Eva Le Gallienne (January 11, 1899 – June 3, 1991): elisa_rolle

Eva Le Gallienne was an English-born American stage actress, producer, director, translator, and author.
Born: January 11, 1899, London, United Kingdom
Died: June 3, 1991, Weston, Connecticut, United States
Books: The Mystic in the Theatre: Eleonora Duse, With a quiet heart
Parents: Julie Norregard, Richard Le Gallienne
Awards: Special Tony Award, more
Lived: LeGallienne Bird Sanctuary, 40 Hillside Rd, Weston, CT 06883, USA (41.21754, -73.39313)
Frillinghurst Old Manor, Chiddingfold, Haslemere, Surrey GU27 2EN
5 Bedford Gardens, W8
Southdown Hotel, 1-3 Howard Square, Eastbourne BN21 4BQ, UK
16 Clifton Hill, NW8
Algonquin Hotel, 59 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036
Association: Civic Repertory Theatre, The 14th Street Theatre, 107 West 14th Street
Buried: at her home in Weston, Connecticut (ashes)

Eva Le Gallienne was a theatrical actress, producer, and director during the first half of the 20th century. During the early days of her career she often was in the company of outspoken and bisexual actress Tallulah Bankhead, and actresses Estelle Winwood and Blyth Daly, with the four of them being dubbed "The Four Horsemen of the Algonquin", referring to the Algonquin Round Table. Among other lovers, history counts also Alla Nazimova and Eleonora "Eleo" Sears. In 1934, she met actress Marion Evensen, who became her partner of 37 years sharing her house in Connecticut. In the late 1930s, Le Gallienne became involved in a relationship with theater director Margaret Webster. She was living in Connecticut with Evensen and shared an apartment in New York City with Webster. The relationship with Webster ended in 1948. At the death of Evensen in 1971, Le Gallienne was devastated, and it did not help that also Webster died just one year later.
Together from 1934 to 1971: 37 years.
Eva Le Gallienne (January 11, 1899 – June 3, 1991)
Marion Gunnar Evenson (or Evensen) (September 29, 1891 – September, 1971)
Margaret Webster (March 15, 1905 - November 13, 1972)

Days of Love edited by Elisa Rolle
ISBN-13: 978-1500563325
ISBN-10: 1500563323
Release Date: September 21, 2014
CreateSpace Store: https://www.createspace.com/4910282
Amazon (print): http://www.amazon.com/dp/1500563323/?tag=elimyrevandra-20
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Frillinghurst Old Manor, Chiddingfold (Haslemere, Surrey GU27 2EN) is a late XVII century cottage with XX century extensions. Timber frame, red brick infill; plain tile roof, front stack to left wing. 2 storeys: centre;queen post timber frame with mixed fenestration, 2 windows across the first floor; leaded casement ground floor right; plank door to left. XX century cross wings either end with casement windows. Grade II, 1983. Was rented by Richard Le Gallienne, Eva Le Gallienne (January 11, 1899 – June 3, 1991)’s father, and the family spend time there during her childhood, even after they subleased it to their friend, actor William Faversham. It was here that a young Margaret Webster, guest with her family of William Faversham, met for the first time Eva Le Gallienne, six years her senior, in 1908. It was while Webster was directing Hamlet in 1938 that she began her long romantic relationship with Le Gallienne.

Queer Places, Vol. 2 edited by Elisa Rolle
ISBN-13: 978-1532906312
ISBN-10: 1532906315
Release Date: July 24, 2016
CreateSpace Store: https://www.createspace.com/6228833
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Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IZ1KZBO/?tag=elimyrevandra-20

Richard Le Gallienne (1866-1947) was an English author and poet. American actress Eva Le Gallienne (1899-1991) was his daughter, by his second marriage to the the Danish journalist Julie Norregard, who left him in 1903 and took their daughter Eva to live in Paris. In May, 1902 the family could no longer meet all the expenses of country living and they rented their family home, The Old Manor, to their actor friend William Faversham and his wife and they took their lodgings at 5 Bedford Gardens, W8. An agreeable, residential quarter, the area contained, in addition to Kensington Palace and Gardens, several large mansions with extensive grounds, giving the neighborhood the appearance of a rural district removed from the metropolis of London. In July Richard took an alcohol cure at a doctor's home in Wimbledon. Ashamed of his weakness, he told friends that he was suffering from a nervous collapse and asthma and that he was taking a cycling holiday through the countryside. Julie and Eva left Bedford Gardens and moved into the Southdown Hotel (1-3 Howard Square, Eastbourne BN21 4BQ, UK). They were joined by Richard in August. By September they were living at 16 Clifton Hill, NW8 in the London suburb of St. John's Wood.

Queer Places, Vol. 1 edited by Elisa Rolle
ISBN-13: 978-1532901904
ISBN-10: 1532901909
Release Date: July 24, 2016
CreateSpace Store: https://www.createspace.com/6228297
Amazon (print): http://www.amazon.com/dp/1532901909/?tag=elimyrevandra-20
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“I bought a tiny little house in Weston in 1926. The house was well over two hundred years old, and about four acres of rocky woodland went along with it. To this haven I fled every week end – rain, shine, or snow – and those few hours of peace helped me immeasurably to sustain my physical and spiritual energy.” Eva LeGallienne
Address: 40 Hillside Rd, Weston, CT 06883, USA (41.21754, -73.39313)
Type: Private Property
Place
Built in 1928
A romantic and charming "Mini-Estate.” Multiple out buildings include main house, separate barn, cottage. Currently in the middle of 12acres of preserve (the LeGallienne Bird Sanctuary.)
Life
Who: Eva Le Gallienne (January 11, 1899 – June 3, 1991)
Eva Le Gallienne was an English-born stage actress, producer, director, translator, and author. A broadway star by age 21, Le Gallienne consciously ended her work on Broadway to devote herself to founding the Civic Repertory Theater, in which she was both director, producer, and lead actress. Noted for her boldness and idealism, she became a pioneering figure in the American Repertory Movement, which enabled today’s Off-Broadway. A versatile and eloquent actress herself (playing everything from “Peter Pan” to “Hamlet”), Le Gallienne also became a respected stage coach, director, producer and manager. Le Gallienne consciously devoted herself to the "Art of the Theatre" as opposed to the "Show Business of Broadway.” She ran the Civic Repertory Theatre Company for 10 years (1926–1936), backed by the financial support of one of her lovers, Alice DeLamar, a wealthy Colorado gold mine heiress, producing 37 plays during that time. Le Gallienne was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1986. Le Gallienne never hid her lesbianism inside the acting community, but reportedly was never comfortable with her sexuality, struggling privately with it. She reportedly briefly considered arranging for a "front" marriage with actor Basil Rathbone. During the early days of her career she often was in the company of witty, libertine actresses Tallulah Bankhead, Estelle Winwood and Blyth Daly, with the four being dubbed "The Four Horsemen of the Algonquin,” referring to the Algonquin Round Table. In 1918, while in Hollywood, she began an affair with the great actress Alla Nazimova, who was at her height of fame, and who at that time wielded much power in the acting community. The affair ended reportedly due to Nazimova’s jealousy. In 1920, she became involved with poet, novelist and playwright Mercedes de Acosta about whom she was passionate for several years. She and de Acosta began their romance shortly after de Acosta’s marriage to Abram Poole which strained their relationship. Still, they vacationed and travelled together often, at times visiting the salon of famed writer and socialite Natalie Barney. By early 1927, Le Gallienne was involved with married actress Josephine Hutchinson. Hutchinson’s husband started divorce proceedings and named Le Gallienne in the divorce proceedings as "co-respondent.” The press began accusations that named Josephine Hutchinson as a "shadow actress,” which at the time meant lesbian. In the late 1930s Le Gallienne became involved in a relationship with theatre director Margaret Webster. She, Webster, and producer Cheryl Crawford co-founded The American Repertory Theater, which operated from 1946 to 1948. In the following years she lived with her companion Marion Evensen. On June 3, 1991, Le Gallienne died at her home in Weston, Connecticut from natural causes, aged 92. She was cremated and her ashes were scattered at her home in Weston.

Eva Le Gallienne (January 11, 1899 – June 3, 1991)

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