BARNABEE, HENRY CLAY

(1833-1917)

Sometimes called "the dean of the comic opera stage," Barnabee began his career in 1866 as Toby Winkle inAll That Glitters Is Not Goldat the Boston Museum and won his greatest renown inRobin Hoodas the Sheriff of Nottingham, a role he played nearly 1,900 times. He estimated that he had sung "The Cork Leg" 5,000 times. Barnabee was also a proprietor of the celebrated Bostonians, the leading touring company for light opera. It was Barnabee who gaveAlice Nielsenher big break, when he hired her for the Bostonians.