She soon developed a keen interest in the theatre that was nourished by her mother when, at the age of ten, she began receiving elocution instructions from the American-born British actress, Geneviève Ward.

[1][3] Luby was back in New York by 1900 where she made her professional stage debut at the Garden Theatre as a stand-in for actress May Buckley in Hearts Are Trumps that year during its February to May run.

In late 1902 Luby was well received at the Madison Square Theatre, New York after she succeeded Jessie Busley in the rôle of Estelle in The Two Schools.

[4] In December 1903 Luby played Greta opposite Fritzi Scheff in Babette at the Broadway Theatre,[5] and a subsequent road tour.

[1][3][7] During this time Luby often appeared in vaudeville at venues operated by Tony Pastor, Keith and Proctor and Percy G. Williams, performing her imitations of popular celebrities.