Norma Terris

Terris, circa 1929

Norma Terris (November 13, 1904, Columbus, Kansas — November 15, 1989, Lyme, Connecticut) was an American musical theatre star. Her mother, a singer, named her after the heroine of Bellini's opera, Norma.

Born Norma Allison, she was acclaimed for her adroit impersonations of popular public figures, which she had performed in Florenz Ziegfeld's Follies, but may be best-known for having originated the roles of Magnolia Hawks and her daughter Kim (as an adult) in the original Broadway production of Show Boat in 1927. She reprised her role in the first New York revival of the show in 1932. However, she was not selected to reprise her role in the 1929 part-talkie film, nor in the 1936 film version.

Irene Dunne, who was discovered for Hollywood in the first touring company of Show Boat, would make her film debut in 1929, and go on to become one of the greatest stars of Hollywood's Golden Age. It was Dunne who eventually eclipsed Terris as Magnolia, playing the role in the 1936 film. Rather than have Dunne also play the role of Kim in the movie, the producers chose musical comedy star Sunnie O'Dea for the role.^{[citation needed]}

She was originally chosen to play the dual roles of Moonyean Clare and her niece Kathleen in Through the Years, Vincent Youmans's 1932 musical version of Jane Cowl's once-popular play, Smilin' Through, but she was replaced at the last minute. The musical was a failure, but in 2001, it was given a highly acclaimed studio cast recording. She made two films during the early days of talking pictures - Married In Hollywood, and the 1930 version of Cameo Kirby. Unfortunately, both now appear to be lost.^{[citation needed]}

Marriage

Terris married a doctor and retired to Connecticut, where she was an avid supporter of the Goodspeed Opera House.

Last years

In 1961 she appeared at a performance of the American Light Opera Company production of Show Boat in Washington, D.C. at the invitation of its director, Donn B. Murphy. On the stage at the Trinity Theatre, she reminisced about the original production. Climbing atop a piano at a cast party after the show, she did a devastating impersonation of an inebriated Helen Morgan (who had created the role of Julie) singing "Bill" from the show.^{[citation needed]}

Legacy

In 1984, Goodspeed Musicals created a second performance venue in Chester, Connecticut which is named the Norma Terris Theatre.

Death

Terris was, until her death in 1989, two days after her 85th birthday, the last surviving adult actor to have appeared in the original production of Show Boat.

External links

Biography portal

• Norma Terris at the Internet Movie Database
• Norma Terris at Find a Grave

Persondata
Name	Terris, Norma
Alternative names	Allison, Norma (birthname)
Short description	American actress and singer
Date of birth	November 13, 1904
Place of birth	Columbus, Kansas, U.S.
Date of death	November 15, 1989
Place of death	Lyme, Connecticut, U.S.