When the Mormons came from Nauvoo to Salt Lake they brought with them to this wilderness in the Rocky Mountains, the love of the drama, and as a consequence it was not long, only a few years from 1847 to 1850, before they began to long for something in the way of a theatre.
The pleasant recollections of the drama as interpreted at Nauvoo by Mr. Lyne and his supporting cast, were still fresh in their memories, and almost before many of them had comfortable houses to live in they began to yearn for some dramatic amusement. As a result of this strong inclination for the play and a still more universal desire for dancing, it was but a short time before their wishes materialized.
As early as the fall of 1850 they had formed a club called the Musical and Dramatic Association. The name was a comprehensive one, intentionally so, for the organization included the celebrated "Nauvoo Brass Band," a number of whose members also figured in the dramatic company. Indeed it was from this musical organization that the dramatic company really sprang.
The members of this original dramatic company were John Kay, Hyrum B. Clawson, Philip Margetts, Horace K. Whitney, Robert Campbell, R. T. Burton, George B. Grant, Edmond Ellsworth, Henry Margetts, Edward Martin, William Cutler, William Clayton, Miss Drum, Miss Margaret Judd, and Miss Mary Badlam. Miss Badlam, in addition to playing parts, was very popular as a dancer and gave her dancing specialties between the acts, making something like our up-to-date continuous performance.
The first public dramatic performances were given in the "Bowery" (a very reminiscent name for a New York theatre goer of that day). "The Bowery" in this case was a summer place of worship which stood on the Temple Block near where the big Tabernacle now stands. In this place of worship as early as the year 1850, with the aid of a little home-made scenery and a little crude furniture, were the first plays presented to a Salt Lake audience.
The first bill consisted of the old serio-comic drama, "Robert Macaire, or the Two Murderers," dancing by Miss Badlam, and the farce of the "Dead Shot."
Judging by their titles, these plays were rather a gruesome selection to play in a church. As it is a matter of historic interest the cast so far as procurable is appended of "Robert Macaire:"
Robert Macaire …………………………… John Kay
Jacque Stropp ……………………….. H. B. Clawson
Pierre ……………………………. Philip Margetts
Waiter ……………………………. Robert Campbell
Clementina ………………………….. Margaret Judd
Celeste ………………………………… Miss Orum
Several other plays were given during this first dramatic season and were creditably performed, affording pleasure both to the audiences and actors; the only remuneration the actors received, by the way, for it must be remarked that these first dramatic efforts were entirely voluntary on the part of the company.
The orchestra which played in connection with this first dramatic company deserves to be made a matter of record quite as much as the company itself, for it was also drawn from the ranks of the historic "Nauvoo Brass Band."