Muriel Rahn

Muriel Ellen Rahn (1911–1961) was an American vocalist and actress. She co-founded the Rose McClendon Players with her husband, Dick Campbell and was one of the leading black concert singers of the mid-20th Century.[1] She is perhaps best known for her starring role in the original Broadway production of Carmen Jones. Rahn also served as musical director of the German State Theater in Frankfurt.[2]

Muriel Rahn
Muriel Rahn as Cora in The Barrier.
Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Born
Muriel Ellen Rahn

(1911-06-12)June 12, 1911
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
DiedAugust 8, 1961(1961-08-08) (aged 50)
New York City, United States
Occupationsinger, actor, musical director
Years active1929–1961
Spouse(s)Charles Rountree (divorced)
Dick Campbell (c. 1932–1961) (her death)

Biography

Muriel Ellen Rahn was born in Boston in 1911, the daughter of Willie and Elizabeth "Bessie" Rahn (née Smith).[3][4] After her father died, she moved with her mother to New York City, where Bessie met and married Cornelius M. Battey, who became director of photography of the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama.[5] Muriel finished her high school at Tuskegee, then attended Atlanta University before earning a degree from the Music Conservatory of the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. She was also educated at Columbia University and studied voice at Juilliard School of Music.[3][5]

In 1929, she launched her professional career in New York City. One of her earlier appearances on Broadway was in the musical, Come of Age written and staged by Clamence Dane with music by Richard Addinsell.[3][6]

In 1950, Rahn made one of her last appearances on Broadway. Opposite operatic legend Lawrence Tibbett, she played the role of Cora Lewis in the musical, The Barrier, based on the play, Mulatto by Langston Hughes.[7]

Later stage credits included the off-Broadway production of Sara Reavin's melodrama, The Ivory Branch with Diana Barrymore.[8] In 1959, Rahn became the first black musical director of the Städtische Bühnen Frankfurt, Germany.[9]

Rahn died on August 8, 1961 at Sydenham Hospital in New York City from lung cancer.[2][5]

Selected credits

Theatre
Year Production Role Theatre(s) Notes
1956 The Ivory Branch.[8] Provincetown Playhouse
1950 The Barrier[2][7] Cora Lewis Broadhurst Theatre
1943 Carmen Jones[2] Carmen Broadway Theatre Alternated lead role with Muriel Smith
1942 The Pirate[10] Lizarda Martin Beck Theatre
1939 Swingin’ The Dream[11] Singer Center Theatre
1934 Come of Age[6] An Entertainer Maxine Elliott's Theatre

Television
Year Series Role Notes
1958 The Arlene Francis Show Herself
1957 Hallmark Hall of Fame Zipporah A production of The Green Pastures
1952 Hollywood Screen Test[12]
1951 The Ed Sullivan Show Herself

Motion Pictures
Year Title Role Distributor Notes
1934 King for a Day (short) Herself

References
  1. Wilson, Melinda D. (October 14, 2004). "Dick Campbell". In Cary D. Wintz, Paul Finkelman (ed.). Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance. 1. New York: Routledge. pp. 208–209.
  2. Johnson, John H., ed. (August 24, 1961). Jet. Chicago, Illinois: Johnson Publishing Company, Inc. 20 (18): 48. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. "Muriel Rahn (1911–1961)". Women in World History: A Biographical Encyclopedia. African-American singer Muriel Rahn began performing while in college and launched her professional career in New York in 1929…
  4. Who's Who of American Women. I (1st ed.). Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1959. p. 1047.
  5. Perry, Patsy (1991). "Muriel Rahn (1911–1961)". In Smith, Jessie Carney (ed.). Notable Black American Women. Detroit: Gale Research. pp. 911–913. ISBN 0-8103-4749-0.
  6. "Come of Age". New York City: Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
  7. "The Barrier". New York City: Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
  8. Calta, Louis (May 24, 1956). "Sara Reavin play to open tonight; 'Ivory Branch,' with Muriel Rahn and Diana Barrymore, to bow at Provincetown, Ewell set in 'Candide,' Granger may do 'Playboy'". The New York Times. New York City. p. 26. The Ivory Branch," a melodrama by Sara Reavin, will have its off-Broadway premiere at the Provincetown Playhouse tonight at 8 o'clock.
  9. Johnson, John H., ed. (November 5, 1959). "Muriel Rahn gets music post in Germany". Jet. Chicago, Illinois: Johnson Publishing Company, Inc. 17 (2): 59.
  10. "The Pirate". New York City: Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
  11. "Swingin' The Dream". New York City: Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
  12. Johnson, John H., ed. (February 21, 1952). "Week's Radio-TV Preview". Jet. Chicago, Illinois: Johnson Publishing Company, Inc. 1 (17): 60.
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