Allen was married to Rhanda Spotton, another member of the Light Opera of Manhattan.[5]
Notes
[edit]- ^ Allen, p. 4
- ^ "American Savoyards to Feature Several New Cast Members", Lewiston Evening Journal, May 25, 1957, p. 3
- ^ a b Kenrick, John. "A Brief History of LOOM", Musicals101.com, The Cyber Encyclopedia of Musical Theatre, TV and Film, 2002, accessed May 19, 2000
- ^ Obituary in Variety, February 9, 1994; and Blandford, Linda. "A Light Opera Troupe Rises from the Ashes", The New York Times, June 7, 1987
- ^ a b c Obituary in The New York Times, February 3, 1994, accessed May 19, 2009
References
[edit]- Allen, Raymond (1978). The Best of Gilbert & Sullivan: 42 Favorite Songs from the G&S Repertoire. Chappell Music Company. Book designed by Lee Snider. B&W photos of Light Opera of Manhattan.