The Federal Theatre Project: A Case Study

Paperback / softback

Main Details

Title The Federal Theatre Project: A Case Study
Authors and Contributors      By (author) Barry B. Witham
SeriesCambridge Studies in American Theatre and Drama
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback / softback
Pages:212
Dimensions(mm): Height 229,Width 152
Category/GenreDrama
ISBN/Barcode 9780521100120
ClassificationsDewey:792.0973 792.0973
Audience
General
Tertiary Education (US: College)
Illustrations 11 Halftones, unspecified

Publishing Details

Publisher Cambridge University Press
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publication Date 18 January 2009
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

Drawing upon archival resources, official correspondence and personal interviews, this 2003 book provides a detailed examination of the operations of the US Federal Theatre Project in the decade of the 1930s. From the colourful bus tours through the Civilian Conservation Corps camps to the turbulent productions of the Living Newspapers, this book recreates the often chaotic but frequently exhilarating story of Uncle Sam as producer. Special attention is given to the controversial Negro unit, the prize-winning production of See How They Run and the mass spectacles that attempted to incorporate Hallie Flanagan's vision of a truly national project rooted in local culture. The Federal Theatre Project: A Case Study illuminates both the ambitions of the programme and the day-to-day details of making art from a new mode - a subsidised national theatre.

Author Biography

Barry B. Witham is Professor at the School of Drama, University of Washington.

Reviews

'... inspiring study ... Whitham's passionate archaeology uncovers a breathless political ambition that American theatre still struggles to emulate.' Plays International