In 1903, at the age of 35, Esta Asher Reed (later Esta Barrett) lands on Broadway in Peggy from Paris. The musical comedy, written by George Ade and composed by William Loraine, first opened in Chicago at the Studebaker Theater in January 1903, where Esta sang in the chorus. The musical continued to the Tremont Theater in Boston and, in October 1903, to Wallack’s Theater on Broadway in New York. On Broadway, Esta was in the chorus and played the character of Mrs. Homer Ketchum.
Peggy from Paris was a huge success and was presented on stage in different cities across the country and with new cast members over the years. Esta was listed in programs for Chicago, Boston, and New York and may have returned home at the end of the Broadway run in 1903.
In the US Census of 1900, Esta was living with her first husband, William Reed, and their son, Harry, on Pearson Street in Chicago. Esta and William were divorced in 1906. Perhaps inspired by Peggy, Esta was to spend much of the year 1913 in Paris, where she continued her vocal training with the renowned baritone singer and vocal coach, Charles W. Clark.
After returning to Chicago in early 1914, Esta married Charles Cook Barrett on Feb. 11. She offered music lessons out of a room in the Devoe Raynolds office building (14-16 W Lake Street), of which Charles was the company president. The advertisements for music lessons cease shortly after their marriage.
By the end of 1915, the couple began acquiring property for their country estate in Rockford.
