Edward Harrigan (October 26, 1844 â€" June 6, 1911), sometimes called
Ned Harrigan, was an Irish-American actor, singer, dancer, playwright,
lyricist and theater producer who, together with Tony Hart (as
Harrigan & Hart), formed one of the most celebrated theatrical
partnerships of the 19th century. His career began in minstrelsy and
variety but progressed to the production of multi-act plays full of
singing, dancing and physical comedy, making Harrigan one of the
founding fathers of modern American musical theatre.Harrigan was born
at Corlear's Hook in Lower Manhattan, New York City. He was one of 13
children, only four of whom lived past infancy. Their father was a
Protestant from Newfoundland, and their mother was described as "a
Protestant Yankee".After Harrigan's parents divorced when he was 18,
he worked at caulking ships, and his work eventually took him to San
Francisco. As a pastime, he wrote new lyrics to existing melodies, and
the result found popularity with his fellow workers.Harrigan made his
first stage appearance in 1867 at the Olympic, a San Francisco
"melodeon", as that city's variety theaters were then known. A brief
partnership with comic Sam Rickey was followed by a fourteen-year
stage career with Tony Hart, whom he met in Chicago in 1870. Although
Harrigan wrote the lyrics and stage patter, the diminutive Hart's
charm and singing talent played a large role in the duo's success.
Ned Harrigan, was an Irish-American actor, singer, dancer, playwright,
lyricist and theater producer who, together with Tony Hart (as
Harrigan & Hart), formed one of the most celebrated theatrical
partnerships of the 19th century. His career began in minstrelsy and
variety but progressed to the production of multi-act plays full of
singing, dancing and physical comedy, making Harrigan one of the
founding fathers of modern American musical theatre.Harrigan was born
at Corlear's Hook in Lower Manhattan, New York City. He was one of 13
children, only four of whom lived past infancy. Their father was a
Protestant from Newfoundland, and their mother was described as "a
Protestant Yankee".After Harrigan's parents divorced when he was 18,
he worked at caulking ships, and his work eventually took him to San
Francisco. As a pastime, he wrote new lyrics to existing melodies, and
the result found popularity with his fellow workers.Harrigan made his
first stage appearance in 1867 at the Olympic, a San Francisco
"melodeon", as that city's variety theaters were then known. A brief
partnership with comic Sam Rickey was followed by a fourteen-year
stage career with Tony Hart, whom he met in Chicago in 1870. Although
Harrigan wrote the lyrics and stage patter, the diminutive Hart's
charm and singing talent played a large role in the duo's success.
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