Genevieve Rogers, born in
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville ( , , ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 28th most-populous city in the United States. Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, on the Indiana border ...
on April 9, 1859, was a
stage actress who began her career when she was four-years-old. Her father,
J. Howard Rogers, was a well-known scenic artist of the time and her mother also held a prominent position in theatre before her retirement.
Early life and career
Her first appearance on the stage was in ''The Enchantress'' at the
Howard Athenaeum in
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
, Massachusetts; a grand operatic drama where she played the role of a child, working alongside Miss
Caroline Richings; the star. She continued acting at the Howard Athenaeum, playing the roles of different child characters, until 1868, when she was granted the role of little Arthur Leigh in ''Rosedale'' and performed at the
Boston Museum. Throughout the same season, she played as
Puck in ''
A Midsummer Night's Dream
''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' is a comedy written by William Shakespeare 1595 or 1596. The play is set in Athens, and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One subplot involves a conflict amon ...
'' in a long run at the
Continental Theatre, along with getting her education at the
Dudley School, where, according to her teachers, she did very well.
In 1869 she moved with her parents to
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
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, Illinois and completed her education.
In April 1875, she returned once again to the stage, though this time under the management of
Frank E. Aiken, one of the leading stage managers of Chicago for several years. Mr. Aiken's reputation allowed her access to the theatres of other managers around the United States, which eventually resulted in the adoration of her presence in them.
From 1875 to 1876, she acted as a wide range of characters, some of the most prominent being Kate Calvert in ''The Virginian'', Juliana in ''The Honeymoon'', Parthenia in ''Ingomar'', Peg Woffington in ''Masks and Faces'', Hester Arncliffe in ''An Unequal Match'', Grace Holden in ''Grace Holden's Secret''.
In September 1876, she acted as the title character in ''Maud Miller'', and with that role continued to act in all of the major cities in the country at the time.
In March 1877, she returned to her first venue, the Boston Museum, and played there for the first time since her early childhood.
Under a five-year contract with Frank E. Aiken from April 1875, she proceeded to strengthen her repertoire.
Later life and career
References
1859 births
Date of death missing
Actresses from Louisville, Kentucky
19th-century American actresses
American stage actresses
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