Werba's Brooklyn Theatre

Greta Risley: born Greta Deery 1869,taking her mother’s maiden name for the stage.Stepdaughter of General Robert Avery of the Union Army.Greta Risley received her musical education at the National Conservatory of Music.Miss Risley made her debut in the early 1890’s with the Gustav Hinrich’s Grand Opera Company in Philadelphia ,playing the role of Marguerite in “Faust”.Miss Risley joined the Metropolitan Opera Company of New York under the management of Abbey,Schoeffel & Grau,in the role of Frasquito in"Carmen"in 1893.In 1899 Greta Risley appeared in Raymond Hitchcock’s comedy opera"King Dodo" as Queen Lili at the Old Daly’s Theatre in NYC.It was while she was with “The Bostonians"company that she met Louis Casavant ,both played in the opera"Robin Hood”.They were married on March 19,1896.Greta Risley last appeared in 1919 with the Gallo English Opera Company in the"Mikado"and"Pinafore",at the Shubert Theatre in NYC. Greta Risley died February 1st,1923 at her home,on 1947 Broadway, Manhattan.Greta and Louis had no children;she was buried on Martha’s Vineyard,in Vineyard Haven,Mass.