Theatre (1936–1938) Orson Welles

federal theatre project

part of works progress administration, federal theatre project (1935–39) new deal program fund theatre , other live artistic performances , entertainment programs in united states during great depression. created relief measure employ artists, writers, directors , theater workers. under national director hallie flanagan shaped true national theatre created relevant art, encouraged experimentation , innovation, , made possible millions of americans see live theatre first time.

john houseman, director of negro theatre unit in new york, invited welles join federal theatre project in 1935. far unemployed — employed forgot how sleep — welles put large share of $1,500-a-week radio earnings stage productions, bypassing administrative red tape , mounting projects more , professionally. roosevelt once said operator in history ever illegally siphoned money washington project, welles said.

the federal theatre project ideal environment in welles develop art. purpose employment, able hire number of artists, craftsmen , technicians, , filled stage performers. company first production, adaptation of william shakespeare s macbeth entirely african-american cast, numbered 150. production became known voodoo macbeth because welles changed setting mythical island suggesting haitian court of king henri christophe, haitian vodou fulfilling rôle of scottish witchcraft. play opened april 14, 1936, @ lafayette theatre in harlem , received rapturously. @ 20, welles hailed prodigy. production made 4,000-mile national tour included 2 weeks @ texas centennial exposition in dallas.

next mounted farce horse eats hat, adaptation welles , edwin denby of italian straw hat, 1851 five-act farce eugène marin labiche , marc-michel. play presented september 26 – december 5, 1936, @ maxine elliott s theatre, new york, , featured joseph cotten in first starring role. followed adaptation of dr. faustus used light prime unifying scenic element in black stage, presented january 8 – may 9, 1937, @ maxine elliott s theatre.

outside scope of federal theatre project, american composer aaron copland chose welles direct second hurricane (1937), operetta libretto edwin denby. presented @ henry street settlement music school in new york benefit of high school students, production opened april 21, 1937, , ran scheduled 3 performances.

in 1937, welles rehearsed marc blitzstein s political operetta, cradle rock. scheduled open june 16, 1937, in first public preview. because of severe federal cutbacks in works progress projects, show s premiere @ maxine elliott theatre canceled. theater locked , guarded prevent government-purchased materials being used commercial production of work. in last-minute move, welles announced waiting ticket-holders show being transferred venice, 20 blocks away. cast, , crew , audience, walked distance on foot. union musicians refused perform in commercial theater lower non-union government wages. actors union stated production belonged federal theater project , not performed outside context without permission. lacking participation of union members, cradle rock began blitzstein introducing show , playing piano accompaniment on stage cast members performing audience. impromptu performance received audience.

mercury theatre

breaking federal theatre project in 1937, welles , houseman founded own repertory company, called mercury theatre. name inspired title of iconoclastic magazine, american mercury. welles executive producer, , original company included such actors joseph cotten, george coulouris, geraldine fitzgerald, arlene francis, martin gabel, john hoyt, norman lloyd, vincent price, stefan schnabel , hiram sherman.

think greatest directorial talent ve ever had in [american] theater, lloyd said of welles in 2014 interview. when saw welles production, saw text had been affected, staging remarkable, sets unusual, music, sound, lighting, totality of everything. had not had such man in our theater. first , remains greatest.

the mercury theatre opened november 11, 1937, caesar, welles s modern-dress adaptation of shakespeare s tragedy julius caesar — streamlined anti-fascist tour de force joseph cotten later described vigorous, contemporary set broadway on ear. set open no curtain, , brick stage wall painted dark red. scene changes achieved lighting alone. on stage series of risers; squares cut 1 @ intervals , lights set beneath it, pointing straight evoke cathedral of light @ nuremberg rallies. staged political melodrama happened night before, said lloyd.

beginning january 1, 1938, caesar performed in repertory shoemaker s holiday; both productions moved larger national theatre. followed heartbreak house (april 29, 1938) , danton s death (november 5, 1938). being presented in pared-down oratorio version @ mercury theatre on sunday nights in december 1937, cradle rock @ windsor theatre 13 weeks (january 4–april 2, 1938). such success of mercury theatre welles appeared on cover of time magazine, in full makeup captain shotover in heartbreak house, in issue dated may 9, 1938—three days after 23rd birthday.