Rosemary Harris is an English actress who has achieved renown both in England and in the United States.  In England at age 19 she started working with repertory companies such as Bognor Regis Theatre and Bedford Falcon Players.  She went on to study at RADA.  While a student there she was a reader for actors auditioning for Moss Hart’s play, Climate of Eden, and was cast in the play herself, bringing her to Broadway.  She returned to the West End to debut in The Seven Year Itch.  Thus began her bi-coastal career.

In 1959, with then husband Ellis Rabb, she formed the Association of Producing Artists (APA) which later became APA/Phoenix when merged with T. Edward Hambleton’s Phoenix Theatre.  With the American National Theater and Academy Playhouse (ANTA) she performed in INTERLOCK (1958).  With the Phoenix Theatre she performed JUDITH (1965), MAN AND SUPERMAN (1965), HERAKLES (at The Lyceum) (1965), and WAR AND PEACE (1965).  At the Lyceum (with the APA): RIGHT YOU ARE IF YOU THINK YOU ARE(1966), WE, COMRADES (1966), THE WILD DUCK (1967), YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU (1967), WAR AND PEACE (1967).  At Lincoln Center, she performed in THE MERCHANT OF VENICE (1973), A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (1973), and MY FAIR LADY (2018-2019).  At the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM): THE ROYAL FAMILY (1975), THE NEW YORK IDEA (1977), and THREE SISTERS (1977).  At Circle in the Square: HEARTBREAK HOUSE (1983).  At Gramercy Theatre:  ALL OVER (2022).  At Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC): THE OTHER SIDE (2005).  At Florence Gould Hall: OSCAR AND THE LADY IN PINK(2007).  At Roundabout: THE ROAD TO MECCA (2012) and  INDIAN INK (2014).  On Broadway: The Climate of Eden, Troilus and Cressida, The Disenchanted, The Tumbler, The Lion In Winter, Old Times, The Royal Family, Pack of Lies, Hay Fever, Lost in Yonkers, An Inspector Calls, A Delicate Balance, Waiting in the Wings.  In England, she has appeared at the Chichester Festival Theatre, Bristol Old Vic, Aldwych Theatre, Old Vic Theatre, Theatre Royal, Royal Strand and many regional repertory theaters.  Harris has done film and television in England and America.  Harris has been nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play seven times and won for The Lion in Winter (1966).  In 2019, she was given the Tony Award Lifetime Achievement in Theatre.  She has won five Drama Desk Awards and has been nominated for another two.  Harris won the 1962 Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress for THE TAVERN, THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL and THE SEAGULL, and again in 1965 for JUDITH, MAN AND SUPERMAN, and WAR AND PEACE.  In 1993, she was nominated for the same award for ALL OVER.  She has won a Best Lead Actress in a Limited Series Emmy Award and a Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama Golden Globe Award for Notorious Woman (1976).  These are but a few of the many awards received both here and in England.  Rosemary Harris is the widow of the author John Ehle, and they have a daughter, the actress Jennifer Ehle.

A History of Early Shows:

The Phoenix Players (Bognor Regis – 34 plays):

            1947:  WINTER SUNSHINE [Passenger], THE POLTERGEIST [Joyce Prescott]

            1948:   SUSPECT [Janet Rendle], IMPORTANT PEOPLE [Beryl Cardew], DR. BRENT’SHOUSEHOLD [Pamela Brent], GOODNESS, HOW SAD [Carol Sands], THE ROTTERS [Winnie Clugston], THE UNGUARDED HOUR [Lilian], THE CURE FOR LOVE [Janey Jenkins], INTERFERENCE [Barbara], WISHING WELL [Irene Jennings], FOOLS RUSH IN [Millicent], YES AND NO [Joanna Jarrow], LOVE IN IDLENESS [Celia Wentworth], THE CORN IS GREEN [Miss Ronberry], A CUCKOO IN THE NEST [Barbara Wykeham],  A PLAY FOR RONNIE [Angela Thornton], BURNING GOLD [Una], SAUCE FOR THE GOOSE[Babs Delaney], MESSAGE FOR MARGARET [Adelyn Chalcot], SHE WANTED A CREAM FRONT DOOR[Flo & Alice], THIS BLESSED PLOT [Jenny Lester], FLY AWAY PETER [Myra Hapgood], ROPE [Leila Arden], BADGER’S GREEN [Mr. Butler’s Secretary], PEACE COMES TO PECKHAM [Gracie Palfrey], THE LINDEN TREE [Dinah Linden], THE GUINEA PIG [Lynne Hartley], THE ROSSITERS [Honor Rossiter], AND NO BIRDS SING [Pauline Banks], WHEN KNIGHTS WERE BOLD [Millicent Eggington]

            1949: MIRANDA [Miranda], JEANNIE [Maggie and The Blond], ARSENIC AND OLD LACE [Elaine Harper]

 The Falcon Players (Bedford – 2 plays nightly):

            1949: QUIET WEDDNG [Flower Lisle], HAY FEVER [Myra Arundel], SUSPECT [Janet Rendle], THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST [Cecily], THE ROTTERS [Winnie Clugston], DISTINGUISHED GATHERING [Dorinda Caswell], TOO YOUNG TO MARRY [Jane], THE BARRETTS OF WIMPOLE STREET [Arabel], THE BLUE GOOSE [Carol], THE GIRL WHO COULDN’T QUITE [Pamela Taylor], THE LETTERS [Ayah], JUNIOR MISS [Janet], MACBETH [Witch], ROOKERY NOOK [Poppy Dicky], PINK STRINGS AND SEALING WAX [Jessie Strachan], HOUSE MASTER [Rosemary], SACRED FLAME [Alice], EASY MONEY [Carol], LOVE ISN’T EVERYTHING [Stella], THE FIRST MRS. FRASER [Alice], BREACH OF MARRIAGE [Mrs. Mannering], LOVE FROM A STRANGER [Mavis], FORTNIGHT HOLIDAY, FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE [Mike], IS YOUR HONEYMOON REALLY NECESSARY?,  [Rosemary], TWO MRS. CAROLS [Sally Carol], LADIES IN RETIREMENT [Leonora Fiske], SILVER CORD [Hester], PLAY BILL [Juvenile], JANE STEPS OUT [Jane], PAINTED SPARROWS [Juvenile], MADAME LOUISE [Penny], SPRING MEETING [Baby Furze], PRESENT LAUGHTER [Liz], TILLY OF BLOOMSBURY [Tilly], LITTLE LAMBS EAT IVY [Catherine], LIFE WITH FATHER [Mary], SUMMER IN DECEMBER [Judy],JEANNIE [The Blond], TO HAVE AND TO HOLD [Peggy Harding], THE LETTER [Ayha], MISS MABEL, INDOOR FIREWORKS [Eleanor].

            1950: THE HAPPIEST DAYS OF YOUR LIFE [Joyce Harper], WHAT ANN BROUGHT HOME [Ann], THE LAST OF MRS. CHEYNEY, CUCKOO IN THE NEST, PYGMALION [Mrs. Higgins], FIT FOR HEROES[Mary Hobart], LOOP HOLE, SPORT OF KINGS [Dulcie Primrose], FULL HOUSE, WHY NOT TONIGHT?[Helen Maxwell].

 The Winwood Theatres (Eastborne and Margate)

            1950: ANN VERONICA [Kitty Brett], KISS AND TELL [Mildred Pringle], GOODNESS HOW SAD [Mrs. Priskin], THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER, QUEEN ELIZABETH SLEPT HERE [Madge Fuller], YOUNG WIVES TALE [Mary Banning], HAMLET [Player Queen].

 The Dolphin Theatre (Brighton)

            1950: PRIVATE LIVES [Sybil]