Astor Place Opera House riot

…Macbeth by Macready at the Astor Place Opera House in New York City, Forrest’s partisans tried to storm the theatre and thus started a riot in which more than 20 persons were killed and from which Macready narrowly escaped with his life. He returned to England for his farewell performances…

…actor culminated in the so-called Astor Place riot in New York City in May 1849. While Macready was playing at the Astor Place Opera House, a mob of Forrest supporters stormed the theatre. The militia was called out, the rioters fought the militia, and the militia fired on the mob.…