THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

N. S. Burnham (1885-87)

[Born 30 Nov 1856(?), died Brooklyn, New York 30 Jan 1925]

Ncholas S. Burnham was engaged by John Stetson to appear on tour in New England in the title role of the Mikado of Japan with D'Oyly Carte's Third American Mikado Company in 1885-86. In 1887, he was engaged again to play Old Adam in New York and New England with Carte's Third American Ruddygore Company in April and May 1887, after making a brief appearance in that role with the Second Company in Boston earlier in April. He also appeared in February 1887 as Scynthius in a touring production of Princess Ida under Stetson's management, and billed as a D'Oyly Carte production.

These were Burnham's only appearances under D'Oyly Carte auspices, but not his only roles in Gilbert & Sullivan. In March 1879 he was Bill Bobstay in an H.M.S. Pinafore at the Court Square Theatre, Brooklyn, New York. On November 1, 1886, he played the title role in a Fifth Avenue Theatre (New York) revival of The Mikado, followed, on November 22, by Princess Ida, in which he appeared as Guron. Both operas were performed by arrangement with Carte, and featured such prominent Savoyards as Geraldine Ulmar, Courtice Pounds, and Signor Brocolini. He also toured New England with Stetson in January 1887, appearing as Mr. Bunthorne's Solicitor in Patience. At some point he also played Old Adam in Ruddygore and the Lieutenant of the Tower in The Yeomen of the Guard for Stetson. In 1901, as Nick Burnham, he played the title role in The Mikado at the Orpheum Theatre in Brooklyn.

Nick Burnham continued to perform in musicals in Boston, New York and elsewhere at least until 1917 when he appeared in the musical comedy Miss Springtime at New York's Amsterdam Theatre.

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