Federal Theatre Project

The Federal Theatre Project was a New Deal program, organized under the Works Progress Administration, which organized and funded the production of stage plays during the years of the Great Depression.

Producing plays provided employment to individuals, who earned a standard wage of $23.86 per week. It also helped restore revenues to otherwise vacant playhouses, and to entertain the public. The proceeds from tickets sold were directed to other relief and educational programs.

Productions

White unit

• "Home in Glory" (April 1936) at Municipal Auditorium
• "After Dark" (May 1936) at Jefferson Theatre
• "Chalk Dust" (June 1936) at Jefferson Theatre
• "Great Day" (October 1936)

Colored unit

• "Swamp Mud" (July 1936) at Industrial High School
• "Accident Policy" (July–August 1936)

References

• Flanagan, Hallie (1940) Arena: The History of the Federal Theatre. Duell, Sloan & Pearce
• Poole, John R. (2001) "Making a Tree from Thirst: Acquiescence and Defiance in the Federal Theatre Project in Birmingham, Alabama". Theatre History Studies No. 21, pp. 27–42
• Wright, A. J. (September 9, 2020) "The Federal Theatre Project in Alabama" Alabama Yesterdays

External links

• "Accident Policy" playbill at the Library of Congress