Benjamin Moses Teal (January 19, 1857 – April 20, 1917) was an American actor, theater director, and playwright. He directed over 30 plays on Broadway between 1897 and 1916, and was widely known for his strict, often brusque stage direction. Born in Eugene, Oregon, Teal spent his formative years in San Francisco, where he began performing as a child actor in theatrical productions.
As an adult, Teal began his career as a stage director in San Francisco before relocating to New York City in the latter part of the nineteenth century. Among his directorial credits include the original Broadway production of Ben-Hur (1899), in which he staged the play's elaborate chariot race sequence onstage.
Life and career
Teal was born January 19, 1857, in Eugene, Oregon.[1][a] He spent his early life in San Francisco, and made his first stage appearance at four or five years old.[3] As an adult, Teal began his career as a stage director in California, before relocating to New York City in the latter part of the century.[3]
Teal gained notoriety for his directing of the original Broadway production of Ben-Hur (1899–1900), in which he successfully arranged an elaborate chariot race sequence on stage.[6] He staged over thirty plays on Broadway between 1897 and 1916.[7] Teal was known for his brusque stage direction and interaction with cast members, though he was noted for being "without peer in his ability to move large numbers of extras around onstage."[8] Writer Edward Jewett Luce noted in 1910: "Ben Teal—the very mention of whose name suggest stage management with a vengeance—is known all over the world as the strictest, yet the most conscientious of stage directors."[9]
^A childhood photograph of Teal in the Oregon Historical Society's Cartes-de-Visite collection has the inscription: "Ben Teal, son of Joseph Teal, in his boyhood. Born in Eugene, Jan. 19, 1857."[2]
^"New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1940" (February 10, 2018). Ben Teal and Mary Blackburn, 27 Jun 1887; citing Marriage, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, New York City Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,571,005.
^"Massachusetts Marriages, 1841-1915" (May 25, 2018). Ben Teal and Elinor M Toomey Gilman, 9 Oct 1906; citing Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States, State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 2,315,298.
^"New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949" (February 10, 2018). Benjamin Teal, 20 Apr 1917; citing Death, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,322,407.
Wilmeth, Don B.; Bigsby, Christopher, eds. (1998). The Cambridge History of American Theatre. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. ISBN978-0-521-65179-0.
Further reading
Shelton, Lewis E. (2005). "Ben Teal and the Authoritarian Perspective of Directing". Ideas of Theatre: The Five Directorial Perspectives of the American Stage. Bethesda, Maryland: Academica Press. ISBN978-1-933-14604-1.
