Thomas Wade West (died 1799), was an American (originally English) actor and theatre manager. West broke the monopoly of the

Old American Company The Old American Company was an American theatre company. It was the first fully professional theatre company to perform in North America. It also played a vital role in the theatre history of Jamaica. It was founded in 1752 and disbanded in 1805. ...

in 1790 by founding the Virginia Company in Richmond (also called Virginia Comedians and South Carolina Company), which toured Virginia and the Carolinas. He founded several theatres and was the manager of the

Charleston Theatre Charleston Theatre, also called Broad Street Theatre was a theatre in Charleston, South Carolina between 1794 and 1833. It was the first permanent theatre in Charleston, the first with a permanent staff, and the only theater for much of its durati ...

. He owned and operated profitable seasonal theaters in Alexandria, Charleston, Fredericksburg, Norfolk, and Petersburg. He also designed mechanical scenery. West's operation in Richmond, Virginia, was destroyed in the

Richmond Theatre fire The Richmond Theatre fire occurred in Richmond, Virginia, United States, on Thursday, December 26, 1811. It devastated the Richmond Theatre, located on the north side of Broad Street between what is now Twelfth and College Streets. The fire kille ...

on December 26, 1811. He had raised money from subscribers to construct the building. West was married to

Margaretta Sully West Margaret Sully West or Margaretta Sully West, née Sully, (d. 1810), was an American stage actress and theater director. She was the director of the Virginia Comedians and as such the leader of the theatrical activity within contemporary Virginia ...

, father of Ann West Bignall and father-in-law of

John Bignall John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

References

1799 deaths 18th-century American male actors American male stage actors 18th-century theatre managers {{US-theat-actor-stub