This is a rare Wednesday, October 11th, 1893 program (playbill) from the National Tour engagement of the Bostonians Company in the REGINALD DE KOVEN and HARRY B. SMITH comic opera "ROBIN HOOD" at the Columbia Theatre in Brooklyn, New York. (The production premiered on June 9th, 1890 at the Chicago Opera House and the Original Broadway production opened September 22nd, 1891 at the Standard Theatre in New York City. The comic opera would open the same year at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London with a new title, "Maid Marian".) ..... The comic opera starred EDGAR TEMPLE in the title role and MARGARET REID as "Maid Marian" and the cast included HENRY CLAY BARNABEE, W. A. HOWLAND, EUGENE COWLES, JESSIE BARTLETT DAVIS, GEORGE FROTHINGHAM, PETER M. LANG, JOSEPHINE BARTLETT and MENA CLEARY ..... Biographical Note: Henry Louis Reginald De Koven (April 3rd, 1859 – January 16th, 1920) was an American music critic, conductor, and prolific composer, particularly of comic operas, who helped establish the style of American light opera.  De Koven was born in Middletown, Connecticut, but in 1870, when Reginald was eleven, the family moved to England, where he received the majority of his education. He graduated from St. John’s College of Oxford University in England in 1879 and undertook various musical studies in Stuttgart, Germany. De Koven returned to the U.S. in 1882 to live in Chicago, Illinois, where he worked in a brokerage firm until his marriage to Anna Farwell, and later lived in New York City. In 1883, De Koven started a dry-goods business that became very successful. With the steady income, he was able to return to music. With his wide musical knowledge, he found his scope as a critic with Chicago’s "Evening Post", "Harper’s Weekly", and the "New York World". Between 1887 and 1913, De Koven composed twenty light operas, beginning with "The Begum" in1887 (libretto by Harry B. Smith), in addition to hundreds of songs (over 450), orchestral works, two piano sonatas, and ballets. In 1888 he again teamed with Smith to compose the opera "Don Quixote". From 1902 to 1904, De Koven conducted the Washington, D.C. Symphony, which he helped organize. De Koven’s greatest success was "Robin Hood", also with libretto by Harry B. Smith, which premiered at the Chicago Opera House on June 9th, 1890 but was performed all across the country. It played in New York at the Standard Theatre in 1891 and in London the same year, retitled "Maid Marian", and it continued to be revived for many years. Many of his songs became popular, especially “Oh Promise Me” from "Robin Hood", with words by Clement Scott, which was one of the biggest song successes of its time and remains a wedding standard. (Reprinted in part from the Walker Home School website) ..... CREDITS: Music composed by REGINALD DE KOVEN; Libretto by HARRY B. SMITH; Proprietors and Managers for the Bostonians: KARL, BARNABEE and MacDONALD; Produced by the BOSTONIANS ..... DETAILS: The oversized four page program measures 10" X 14 1/2" inches and includes production credits, cast list, synopsis of scenes and wonderful vintage advertising, but no cast photos or bios ..... CONDITION: (Please Note!) There is light soiling to the front and back covers, several edge tears, paper loss in the lower right corner, minor creasing and moderate edge wear. Despite these flaws, this rare program will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any musical theatre aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.