Elizabeth Tyree
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Tyree was an actress in Broadway
theatrical productions beginning in the mid 1890s. Her married name was
Elizabeth Tyree Metcalfe.
and came to New York City
to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts
.
She appeared in over 20 productions as a member of Daniel Frohman
's Lyceum
Stock Company, as "Bessie Tyree" until the end of 1895 and as "Elizabeth Tyree" thereafter. Her debut came as understudy to the ailing Effie Shannon
in The Charity Ball by David Belasco
and Henry De Mille in February 1890. The Lyceum Company staged The Home Secretary in November 1895. A play in four acts written by R.C. Carton, the themes were love, politics, and society. The time frame of the action is a single evening. Tyree acted the part of Jane Craigengelt in The Courtship of Leonie in November 1896. Written by Henry V. Esmond
, the production began the Lyceum's tenth season under Frohman's management.
She depicted Cicely in The Mayflower, a play written by Leon N. Parker, presented at the Lyceum in March 1897. It was based loosely on the Pilgrim emigration to the United States
, with settings in Holland, Plymouth, England,
and the shore of Massachusetts Bay
. Tyree participated in an Actors' Fund
benefit at the Broadway Theatre, 1445 Broadway (West 41st Street), the same month. Minnie Maddern Fiske
was part of a special selection at the same event. In 1898 Tyree played Avonia Bunn in the first American production of Arthur Wing Pinero
's stagedoor comedy Trelawny of the %27Wells%27.
She appeared as the leading lady
in Gretna Green at the Madison Square Theatre, 24th Street (Manhattan) near Broadway (Manhattan), in January 1903. Written by Grace Livingston Furniss, the play
was set in Harrowgate in the 18th century. The production featured three lovely stage sets and many actors in Kate Greenaway
costumes. Tyree was described by a critic as
personally popular and possessing an abundance of talents. In February
1903 she was involved in an accident en route to her West Twenty-sixth Street home. She was returning after a matinee of The Earl of Pawtuckett when
she was thrown from her cab when the horse hitched to the hansom slipped and fell on Fifth Avenue (Manhattan)
near Twenty-Sixth Street. Her leg was bruised and the injury caused her to be unable to appear. An understudy, Jane Field, replaced her.
In 1918 a play penned by Tyree was staged with Rosamond Carpentier playing one of the primary roles.
. He died in 1927
at the age of 68. His funeral and burial were in Buffalo, New York
.
Community House.
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
theatrical productions beginning in the mid 1890s. Her married name was
Elizabeth Tyree Metcalfe.
Stage actress
Tyree was born in VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and came to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts
American Academy of Dramatic Arts
The American Academy of Dramatic Arts is a fully accredited two-year conservatory with facilities located in Manhattan, New York City – at 120 Madison Avenue, in a landmark building designed by noted architect Stanford White as the original Colony Club – and in Hollywood, California...
.
She appeared in over 20 productions as a member of Daniel Frohman
Daniel Frohman
Daniel Frohman was a Jewish American theatrical producer and manager, and an early film producer.Frohman was born in Sandusky, Ohio...
's Lyceum
Lyceum Theatre (New York, 1885-1902)
The Lyceum Theatre operated on Manhattan’s Fourth Avenue between 23rd and 24th Streets, from 1885 to 1902, when it was torn down to make way for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower and replaced by the Lyceum Theatre on 45th Street...
Stock Company, as "Bessie Tyree" until the end of 1895 and as "Elizabeth Tyree" thereafter. Her debut came as understudy to the ailing Effie Shannon
Effie Shannon
Effie Shannon was a stage and silent screen actress. She had a 60 year career as starring performer and later character actress. Her partner or husband was Herbert Kelcey who died in 1917...
in The Charity Ball by David Belasco
David Belasco
David Belasco was an American theatrical producer, impresario, director and playwright.-Biography:Born in San Francisco, California, where his Sephardic Jewish parents had moved from London, England, during the Gold Rush, he began working in a San Francisco theatre doing a variety of routine jobs,...
and Henry De Mille in February 1890. The Lyceum Company staged The Home Secretary in November 1895. A play in four acts written by R.C. Carton, the themes were love, politics, and society. The time frame of the action is a single evening. Tyree acted the part of Jane Craigengelt in The Courtship of Leonie in November 1896. Written by Henry V. Esmond
Henry V. Esmond
Henry Vernon Esmond was an English actor and playwright.Born Jack Esmond he began his career as an actor in London in 1889 where he had several successes in comedies. He began writing plays, usually comedies, while in his early twenties...
, the production began the Lyceum's tenth season under Frohman's management.
She depicted Cicely in The Mayflower, a play written by Leon N. Parker, presented at the Lyceum in March 1897. It was based loosely on the Pilgrim emigration to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, with settings in Holland, Plymouth, England,
and the shore of Massachusetts Bay
Massachusetts Bay
The Massachusetts Bay, also called Mass Bay, is one of the largest bays of the Atlantic Ocean which forms the distinctive shape of the coastline of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. Its waters extend 65 miles into the Atlantic Ocean. Massachusetts Bay includes the Boston Harbor, Dorchester Bay,...
. Tyree participated in an Actors' Fund
Actors' Fund
The Actors Fund of America is a nonprofit umbrella charitable organization that assists American entertainment and performing arts professionals through a broad spectrum of programs, including comprehensive social services, health services, supportive and affordable housing, employment and training...
benefit at the Broadway Theatre, 1445 Broadway (West 41st Street), the same month. Minnie Maddern Fiske
Mrs. Fiske
Minnie Maddern Fiske , born as Marie Augusta Davey, but often billed simply as Mrs. Fiske, was one of the leading American actresses of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. She also spearheaded the fight against the Theatrical Syndicate for the sake of artistic freedom...
was part of a special selection at the same event. In 1898 Tyree played Avonia Bunn in the first American production of Arthur Wing Pinero
Arthur Wing Pinero
Sir Arthur Wing Pinero was an English actor and later an important dramatist and stage director.-Biography:...
's stagedoor comedy Trelawny of the %27Wells%27.
She appeared as the leading lady
Leading lady
Leading lady is an informal term for the actress who plays a secondary lead or supporting role, usually a love interest, to the leading actor in a film or play. It is not usually applied to the leading actress in the performance if her character is the protagonist.A leading lady can also be an...
in Gretna Green at the Madison Square Theatre, 24th Street (Manhattan) near Broadway (Manhattan), in January 1903. Written by Grace Livingston Furniss, the play
was set in Harrowgate in the 18th century. The production featured three lovely stage sets and many actors in Kate Greenaway
Kate Greenaway
Catherine Greenaway , known as Kate Greenaway, was an English children's book illustrator and writer, who spent much of her childhood at Rolleston, Nottinghamshire. She studied at what is now the Royal College of Art in London, which at that time had a separate section for women, and was headed by...
costumes. Tyree was described by a critic as
personally popular and possessing an abundance of talents. In February
1903 she was involved in an accident en route to her West Twenty-sixth Street home. She was returning after a matinee of The Earl of Pawtuckett when
she was thrown from her cab when the horse hitched to the hansom slipped and fell on Fifth Avenue (Manhattan)
Fifth Avenue (Manhattan)
Fifth Avenue is a major thoroughfare in the center of the borough of Manhattan in New York City, New York, United States. The section of Fifth Avenue that crosses Midtown Manhattan, especially that between 49th Street and 60th Street, is lined with prestigious shops and is consistently ranked among...
near Twenty-Sixth Street. Her leg was bruised and the injury caused her to be unable to appear. An understudy, Jane Field, replaced her.
In 1918 a play penned by Tyree was staged with Rosamond Carpentier playing one of the primary roles.
Marriage
Tyree was married to James Stetson Metalfe, a drama critic for Life Magazine and The Wall Street JournalThe Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
. He died in 1927
at the age of 68. His funeral and burial were in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
.
Death
She died in 1952 at the age of 87 at her home on 2 West Sixty-seventh Street. Tyree was a founder of the Bedford Hills, New YorkBedford Hills, New York
Bedford Hills is an unincorporated hamlet in the Town of Bedford, New York.-History:When the railroad was built in 1847, Bedford Hills was known as Bedford Station. Bedford Hills extends from a business center at the railroad station to farms and estates, eastward along Harris, Babbitt and Bedford...
Community House.
External links
- Elizabeth Tyree photo from Munsey's MagazineMunsey's MagazineMunsey's Weekly, later known as Munsey's Magazine was a thirty-six page quarto magazine founded by Frank A. Munsey in 1889. Munsey aimed at "a magazine of the people and for the people, with pictures and art and good cheer and human interest throughout". John Kendrick Bangs was the editor. The...
1903 - Elizabeth Tyree Internet Broadway Database Performer Credits