Charlotte Cushman

Originally Aired: March 30, 1938 Cavalcade of America #128, "Charlotte Cushman," tells the inspiring story of America's first great actress and her tumultuous journey to theatrical fame. At nineteen, Charlotte desperately seeks an audition with opera manager James Mayder to support her poverty-stricken family and ailing father. Her sister Susan encourages her to imagine herself as an actress while singing her church solo, and the performance leads to a successful operatic debut as the Countess in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro. Boston embraces the young prima donna, and Charlotte's ambitious dreams of operatic stardom seem within reach. However, disaster strikes during a performance in New Orleans when Charlotte's overtrained voice suddenly fails her on stage. Devastated and believing her career is finished, Charlotte receives an unexpected opportunity when dramatic coach and producer Mr. Barton, who witnessed her vocal collapse, recognizes her commanding stage presence. He offers to train her as an actress instead of an opera singer. Charlotte accepts this new challenge, working intensively under Barton's guidance and achieving three years of acclaimed performances in New York before setting sail for England to bring further distinction to the American theater.