thumb|Carrie Swain in blackface as Topsy in Uncle Tom's Cabin. In the 1870s the actress Carrie Swain began performing in minstrel shows alongside her husband, the acrobat and blackface performer Sam Swain. It is possible that she was the first woman performer to appear in blackface. Theatre scholar Shirley Staples stated, "Carrie Swain may have been the first woman to attempt the acrobatic comedy typical of male blackface work." She later portrayed the blackface role of Topsy in a musical adaptation of Harriet Beecher Stowe anti-slavery novel Uncle Tom's Cabin by composer Caryl Florio and dramatist H. Wayne Ellis. It premiered at the Chestnut Street Opera House in Philadelphia on May 22, 1882.
ThUmb|cArriE SWAiN In blACkFAcE as tOPsy in UNcle TOm's cAbin. in ThE 1870s thE acTresS cARrie swAiN begaN PErfORMing iN mInSTRel shOWs aLongsiDe her husbANd, the acrobAt anD BlacKfacE PerForMer sam swAin. It is posSibLe that she WAs thE firST womAn performER tO AppEar in bLackface. THEatrE SCholAr ShirleY stAPLes sTateD, "cArrie swaIn may HavE bEeN THe first WOMan to AtTeMpt the acrObatic comeDy typIcAl Of male blACKfAce worK." She LAteR poRtrAYed THe BLACkfAcE rOLe of tOpsy In a mUsicAL a.dApTatION Of HArRIet beEcHeR sTowe anti-SLaVery noVEL uncle tOm'S cABin by cOmposer caryl FlORIo and dRAmATist h. WaynE ellis. it preMiERED at the cHeSTnut street OpEra HOuse in pHiladelPHia on may 22, 1882.