Sarah Hallam Douglass facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sarah Hallam Douglass
Born	Sarah Smythies
Died	1777  Jamaica
Spouse(s)	Lewis Hallam, David Douglass
Children	Lewis Hallam Jr., Isabella Mattocks

Sarah Hallam Douglass was an actress and theatre director. She was born in England. People also knew her as Mrs. Lewis Hallam or Sarah Hallam. She passed away in Philadelphia in 1773.

Early Life and Career

We don't know much about when or where Sarah was born. We also don't know her original last name.

Sarah was an actress. She married Lewis Hallam, who also worked in theatre. In May 1752, they traveled to America. They went there to perform with Lewis's acting group. They sailed on a ship called the Charming Sally. They had a daughter named Isabella Mattocks. She stayed behind in Britain and later became a famous actress.

First Professional Theatre in America

Sarah and the group arrived in Yorktown on June 2. By June 16, they were advertising their shows in Williamsburg. This was a very important moment for theatre in North America. Their company was the first professional theatre group to stay in one place.

Sarah Hallam Douglass was one of the first professional leading actresses in North America. She played the main female roles in plays. In the mid-1760s, she slowly started to give these roles to other actresses. These included Margaret Cheer and Nancy Hallam.

Later Life and The American Company

Sarah's first husband, Lewis Hallam, died in Jamaica. The theatre company had traveled there to perform. After Lewis passed away, Sarah married David Douglass.

In 1758, Sarah and David started a new theatre group. They called it the American Company. Sarah's son from her first marriage, Lewis Hallam, Jr., also became an actor. He performed in his mother and stepfather's company.