The Smart Set Company was an African American touring revue company fronted by Sherman H. Dudley who took over for Tom McIntosh . Dudley signed a five-year contract in 1904 and was considered the show's "chief fun maker." Reviews of a performance in Indiana in 1902 refer to singing, dancing and "clever acrobatic work" calling it "the smartest colored comedy in all of America." Their performances, which were not entirely minstrel shows , were often commentaries on race in America "a composite study of the stage from a racial viewpoint" covering "every phase of stagedom."
15-426: In 1909, the group split into a Northern and Southern Smart Set Company with the latter being managed by Salem Tutt Whitney . Dudley retired from working with The Smart Set in 1912 and worked on building his chain of theaters. After 1917 Dudley devoted himself to producing black musicals, including updated Smart Set productions. The name was used later to refer to other collections of actors and performers who worked on
30-627: A prima donna of outstanding excellence. It has also been used to describe the creators of heroic coloratura roles in the first half of the 19th century. The woman who sang the second major part in an opera was, correspondingly, referred to as the seconda donna ; by the late 18th century, this role was sometimes called the altra prima donna . At times, these prime donne had grand off-stage personalities and strict demands of fellow troupe members, musicians, set and wardrobe designers, producers, and other staff. However, they were deferentially tolerated because of their consummate talent and their draw at
45-502: A son, Baynard Lewis Puggsley (1898–1956). Lewis Puggsley was a brother of Charles Henry Puggsley (1868–1932), who, in 1900, was second tenor and soloist with the Oriental Troubadours. –––––––––––––––––––– News media Books, journals, magazines, and papers Prima donna In opera or commedia dell'arte , a prima donna ( Italian: [ˈpriːma ˈdɔnna] ; Italian for 'first lady'; pl. : prime donne )
60-435: Is the leading female singer in the company, the person to whom the prime roles would be given. Prime donne often had grand off-stage personalities and were seen as demanding of their colleagues. Because of this, the term has spread in contemporary usage, from its original usage in opera to referring to anyone behaving in a demanding or temperamental fashion or having an inflated view of oneself. The prima donna in opera
75-583: The Tutt Brothers , were American vaudeville producers, writers, and performers of the late 19th and early 20th century. They were also known as Whitney & Tutt , Tutt & Whitney and the Whitney Brothers . They were prominent in black vaudeville and created over forty revues for black audiences. Salem Tutt Whitney was born in Logansport, Indiana (birth-year varies: 1869, 1875, 1876, or 1878), as
90-531: The 1940s, was bought by circus owner Ephraim "Eph" Williams although the brothers never received payment. They formed the Smart Set Company in the 1910s, possibly taken over from Sherman H. Dudley . From 1910 to 1925 Whitney and Tutt produced more than 40 revues for black performers and audiences, writing and performing in the shows themselves. Some of their performers found fame in their own right, including blues singer Mamie Smith , who danced in
105-656: The Brothers could find in New York City was on a tennis court under a tent, Waters pulled out and was replaced by Ethel Williams . Both of the brothers performed in Marc Connelly 's play The Green Pastures (1930). They also acted in films, spanning both silent films and talkies, including Birthright (1924), directed by Oscar Micheaux and adapted from a novel of the same name by T. S. Stribling ; Marcus Garland (1925), The Broken Violin (1927), and A Daughter of
120-627: The Congo (1930). Salem Tutt Whitney died in Chicago, February 12, 1934, and J. Homer Tutt died in Los Angeles, February 10, 1951. Salem Tutt Whitney was married three times, his first to Emma A. Baynard ( maiden ; 1872–1908) (her second marriage). They married May 6, 1903, in Philadelphia at Crucifixion Episcopal Church – Rev. Henry Laird Phillips (1848–1947), officiating. Rev. Phillips, in 1877, became
135-493: The box office. From this experience, the term prima donna has come into common usage in any field, denoting someone who behaves in a demanding, often temperamental fashion, revealing an inflated view of themselves, their talent, and their importance. Due to this association, the contemporary meaning of the word has taken on the negative connotation of a vain , undisciplined, egotistical , obnoxious, or temperamental person who finds it difficult to work under direction or as part of
150-452: The brothers' Smart Set as a teenager. One of the Brothers' main productions was a musical farce called George Washington Bullion . Starring Whitney as a tobacco plantation owner, it was popular with audiences and ran for two decades. Their musical Oh Joy! played on Broadway for four weeks. It had originally starred Ethel Waters when performed in Boston. But when the only theatre space
165-556: The circuit performing comedies and musicals for a theater season, a point which Dudley was somewhat churlish about. Notable companies were Shark's Smart Set Company, Tolliver's Smart Set Company and Gus Hill's Smart Set Company. This United States theatre–related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Salem Tutt Whitney Salem Tutt Whitney ( né Salem Tutt ; 15 November 1875 – 12 February 1934) and J. Homer Tutt ( né Jacob Homer Tutt ; 31 January 1882 – 10 February 1951), known collectively as
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#1732844466197180-414: The company. Famous opera prime donne have often caused opera enthusiasts to divide into opposing "clubs", supporting one singer over another. The rivalry between the fans of Maria Callas and Renata Tebaldi , for example, was one of the most famous, despite the friendship of the two singers. The designation prima donna assoluta ( lit. ' absolute first lady ' ) is occasionally applied to
195-591: The first African-American rector of the Crucifixion Church in 1877. Baynard was a sister of William Andrew Baynard, a pianist, who, with Salem and Emma, had, in 1900, performed with the Oriental Troubadours. Emma was a soporano and prima donna with the Troubadours. She previously, on March 17, 1897, in Williamstown, Pennsylvania , married Lewis E. Puggsley (1858–1935), an operatic tenor soloist, with whom she had
210-530: Was his brother J. Homer Tutt. They referred to themselves as brothers, and may have been half-brothers. Whitney originally intended to become a minister but later decided to become a performer, and left college. He attended the National School of Journalism and gained amateur experience in acting, comedy and writing. From 1888 through 1905, the brothers performed in their traveling tent show called Silas Green from New Orleans . The show, which ran until
225-474: Was normally, but not necessarily, a soprano . The corresponding term for the male lead (usually a castrato in the 17th and 18th centuries, later a tenor ) is primo uomo . In 19th century Italy, the leading woman in an opera or commedia dell'arte company was known as the prima donna, literally the "first lady". This woman, usually the principal soprano of the company, would typically perform leading roles and generally sing more music than other women in
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