Susie Sutton

Susie Sutton (died February 1956) was an American actress who appeared in theater and films. She was a member of the Lafayette Players from 1917 until 1922 before joining productions by I. M. Weingarden from 1922 to 1924. In later theater productions she continued with Weingarden's company troupe until founding her own vaudeville troupe in 1926 called the Susie Sutton Company, though she also took part in productions with the Alhambra Players in the late 1920s. Her role in The Green Pastures in 1930 as Noah's wife is one of her most well known stage roles.

Susie Sutton
Press Photo of Susie Sutton (1923)
Press Photo of Susie Sutton (1923)
Occupation(s)Actress, performer
Years active1913–1938
Known forTheater monologues, member of the Lafayette Players, role in The Green Pastures

Career

As a child, Sutton participated in church and sunday school singing and performing. She had a role in a production of "Little Buttercup".[1] Her early theatrical work took place at the Crown Garden Theater in Indianapolis, with her presenting comedic drama monologues such as "The Maid" and "Italian Woman" from 1913 through 1915.[2][3][4][5] This led to her joining the Lafayette Players in 1917 and starred in multiple theater acts with them until 1922.[1] During that time period, she quickly became considered the head of the African American comedy troupe among the Players.[6]

After leaving the troupe in 1922, she joined in with theater productions by showrunner I.M. Weingarden in New York.[7] The immense success of Weingarden's Follow Me show from 1922-1924 resulted in the troupe being frequently referred to as the "Follow Me company" during later presentations and had Sutton attributed as the lead of the show.[6] She was noted for both her comedic and dramatic routines as well as her singing. She did character sketches, skits, and covered popular songs.[8] She also danced.[9]

A followup show named Keep It Up was performed at the Lafayette Theater, with Sutton presenting a singing performance titled "The Bridge of Sighs". The show did not have as much success as Weingarden's previous works.[7][10] The Follow Me company later started a new show titled the Bon Ton Revue, which they began performing in 1925.[11]

Sutton officially organized the Susie Sutton Company under her name in 1926 as a new vaudeville troupe and performed in theaters throughout the TOBA Circuit and in Nashville, Tennessee.[12] She also continued performing with the Lafayette Players on and off at the Alhambra Theater, until the Players moved to Los Angeles in August 1928. Choosing to stay at the Alhambra Theater, Sutton continued performing as a part of the Alhambra Players.[13] Her role as Noah's wife in the 1930 production of The Green Pastures earned significant praise from critics on Broadway.[1] An attempt to recreate the theater company system akin to the Lafayette Players occurred in 1943, with Sutton being one of several Lafayette members who joined the initial creation.[14]

Sutton became ill in late 1955[15] and died the following year in February 1956.[16]

Theater
  • Keep It Up (1922)[17]
  • Follow Me (1922-1924)[18]
  • Meek Mose (1928) as Miss Minnie[19]
  • The Green Pastures (1930) as Noah's Wife[1]
  • Stevedore (April 18, 1934 - July 1934) as Bertha Williams[20]
  • Noah (1935) as Noah's Wife[21]
  • Haiti (1938)[22]

Films

References
  1. "Actress Likes Role In 'Green Pastures'". The Pittsburgh Courier. June 28, 1930. Retrieved December 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Susie Sutton: Monologuist, Character Delineator". Indianapolis Freeman (5): 5. November 29, 1913. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  3. "Susie Sutton: Character Delineator, Entertainer". Indianapolis Freeman (2): 5. February 14, 1914. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  4. "Susie Sutton". Indianapolis Freeman (2): 5. November 14, 1914. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  5. "Susie Sutton". Indianapolis Freeman (1): 5. August 7, 1915. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  6. "Susie Sutton's Big "Follow Me" Company 81 Midnight Frolic". The Atlanta Constitution. February 12, 1926. Retrieved December 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Jackson, J.A. (December 23, 1922). ""Keep It Up"". Billboard. Vol. 34, no. 51. p. 48. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  8. "Midnight Frolic At 81 Theater Friday". The Atlanta Constitution. February 7, 1926. Retrieved December 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Susie Sutton Revue 81 Frolic Feature". The Atlanta Constitution. April 4, 1926. Retrieved December 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "At The Lafayette Theatre". The New York Age. December 2, 1922. Retrieved December 22, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "81 Theater". The Atlanta Constitution. April 6, 1926. Retrieved December 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. Peterson, Bernard L.; Gore, Lena McPhatter (1997). The African American Theatre Directory, 1816-1960: A Comprehensive Guide to Early Black Theatre Organizations, Companies, Theatres, and Performing Groups. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 190. ISBN 9780313295379.
  13. "Susie Sutton - Alhambra". The Pittsburgh Courier. August 11, 1928. Retrieved December 22, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. Black, Cheryl (June 2004). ""New Negro" performance in art and life: Fredi Washington and the theatrical columns of The People's Voice, 1943-47". Theatre History Studies. 24. Retrieved December 28, 2021 – via Gale.
  15. Murrain, Edward (December 3, 1955). "Front and Center". The New York Age. Retrieved December 27, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "Bronx Limited". The New York Age. February 18, 1956. Retrieved December 27, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. Peterson, Bernard L. (October 25, 1993). A Century of Musicals in Black and White: An Encyclopedia of Musical Stage Works By, About, or Involving African Americans. ABC-CLIO. p. 207. ISBN 9780313064548.
  18. Johnson, Delos R. (July 3, 1926). "Reviewing the Show At The Elmore Theater". The Pittsburgh Courier. Retrieved December 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. H., G. (February 7, 1928). ""Meek Mose," Amateurish Play of Negro Life, Opens at Princess". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Retrieved December 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. Pollock, Arthur (April 19, 1934). "'Stevedore,' a Play About Negroes and Injustice in the South, Opens at the Civic Repertory". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Retrieved December 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. Rowe, Billy (October 17, 1936). "Presentation of 'Noah' Ineffective, Says Billy Rowe". The Pittsburgh Courier. Retrieved December 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. "Arthur Schomburg In Lecture On Scheduled "Haiti" Production". The New York Age. January 29, 1938. Retrieved December 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ""The Brute" Proves the Biggest and Best of the Colored Productions". The Kansas City Sun. October 2, 1920. Retrieved December 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
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