Born in New York City on November 23, 1908, Edward Choate developed an early interest in the theatre and eventually became producer, managing director, and general manager for many Broadway and other theatrical productions. He worked on the staffs of Herman Shumlin and the Shubert Brothers in the 1930's and produced his first Broadway play, I Was Waiting For You, in 1933. From 1934 to 1945, he produced ten more shows on Broadway, both independently and in partnership. In 1946, he became company manager for the Old Vic productions at the Century Theatre, and in 1948 was business manager for the Pittsburgh Light Opera Company.
In 1948, Choate became managing director and partner with Margaret Webster in the Margaret Webster Shakespeare Company. This Company toured the United States and Canada in a bus and truck, carrying all their equipment and playing mainly to college audiences. The 1948-1949 tour presented Hamlet and MacBeth; the 1949-1950 tour, Julius Caesar and Taming of the Shrew. Due primarily to financial reasons, the tours were not continued.
In the summer of 1950, however, the Margaret Webster Shakespeare Company became the Margaret Webster Company and played at the Woodstock Playhouse in Long Island. Eva La Gallienne acted in Fortunato and The Corn Is Green; Miss Webster, in The Three Sisters and The Apollo of Bellac; seven other productions were also performed by the Company. Choate continued his association with the Company in partnership with Miss Webster and Michael Linenthal, managing director of the Woodstock Playhouse. The season was a financial disaster and marked the end of the Company's existence.
During the 1950's and 1960's, Choate was associated with sixteen productions and tours in New York and on the West Coast. In 1961 he was general manager for the Royale Theatre and in 1962 for Dore Schary Productions. Choate became general manager for the New York State Theatre at Lincoln Center in 1968, and in 1969 returned to Broadway and commercial theatre management. He died July 23, 1975.
