Staging the People : Community and Identity in the Federal Theatre Project

The Federal Theatre Project, a New Deal plan to fund theatre and other live artistic performances during the Great Depression, had the primary goal of employing out-of-work artists, writers, and directors, with the secondary aim of entertaining poor families and creating relevant art. These case studies explore the ties between the Federal Theatre Project and regional communities throughout the United States. "The Federal Theatre Project stands alone as the only national theatre in the history of the United States. This study re-imagines this vital moment in American history, considering the Federal Theatre Project on its own terms - as a "federation of theatres" designed to stimulate new audiences and create locally-relevant theatre during the turbulent 1930s. It integrates a wealth of previously undiscovered archival materials with cultural history, delving into regional activities in Chicago, Boston, Portland, Atlanta, and Birmingham, as well as tours of refugee camps and Civilian Conservation Corps Divisions. For a brief, exhilarating moment, the Federal Theatre Project created a democratic theatre that staged the American people"-- Provided by publisher. Front Matter....Pages i-xv Introduction: The “People’s Theatre”: Creating an Audience of Millions....Pages 1-14 Danger, Disease, and Despotism: Balancing on the Tightrope of Chicago....Pages 15-48 Demythologizing America: Past and Present Collide in Boston....Pages 49-84 “The Great American Theatrical Desert”: Federal Theatre in the South....Pages 85-119 The Fading Frontier: Excavating the Portland Federal Theatre Project....Pages 121-149 Theatre “In the Wilderness”: The Federal Theatre Project Tours America....Pages 151-180 Epilogue: An American Audience for the “People’s Theatre”....Pages 181-188 Back Matter....Pages 189-240