Theatre Credit Chronology

This is a chronology of Leslie Howard's theatre credits. To see supporting material, click on the play title. This will open a new page with photos and links to even more information about the play itself, the script, the cast, the theatre, reviews and other miscellaneous information. All links on individual play pages will take the reader to new sites with more information. This is a work in progress so check back often.

I am so grateful to Ginevra Di Verduno and her sites Leslie Howard Forever and Inafferrabile (Elusive) Leslie Howard for preserving the memory of Leslie Howard. She is the one source who can always be counted on for the correct information. Had it not been for what I consider to be a huge stroke of luck in finding her sites, I would not have started on this quest to understand everything about Leslie Howard. I cannot even imagine the time and effort she has spent in compiling all the information contained on her websites. Although the newspaper and magazine reviews that appear on her pages sometimes need a bit of interpretation to understand (her native language is Italian), they are indispensable in understanding the rise and success of Leslie Howard. Ginevra's love and respect for Leslie Howard is evident. I hope on my pages my readers see a little bit of that same regard.

The Plays Leslie Howard Authored:

• Alias Mrs. Jones
• Deception • Setting: "The Sitting Room at Smith's Private Detective Agency" (c. 1913)
• Diana's Second Marriage aka The Impossible Marriage, The Impossible Age, The Gulf (1924)
• Murray Hill aka Higginbotham, Tweedie, Tweedie Gets Married, The Man from Crumbles, A Farce in Three Acts, Collecting Cousins: A Bit of Tomfoolery in Three Acts, Tell Me the Truth: A Bit of Tomfoolery, Elizabeth Sleeps Out 
• The New Morality
• Out of a Blue Sky
• The True Artist (c. 1912)
• Willie aka The Black Knight

Note: Plays for which Leslie Howard has been incorrectly credited in books and other websites are shown in red. There was in London working in the theatre during the same time as Leslie Howard a man named Howard Leslie and another named Leslie Howard Gordon. Howard Leslie was listed in Wearing's The London Stage 1910-1919 (p. 1184) as an Actor, an Acting Manager, a Box Office Manager and a Stage Manager, and in the 1920-1929 guide (p. 899) as an Actor, Director, Presenter (Producer) and Stage Manager. It appears that most authors use J. P. Wearing's The London Stage guides as their sources for all things theatre at that time, and Wearing gives credit to "Leslie Howard" for productions it would have been physically impossible for this Leslie Howard to be involved in. It is impossible to know if the error was in the name, Howard Leslie, being transposed to Leslie Howard (I believe this the most likely), or if there was another person named Leslie Howard working in the theatre at that time and his credits were incorrectly ascribed to this Leslie Howard. Wearing gives credit to only one Leslie Howard in the index on p. 878, but I explain why this is wrong information in the listings for these credits. I believe the most accurate site is InafferrabileLeslieHoward. I have found only one production included on that site ascribed to Leslie Howard—Hush!—for which I still have doubts. However, please see the theatre page on this site (by clicking the link above) for a comment by the InafferrabileLeslieHoward page author for her reasoning on why she included the production in Leslie Howard's list of credits. I would not presume to dispute her findings as I believe her to be the authority on all things Leslie Howard and most of what I know is due to her research. However, it still remains that the only way to be sure of Leslie Howard's credits is when his children mention them and/or there are archived news clippings/reviews available—although these are hard to come by, especially foreign publications which have not been digitized for worldwide review—and it was physically possible for Leslie Howard to be in the location at the time the production takes place. It is unfortunate that British magazines and newspapers have not made the bulk of their publications available in archival sites online.

[Please note: Some PDFs were uploaded as PNG files so that the reader can make the image larger than would be allowed as a straight PDF. There is no scroll bar on these pages and the reader must scroll down the page manually using the touchpad or mouse.]


Plays

The True Artist by Leslie Howard Steiner
Stanley Hall, South Norwood, London
Author • Producer • Director
12/26/1912

Ours by T. W. Robertson
Stanley Hall, South Norwood, London
Producer • Director
Rôle: unknown
12/26/1912

Deception by Leslie Howard Steiner
Stanley Hall, South Norwood, London
Author • Director
Rôle: Wilson Smith
12/20/1913

The Perplexed Husband by Alfred Sutro
Stanley Hall, South Norwood, London
Producer • Director
Rôle: unknown
12/20/1913

The Eldest Son by John Galsworthy
probably Stanley Hall, South Norwood, London
Producer
Rôle: unknown
c. early 1914

Peg O' My Heart by J. Hartley Manners
England Tour
Rôle: Jerry
1916 October/November Tour

Charley's Aunt by Brandon Thomas
England Tour
Rôle: Jack Chesney
1916-1917 Winter-Spring

Hush! by Violet Pearn
Court Theatre, London
Rôle: Hall Porter
5/7/1917 - 5/18/1917

The Tidings Brought to Mary by Paul Claudel
Strand Theatre, London
Translated by Louise Morgan Sill
Rôle: the Apprentice
Total Performances: One matinée, Experimental Only
6/10/1917

Under Cover by Roi Cooper-Megrue
England Tour
Rôle: Monty Vaughan
1917 Summer-Fall

The Freaks by Arthur Wing Pinero
New Theatre, London
Rôle: Ronald Herrick
Total Performances: 51
2/14/1918 - 3/30/1918

Romanticismo by Gerolamo Rovetta
Comedy Theatre, London
Rôle: Marquis Giacomino d'Arfo
Total Performances: One matinée, Experimental Only
3/19/1918

The Morals of Vanda by A. G. Rhode
Grand Theatre, Croydon
Rôle: Leonard Mortimer
4/1/1918

Romanticismo by Gerolamo Rovetta
King's Hall, London
Rôle: Marquis Giacomino d'Arfo
4/14/1918 matinée

Box B by Cosmo Gordon Lennox

London Coliseum, London
Rôle: Capt. Robert Stroud
5/6/1918

Sinners by Brandon Fleming
Prince of Wales Theatre, Birmingham
Rôle: Robert Ransom
6/3/1918

The Title by Arnold Bennett
Royalty Theatre, London
Rôle: John Culver
Total Performances: 285
7/20/1918 - 3/22/1919

Our Mr. Hepplewhite by Gladys Unger
Criterion Theatre, London
Rôle: Lord Bagley
Total Performances: 239
4/3/1919 - 10/4/1919

Just a Wife or Two by Marcel Gerbidon and Paul Armont
West Pier, Brighton
Adapted by Christopher St. John and Anthony L. Ellis
Rôle: Victor Hamilton
11/24/1919

Mr. Pim Passes By by A. A. Milne
New Theatre, London
Rôle: Brian Strange
Total Performances: 246 (total includes all three theatres)
1/5/1920 - 1/31/1920

Mr. Pim Passes By by A. A. Milne
Garrick Theatre, London
Rôle: Brian Strange
Total Performances: 246 (total includes all three theatres)
2/2/1920 - 4/24/1920

Mr. Pim Passes By by A. A. Milne
Playhouse Theatre, London
Rôle: Brian Strange
Total Performances: 246 (total includes all three theatres)
4/26/1920 - 7/31/1920

The Young Person in Pink by Gertrude E. Jennings
Prince of Wales Theatre, London
Rôle: Lord Stevenage (Toby)
Total Performances: One matinée, Experimental Only
2/10/1920

Kitty Breaks Loose by Kingston Stack
Duke of York's Theatre, London

Rôle: Jack Wilson/Sir John Wilde
Total Performances: 8 matinée
2/16/1920 - 2/18, 2/20, 2/23 - 2/25, 2/27/1920

East Is West by Samuel Shipman and John B. Hymer
Lyric Theatre, London
Rôle: Billy Benson
Total Performances: 40
6/9/1920 - 7/10/1920

Rosalind of the Farmyard by Mary Augusta Pakington
Shaftesbury Theatre, London
Rôle: Captain L'Estrange
Total Performances: One matinée, Experimental Only
7/13/1920

Just Suppose by A. E. Thomas
Henry Miller's Theatre, New York
Rôle: Hon. Sir Calverton Shipley
Total Performances: 88

11/01/1920 - c. 1/1921

P's and Q's by Annie Nathan Meyer
Morosco Theatre, New York
Rôle: Charley Stark
Total Performances: One matinée, Charity Only
12/10/1920

On the Brink by Stanley J. Holloway
Ambassadors Theatre, London
Director
Total Performances: One matinée, Experimental Only
1/27/1921

The Voice in the Street!! by E. Thornley-Dodge
Ambassadors Theatre, London
Director
Total Performances: One matinée, Experimental Only
1/27/1921

The Five Wishes by Laura Leycester
Ambassadors Theatre, London
Director
Total Performances: One matinée, Experimental Only
1/27/1921

The Wren by Booth Tarkington
Gaiety Theatre, New York
Rôle: Roddy
Total Performances: 24
10/10/1921 - c. 10/1921

The Faithful Heart by Monckton Hoffe

Comedy Theatre, London
Stage Director
Total Performances: 185
11/16/1921 - 3/18/1922
transferred to Queen's 3/27/1922 - 4/22/1922

Danger by Cosmo Hamilton
39th Street Theatre, New York
Rôle: Percy Sturgess
Total Performances: 79
12/22/1921 - c. 2/1922

The Truth About Blayds by A. A. Milne
Booth Theatre, New York
Rôle: Oliver Blayds-Conway
Total Performances: 108
3/14/1922 - c. 6/1922

A Serpent's Tooth by Arthur Richman
Little Theatre, New York
Rôle: Jerry Middleton
Total Performances: 36
8/24/1922 - c. 9/1922

The Romantic Age by A. A. Milne
Comedy Theatre, New York
Rôle: Gervase Mallory with Margalo Gillmore
Total Performances: 31
11/14/1922 - c. 12/1922

The Lady Cristilinda by Monckton Hoffe
Broadhurst Theatre, New York
Rôle: Martini
Total Performances: 24
12/25/1922 - c. 1/1923

Anything Might Happen by Edgar Selwyn
Comedy Theatre, New York 

Rôle: Hal Turner
Total Performances: 63 
2/20/1923 - c. 4/1923

Aren't We All? by Frederick Lonsdale
Gaiety Theatre, New York
Rôle: Hon. William "Willie" Tatham
Total Performances: 32
5/21/1923 - c. 6/1923

Outward Bound by Sutton Vane
Ritz Theatre, New York
Rôle: Henry with Margalo Gillmore
Total Performances: 144
1/7/1924 - c. 5/1924

The Werewolf by Gladys Unger
Adapted from Der Werwolf by Rudolph Lothar
49th Street Theatre, New York
Rôle: Paolo Moreira
Total Performances: 112
8/25/1924 - c. 12/1924

Isabel by Curt Goetz
Empire Theatre, New York
Translated by Arthur Richman
Rôle: Peter Graham
Total Performances: 31
1/13/1925 - c. 2/1925

Shall We Join the Ladies? by James M. Barrie
Empire Theatre, New York
Rôle: Mr. Preen
Total Performances: 31
1/13/1925 - c. 2/1925

The Green Hat by Michael Arlen
Broadhurst Theatre, New York
Rôle: Napier Harpenden
Total Performances: 231
9/15/1925 - c. 2/1926

The Way You Look At It by Edward W. Bootle-Wilbraham, third Earl of Lathom
Queen's Theatre, London
Rôle: Bobby Rendon
Total Performances: 14
7/27/1926 - 8/7/1926

Mayfair by St. Clair Scott and Caswell Garth
Broad Street Theatre, Newark
Rôle: unknown male lead
12/20/1926

The Cardboard Lover by Jacques Deval
Out-of-Town Tryouts
Adapted by Valerie Wyngate
Rôle: André Sallicel with Laurette Taylor
9/25/26 - c. 10/1926

Her Cardboard Lover by Jacques Deval
Empire Theatre, New York
Adapted by Valerie Wyngate and P. G. Wodehouse
Rôle: André Sallicel with Jeanne Eagels
Total Performances: 152
3/21/1927 - c. 8/1927

Murray Hill by Leslie Howard
Copley Square, Boston
Author • Staged by Leslie Howard
Rôle: Wrigley
8/13/1927

Murray Hill by Leslie Howard
Bijou Theatre, New York
Author • Staged by Leslie Howard
Rôle: Wrigley
Total Performances: 28
9/29/1927 - c. 10/1927

Escape by John Galsworthy
Booth Theatre, New York
Rôle: Matt Denant
Total Performances: 173
10/26/1927 - 3/24/1928

Collecting Cousins, A Bit of Tomfoolery by Leslie Howard
Opera House, Tunbridge Wells
Author
5/21/1928

Collecting Cousins, A Bit of Tomfoolery by Leslie Howard
Pier Theatre, Eastbourne
Author
5/28/1928

Tell Me the Truth: A Bit of Tomfoolery by Leslie Howard
Ambassadors Theatre, London
Author
Total Performances: 64 (total includes both theatres)
6/18/1928 - 7/14/1928

Tell Me the Truth: A Bit of Tomfoolery by Leslie Howard
Comedy Theatre, London
Author
Total Performances: 64 (total includes both theatres)
7/16/1928 - 8/11/1928

Her Cardboard Lover by Jacques Deval
Lyric Theatre, London
Adapted by Valerie Wyngate and P. G. Wodehouse

Rôle: André Sallicel with Tallulah Bankhead

Total Performances: 173

8/21/1928 - 1/19/1929

Where Have We Met by Jefferson Farjeon
Queen's Theatre, London
Rôle: He
Total Performances: One
10/07/1928

Their Business in Great Waters by Louis N. Parker
Lyceum Theatre, London
Rôle: Jack with Tallulah Bankhead
Total Performances: One matinée, Charity Only
12/11/1928

Berkeley Square by John L. Balderston
Lyric Theatre, London
Co-Presenter • Producer
Rôle: Peter Standish with Jean Forbes-Robertson
Total Performances: 64
3/6/1929 - 4/27/1929

The Beggar's Opera by John Gay and Frederic Austin
Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith
Rôle: Filch
Total Performances: 38
3/11/1929 - 4/13/1929

By Candle-light by Siegfried Geyer
Southampton, England
Adapted by P. G. Wodehouse
Rôle: Josef with Gertrude Lawrence
8/26/1929 - c. 9/2/1929

Candle-Light by Siegfried Geyer
Empire Theatre, New York
Adapted by P. G. Wodehouse
Rôle: Josef with Gertrude Lawrence
(Left the rôle October 21st to play Peter Standish in Berkeley Square)
Total Performances: 128
9/30/1929 - c. 1/1930

Berkeley Square by John L. Balderston
Lyceum Theatre, New York
Co-Producer • Co-Director
Rôle: Peter Standish with Margalo Gillmore
Total Performances: 229
11/4/1929 - 5/17/1930

Out of a Blue Sky by Hans Chlumberg (Hans Bardach of Chlumberg)
Booth Theatre, New York
Adapted by Leslie Howard from the German Das Blau von Himmel
Author • Director
Total Performances: 17
2/8/1930 - 2/22/1930

The New Morality by Leslie Howard
Shubert Theatre, New York
Rôle: Ponderous Banker, Philandering Iceman
5/21/1930 and other charity performances

The Animal Kingdom by Philip Barry
Broadhurst Theatre, New York

Co-Producer

Rôle: Tom Collier
Total Performances: 183 (total includes both theatres)

1/12/1932 - 4/4/1932

The Animal Kingdom by Philip Barry
Empire Theatre, New York

Co-Producer

Rôle: Tom Collier
Total Performances: 183 (total includes both theatres)

4/5/1932 - 6/18/1932

We Are No Longer Children by Leopold Marchand
Booth Theatre, New York

Adapted by William B. Murray and Ilka Chase

Co-Director
Total Performances: 12
3/31/1932 - 4/9/1932

This Side Idolatry by Talbot L. Jennings
Lyric Theatre, London
Co-Producer
Rôle: William Shakespeare
10/19/1933 - 10/28/1933

Elizabeth Sleeps Out by Leslie Howard
Whitehall Theatre, London
Author
7/10/1934

The Petrified Forest by Robert E. Sherwood
Broadhurst Theatre, New York
Co-Producer
Rôle: Alan Squier
Total Performances: 197
1/7/1935 - 6/29/1935

Elizabeth Sleeps Out by Leslie Howard
Comedy Theatre, New York
Author
Total Performances: 44
4/20/1936 - 5/27/1936

Hamlet by Shakespeare
Imperial Theatre, New York
Producer • Director
Rôle: Hamlet
Total Performances: 39
11/10/1936 - 12/13/1936

Alias Mrs. Jones by Leslie Howard
Little Theatre, Bristol 

Director 
9/27/1937

Here's to Our Enterprise by Edward Knoblock
Lyceum Theatre, London
Rôle: unknown
5/1938

Cathedral Steps by Clemence Dane
St. Paul's Cathedral, London
Rôle: Horatio Nelson
9/25/1942

Bibliography:

• Eforgan, Estel. Leslie Howard: The Lost Actor. London: Vallentine Mitchell Publishers, 2010. ISBN 978-0-85303-915-0.
• Howard, Leslie, ed. with Ronald Howard. Trivial Fond Records. London: William Kimber & Co Ltd, 1982. ISBN 978-0-7183-0418-8.
• Howard, Leslie Ruth. A Quite Remarkable Father: A Biography of Leslie Howard. New York: Harcourt Brace and Co., 1959.
• Howard, Ronald. In Search of My Father: A Portrait of Leslie Howard. London: St. Martin's Press, 1984. ISBN 0-312-41161-8.
• IBDb.com Leslie Howard Page (Internet Broadway Database).
• Inafferrabile Leslie Howard, Theatre.
• Leslie Howard Forever, On Stage.
• LeslieHoward.net - Theatre.
• Nicoll, Allardyce. English Drama, 1900-1930 2 Part Set: The Beginnings of the Modern Period. Cambridge University Press, 2009. ISBN 978-0-521-10946-8.
• Wearing, J. P. The London Stage 1910-1919: A Calendar of Plays and Players Volume II: 1917-1919. The Scarecrow Press, Inc., Metuchen, N.J., & London, 1982. ISBN 0-8108-1596-6.
• Wearing, J. P. The London Stage 1920-1929: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2nd Edition, 2014. ISBN 978-0-8108-9301-6.
• Leslie Howard Theatre Credits on Wikipedia.

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