Eva Le Gallienne: 20th Century Actress, Producer, Director and Open Lesbian
Born in London on January 11, 1899, Eva Le Gallienne would become a major Broadway star before she was even 21. Le Gallienne made her professional debut at age 15 and moved to New York the following year, starring in several Broadway shows.
She then turned away from commercial theatre, saying “Too much cake, not enough bread”. Le Gallienne was focused on the art of theatre, as opposed to the commercialization of it. She left Broadway in 1926 and gave her life savings to founding the Civic Repertory Theatre. This was also backed by one of her lovers, Alice DeLamar, a wealthy gold mine heiress.
By the time it closed in 1933 due to the Great Depression, the theatre had played 34 shows, most produced, directed by and starring Le Gallienne. She played Peter Pan and introduced Chekhov and Ibsen to American audiences. But most of all, she set the stage for Off-Broadway and regional theatres in America, proving that noncommercial theatre could be successful as Broadway is. She also inspired many artists, among them Rosemary Harris, Uta Hagen and Ellen Burstyn.
Le Gallienne was also open about being a lesbian in her circles, which was revealed to the press after becoming involved with married actress Josephine Hutchinson and being named “co-respondent” in her divorce proceedings. There was not a major effect on her career, though she did face some homophobic criticism. Some sources say Le Gallienne struggled greatly with her sexuality, while others say it was the source of her creative inspiration. She never hid her sexuality and never married, though she had many lovers, including notorious actress Alia Nazimova, Mercedes de Acosta, who was also a lover of dancer Isadora Duncan and her long-time companion, Marion Evensen.
Le Gallienne died at 92 of a heart attack, but her impact on theatre still remains today. Her actions pioneered 20th century American theatre.
Sources:
https://www.playbill.com/article/the-legacy-of-eva-le-gallienne-com-101290
https://legacyprojectchicago.org/person/eva-le-gallienne
https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/05/obituaries/eva-le-gallienne-actress-is-dead-at-92.html
https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/le-gallienne-eva