Dorothy Agnes Donnelly (January 28, 1876 - January 3, 1928) was an actress, playwright, librettist, producer, and director. After a decade-long acting career that included several notable roles on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

, she turned to writing plays, musicals and operettas, including more than a dozen on Broadway including several long-running successes. Her most famous libretto was ''

The Student Prince ''The Student Prince'' is an operetta in four acts with music by Sigmund Romberg and book and lyrics by Dorothy Donnelly. It is based on Wilhelm Meyer-Förster's play '' Old Heidelberg''. The piece has a score with some of Romberg's most enduri ...

'' (1924), in collaboration with composer

Sigmund Romberg Sigmund Romberg (July 29, 1887 – November 9, 1951) was a Hungarian-born American composer. He is best known for his musicals and operettas, particularly ''The Student Prince'' (1924), ''The Desert Song'' (1926) and ''The New Moon'' (1928). Earl ...

Life and career

Donnelly was born January 28, 1876, in Brooklyn, New York, to Thomas Lester Donnelly (1832–1880), the manager of the Grand Opera House in New York, and his wife Sarah (née Williams). Donnelly attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart in New York. She began acting on Broadway in 1901, playing the title role in '' Candida''. She made famous the play ''Madame X'' on the Broadway stage in 1910 and in a 1916 silent film. She is the subject of a 1999 book by Lorraine McLean ''Dorothy Donnelly: A Life in the Theatre''. She then made a few silent films and then turned to playwriting. Her first big hit on Broadway was '' Blossom Time'', a 1921 adaptation of a German operetta fictionalizing the romantic life of composer

Franz Schubert Franz Peter Schubert (; 31 January 179719 November 1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical and early Romantic eras. Despite his short lifetime, Schubert left behind a vast ''oeuvre'', including more than 600 secular vocal wor ...

, using his music and adapting his music. This ran for 516 performances and was revived five times over the next 22 years. She then wrote and directed the musical ''

Poppy A poppy is a flowering plant in the subfamily Papaveroideae of the family Papaveraceae. Poppies are herbaceous plants, often grown for their colourful flowers. One species of poppy, ''Papaver somniferum'', is the source of the narcotic drug opi ...

'' (1923) that had a successful run and was adapted for film, boosting the career of

W.C. Fields WC or wc may refer to: * Water closet or flush toilet Arts and entertainment * ''W.C.'' (film), an Irish feature film * WC (band), a Polish punk rock band * WC (rapper), a rapper from Los Angeles, California * Westside Connection, former hi ...

. Her most famous libretto was for ''

'' (1924), with music by

. Her last Broadway hit was ''

My Maryland ''My Maryland'' is a "musical romance" with book and lyrics by Dorothy Donnelly and music by Sigmund Romberg, based on the play ''Barbara Frietchie'' by Clyde Fitch. Production ''My Maryland'' was staged by J. C. Huffman. Produced by Lee Shubert ...

'' in 1927.Dorothy Donnelly
at IBDb.com database She was also a close friend of playwright

Edward Sheldon Edward Brewster Sheldon (Chicago, Illinois, February 4, 1886 – April 1, 1946, New York City) was an American dramatist. His plays include ''Salvation Nell'' (1908) and ''Romance'' (1913), which was made into a motion picture with Greta Garbo. ...

and after he became bedridden assisted in transcribing, editing, and supporting his work.

Death

Donnelly died January 4, 1928 in her apartment at 111 East 34th Street in the Murray Hill neighborhood of

Midtown Manhattan Midtown Manhattan is the central portion of the New York City borough of Manhattan and serves as the city's primary central business district. Midtown is home to some of the city's most prominent buildings, including the Empire State Buildin ...

– the same day that Emily Stevens died. The cause of death was

pneumonia Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severity ...

and

nephritis Nephritis is inflammation of the kidneys and may involve the glomeruli, tubules, or interstitial tissue surrounding the glomeruli and tubules. It is one of several different types of nephropathy. Types * Glomerulonephritis is inflammation of th ...

. She was buried January 7, 1928 at

Gate of Heaven Cemetery Gate of Heaven Cemetery, approximately 25 miles (40 km) north of New York City, was established in 1917 at 10 West Stevens Ave. in Hawthorne, Westchester County, New York, as a Roman Catholic burial site. Among its famous residents is ...

in Hawthorne, New York. Donnelly never married.

Selected works

* ''Flora Bella'' (operetta), book adaptation (Broadway 1916) * ''Johnny, Get Your Gun'' (play), script revision (Broadway 1917) * ''Six Months' Option'' (play), producer (Broadway 1917) * ''Fancy Free'' (musical), book (Broadway 1918) * ''The Riddle: Woman'' (play; Broadway 1918) * ''Forbidden'' (play; Broadway 1919) * '' Blossom Time'' (operetta), adapted English libretto (Broadway 1921; 1924, 1926, 1931, 1938 and 1943 revivals) * ''

'' (musical), book, lyrics and direction (Broadway 1923) * ''

'' (operetta), libretto (Broadway 1924; 1931 and 1943 revivals) * ''Hello, Lola'' (musical), books and lyrics (Broadway 1926) * ''

'' (musical), book and lyrics (Broadway 1927)

Theatre roles

* Nell Gwyn in ''Nell Gwyn'' (1901, Broadway play) * Madam Alvarez in ''Soldiers of Fortune'' (1902, Broadway play) * Candida in '' Candida'' (1903 Broadway play; 1915 revival) * The Lady in ''

The Man of Destiny ''The Man of Destiny'' is an 1897 play by George Bernard Shaw, set in Italy during the early career of Napoleon. It was published as a part of ''Plays Pleasant'', which also included '' Arms and the Man'', '' Candida'' and '' You Never Can Tell. ...

'' (1904 Broadway play) * Mrs. Maia Rubek in ''When We Dead Awake'' (1905 Broadway play) * Ruth Jordan in ''The Little Gray Lady'' (1906 Broadway play) * Louise Stolbeck in ''The Daughters of Men'' (1906 Broadway play) * Marion Manners in ''The Movers'' (1907 Broadway play) * Jacqueline in ''

Madame X ''Madame X'' (original title ''La Femme X'') is a 1908 play by French playwright Alexandre Bisson (1848–1912). It was novelized in English and adapted for the American stage; it was also adapted for the screen twelve times over sixty-five ...

'' (1910 Broadway play) * Janet Van Roof in ''The Right to Be Happy'' (1912 Broadway play)

Filmography

* '' The Thief'' (1914) * ''

Sealed Valley ''Sealed Valley'' is a 1915 American silent Western film, directed by Lawrence McGill. It stars Dorothy Donnelly, J. W. Johnson, Rene Ditline, and was released on August 2, 1915. It was the first film produced by Metro Pictures. Cast list * ...

'' (1915) * ''

'' (1916)

Family

Dorothy Donnelly was a sister of New York senator and judge Thomas F. Donnelly (1863–1924). She was also a niece of Fred Williams (née Frederick James Williams; 1829–1900), who had been stage director of

Daly's Theatre Daly's Theatre was a theatre in the City of Westminster. It was located at 2 Cranbourn Street, just off Leicester Square. It opened on 27 June 1893, and was demolished in 1937. The theatre was built for and named after the American impresar ...

, stage director of the Lyceum Theatre on Park Avenue, and dean of the faculty of the

American Academy of Dramatic Arts The American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) is a private performing arts conservatory with two locations, one in Manhattan and one in Los Angeles. The academy offers an associate degree in occupational studies and teaches drama and related art ...

. Fred Williams' son, Fritz Williams (1865–1930), was also an actor.

References

External links

* *
portrait gallery
Univ. of Washington, Sayre)
portrait cabinetcardgallery
{{DEFAULTSORT:Donnelly, Dorothy 1880 births 1928 deaths Actresses from New York City Writers from New York City Convent of the Sacred Heart (NYC) alumni Schools of the Sacred Heart alumni Burials at Gate of Heaven Cemetery (Hawthorne, New York)