Emily Rigl (1854 - ? 'after 1921''Broadway Photographs; University of South Carolina
/ref> was a 19th-century stage actress who primarily performed in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

. Although not a major star, she was considered to be a talented actress.

Biography

Rigl was born in the Netherlands or Austria (sources vary on this point) and trained as a ballet dancer, as her father was an instructor in that subject.Berg, Albert Ellery
The Drama, Painting, Poetry, and Song
(1884), p.320 She came with her sister Betty to the United States in 1866, where she debuted in the chorus of ''

The Black Crook ''The Black Crook'' is a work of musical theatre first produced in New York City with great success in 1866. Many theatre writers have cautiously identified ''The Black Crook'' as the first popular piece that conforms to the modern notion of a mu ...

'' at

Niblo's Garden Niblo's Garden was a theater on Broadway and Crosby Street, near Prince Street, in SoHo, Manhattan, New York City. It was established in 1823 as "Columbia Garden" which in 1828 gained the name of the ''Sans Souci'' and was later the property of ...

, in which Betty had a prominent role. Emily left that long-running show after two years, studied acting, and joined

Augustin Daly John Augustin Daly (July 20, 1838June 7, 1899) was one of the most influential men in American theatre during his lifetime. Drama critic, theatre manager, playwright, and adapter, he became the first recognized stage director in America. He exer ...

's company by 1874 as an actress. She was active on the stage in numerous roles on Broadway and in traveling companies at least through 1907. According to ''The Oxford Companion to American Theatre'', although "never a major star, she was still considered one of the best actresses of her day."Bordman, Gerald & Thomas Hischak. ''The Oxford Companion to American Theatre'', p. 529-30 (3d ed. 2004) Aladdin Quadrille - Carl Hess 1873 02

Her roles included performances in ''Humpty Dumpty'' (1868), ''What Should She Do?'' (1874, for Daly), ''The Big Bonanza'' (1875), ''Saratoga'' (1875), '' Pique'' (1875, with

Maurice Barrymore Herbert Arthur Chamberlayne Blythe (21 September 1849 – 25 March 1905), known professionally by his stage name Maurice Barrymore, was an Indian-born British stage actor. He is the patriarch of the Barrymore acting family, father of John, Li ...

), ''The Galley Slave'' (1879), '' Mr. Barnes of New York'' (1888), ''Devil's Island '' (1898), ''

Uncle Tom's Cabin ''Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly'' is an anti-slavery novel by American author Harriet Beecher Stowe. Published in two volumes in 1852, the novel had a profound effect on attitudes toward African Americans and slavery in the U ...

'' (1901 production), Emil Rigl
josephhaworth.com, Retrieved 21 March 2013Emily rigle
, picturehistory.com, Retrieved 21 March 2013(29 December 1900)

''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...

''(9 May 1893)
A Theatrical Review
'' Trenton True American''(4 July 1920)
Plays of Other Days "Booed" By London Audiences
''Washington Herald''(26 August 1894)
A Conflict of Wits
''San Francisco Call'', p. 16, col. 4 (amusing anecdote about Rigl and matinee idol Robert C. Hilliard) and ''The Spell'' (1907).(5 October 1907)
The Spell Too Yiddish
''The Billboard'', p. 6 ("As the heroine's mother, Emily Rigl made a great hit with the audience, by the wonderfully realistic and comic touch she gave the role.") She starred in a number of productions with Harry Lacy. As a prominent actress of her day, the press would report on any "scandals" that occurred concerning Rigl. When starring with Joseph Haworth in ''The Crust of Society'', she announced on stage that he had "made her life unbearable and I will not stand it any longer." They may have had an affair before that point, but in any event, that was the last performance of the play.

Family

Her sister Betty's acting career was much shorter, she retired from the stage after marrying Philadelphia merchant William Whitney.(2 July 1898)
Obituary
''New York Dramatic Mirror (Whitney obituary)(27 June 1903)
Obituary
''New York Dramatic Mirror'' (reporting death of Betty's son Francis X. Whitney)

References

External links

*
Emily Rigl cabinet card 1866 "The Black Crook"
archived)
rare portrait of Emily Rigl; by Mora
archived)
portrait of Emily Rigl; by Sarony
archive) * Rigl on cover o

Saturday February 20, 1886 {{DEFAULTSORT:Rigl, Emily 19th-century American actresses American stage actresses Year of birth missing Year of death missing