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Actress Louisa Drew in costume, circa 1890.
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Louisa Drew in Costume as Mrs. Malaprop.

Credit: Image donated by Corbis-Bettmann

The first woman to manage an important American playhouse, Louisa Drew (1820-1897) ran Philadelphia's Arch Street Theater from 1861 to 1892. Her famous grandsons Lionel and John Barrymore both made their stage debuts with their grandmother in The Rivals at the theater. In this photo, Mrs. Drew is dressed as Mrs. Malaprop, one of her most famous roles.

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