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300 to 5,000 by the late 1940s. He directed over 200 productions with RCP, keeping the organization solvent and operating with full programming through the financial difficulties of the Great
Depression and the limitations on materials and unavailability of actors during World War II. RCP purchased its own facility, the Playhouse, at Meigs Street and Clinton Avenue in Rochester a year after he was hired in 1925.
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In the fall of 1925, Stevens was hired, to direct the newly created
Rochester Community Players (RCP), a community theater that had only started operations seven months earlier,. Engaged for three weeks, he stayed 28 years, with memberships (season subscriptions for two tickets per show) grew from
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interview with his sister, Emily
Stevens, their mother, Emma Maddern, was a sister of Mrs. Fiske's mother, Elizabeth Maddern, and also a sister of Mary Maddern, who played with Mrs. Fiske for many years. Stevens performed as an actor in a number of Mrs. Fiske's productions.
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Newspaper article, c. Sept, 1928; archived in the 1928-1930 Scrapbook, and
Newspaper article, c. Sept. 1931, archived in the 1931-1932 Scrapbook, both found in the Rochester Community Players collections, Local History Department, Rochester NY Public Library, Rundel
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newspaper article, "Mrs. Fiske Likes
Atmosphere of Community Players", unknown date, archived in the 1924-1927 Scrapbook, archived in the Rochester Community Players collections, Local History Department, Rochester NY Public Library, Rundel
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newspaper, April 18, 1953, pg. 4, Editorial Page, article by Elmer R. Messner (archived in the 1946-1952 Scrapbook, Rochester
Community Players collections, Local History Department, Rochester NY Public Library, Rundel
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Newspaper article: "End of Season
Tonight Also Closes Career of Two Leaders", May 3, 1953, unknown newspaper, archived in the 1953-54 Scrapbook, Rochester Community Players collection, Rochester Public
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Newspaper articles, July & September, 1926, and
Minutes of the RCP Board of Directors, June 1926, archived with the Rochester Community players collection, Rochester Public Library
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play, visited the
Rochester Community Players Playhouse, in the company of Stevens, and again was described as his cousin in a newspaper report of the visit. According to a
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Robert
Stevens was the son of Robert E. Stevens (1837–1918) and Emily "Emma" Maddern (1845–1903). His father was a theatrical manager, before the
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Multiple newspaper articles, May 1953, archived in the 1947-1953 Scrapbook, Rochester Community Players collection, Rochester Public Library
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RCP Program January 17, 1964, Tribute to Robert Stevens; archived with the Rochester Community Players collection, Rochester Public Library
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Players in Shakespeare productions for three years. He also worked in the motion pictures industry, as an assistant director for actress
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Minuted, Board of Directors, August 4, 1925, archived with the Rochester Community Players Collection, Rochester Public Library
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Rochester City Directories 1952-1956, showing Robert B. and Constance B. Stevens residing at 170 Spring Street, Rochester
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newspaper article Sept. 18, 1951, archived with the Rochester Community Players collection, Rochester Public Library.
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Robert E. Stevens "took out the first traveling theatrical company" from New York City. He also managed actor
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1881–1946). He again married, to Constance B. Stevens, in June 1951.
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to take over for an actor who departed a road company production in
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