Lewis Morrison

Biography

Lewis Morrison enthralled audiences with commanding renditions of Shakespeare and other classics, bringing a magnetic intensity to roles like Macbeth and Mephistopheles and helping to elevate the place of grand drama on American stages. His touring companies introduced far-flung communities to the depth of nineteenth-century theater at a time when the art still sought its national identity.

He also encouraged younger performers to study diction, gesture, and discipline, and though he now rests in Saint Johns Cemetery, his contributions linger in the echoes of theaters that still celebrate earnest storytelling.