Junius Brutus Booth: Theatrical Prometheus by Dr. Stephen M. Archer Now Available in Paperback

Southern Illinois University Press recently launched the paperback edition of Junius Brutus Booth: Theatrical Prometheus by Dr. Stephen M. Archer. This biography of the patriarch of the Booth family was first published in 1992 and remains the definitive work on the life of one of America’s most successful and well-known Shakespearean actors of the early to mid-1800s. No other biography of Junius B. Booth Sr. has been published since 1992.

Dr. Archer taught theatre history and research methods at the University of Missouri at Columbia from 1971 until he retired in 1998. He is also the author of two theatrical bibliographies, several textbooks, and numerous articles on the theatre.

With the support and assistance of his wife, Kelly, Dr. Archer spent nine years researching and writing Junius Brutus Booth. The Archers agree that researching the gifted and eccentric actor was a fascinating experience, and they recall meeting a number of charming people in the process, including Dorothy and Howard Fox at Tudor Hall in the 1990s.

In 2004, Dr. Archer donated the bulk of the materials he collected while researching his book to the Booth Research Center of the Historical Society of Harford County. Volunteer Emily Andrews is currently creating electronic catalog records, which will eventually be available online, for the Stephen M. Archer/Junius B. Booth Collection.

Copies of the paperback edition are available via the Southern Illinois University Press website: http://www.siupress.com/product/Junius-Brutus-Booth,5564.aspx. It is also available at amazon.com. In addition, a download of the hardback edition of the book can be purchased on the Questia website.

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Vivien Carter, Descendant of Junius B. Booth Sr, Still Starring in the Musical Chicago in London

Vivien Carter is currently starring in the role of Velma Kelly in a production of Chicago at the Cambridge Theatre in London. Vivien is the great-great-great-great granddaughter of Junius Brutus Booth Sr. and his first wife Marie Christine Adelaide Delannoy Booth via Booth's eldest son Richard. Ms. Carter is a native of Australia, and this is her first starring role.

What started out as a six-week "gig" for Vivien turned into a six-month contract. She will continue in her role as Velma Kelly until October 24, 2010.

For more information about the Cambridge Theatre and its production of Chicago:

http://www.reallyuseful.com/theatres/cambridge-theatre

For more information about Chicago:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_%28musical%29

All Grown Up

Regular visitors to Tudor Hall have been keeping an anxious eye on this family of Canadian geese all summer. The goslings have grown so large it is difficult to tell them from their parents except for the fact that the parents continue to be so protective of their young and to herd them away whenever anyone approaches (unless that person has brought a treat--don't forget feeding wild animals including geese and ducks is discouraged by the Department of Parks and Recreation). In fact, the goslings are so grown up, the geese may have already flown to explore other parts of Harford County.

Photo by Kim Edwards.

Jill Redding Recognized by the Daughters of the American Revolution

 Jill Redding telling visitors to Tudor Hall about
Mary Ann Holmes Booth and her children.

The summer 2010 issue of the newsletter of the D.A.R. William Paca Chapter recently announced that Jill Redding placed third in the state for her community service work as a volunteer at Tudor Hall in 2009. Jill has drawn upon her experience as a professional actor to serve as a coach for the Spirits of Tudor Hall tour guides for the past three years. In addition, Jill recently teamed up her fellow volunteer Kim Edwards to lead a guided tour at Tudor Hall on Sunday, July 25, 2010. It was the first time either one of them had led a tour, and they both did a great job.

Kim Edwards stepped out of her role as reservations manager to team up with Jill Redding to lead a tour at Tudor Hall on July 25. Kim is especially interested in the architectural features of of Tudor Hall.

Mike Brown pointed out architectural features at Tudor Hall on one of the hottest days of the summer. Even though the heat index was in the mid-100 degree range, over 50 people toured Tudor Hall on Sunday, July 25th.

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Seen at Tudor Hall July 17, 2010

 There was a lot of "luck" for those attending the potluck supper at Tudor Hall on Saturday evening, July 17, 2010. There are many gifted cooks among our active volunteers.

On Saturday evening, July 17, 2010, fifteen "Spirits" braved the hot and humid weather to partake of a potluck supper at Tudor Hall. The food was delicious, and the company lively and in good spirits. We were especially pleased to have Emily Andrews and Judy Rogers of the Historical Society of Harford County join us. Emily is heroically preparing electronic catalog records for the Dr. Stephen M. Archer/Junius B. Booth Collection under Judy's supervision. Judy is a retired school librarian who has taken on the daunting task of supervising the creation of an electronic catalog for all the items in the historical society's vast holdings.

(Emily appears in the navy blue shirt in the above photo. Judy, wearing a green shirt, is sitting opposite Emily with her back to the camera.)

Nancy Carosi In Costume at Tudor Hall, June 27th

 
Nancy Carosi of Bel Air told visitors about Civil War era clothing during our tours on Sunday, June 27th. Nancy participates in many Civil War reenactments in Maryland and surrounding states throughout the year. She has nine costumes of the Civil War era that she wears as appropriate to the occasion. We were pleased to have Nancy join us on a very hot summer afternoon at Tudor Hall. Our guides and their support team enjoyed Nancy's presence as much as our visitors did. Nancy has promised to visit Tudor Hall again on some of our upcoming tour dates, promising that "next time" she will wear one of her other costumes. Photo by Dinah Faber

Nancy Carosi in the Booth Room at Tudor Hall with David Fried's portraits of Edwin and John Wilkes Booth in the background. A brand new exhibit about the family of Joseph and Ann Hall (an African American family with a long association with Tudor Hall) can be seen on the left. This is only one of many new exhibits that are going up at Tudor Hall this summer. We will post photos of the new exhibits soon. Photo by Dinah Faber

The front porch (or verandah) at Tudor Hall provides the perfect setting for Nancy Carosi in her Civil War era costume. Photo by Kim Edwards

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