History Of The Federal Theatre Project

The federal theatre project started in 1935 after beginning of World War 1. This period experienced economic problems, which led to The Great Depression. This period is also known as the time in which media brought the world together. The Federal theatre was a branch of the “noncommercial America theater’’ led by Hallie Flanagan Davis. The Federal Theatre Project also established “The Living Newspaper”, trained people who took interest in writing, and collaborated news and drama. The Federal Theatre Project came to an end because the government stopped funding the project because they believed it promoted communism. The Federal Theatre project created job opportunities, served as an apparatus, used theatre to educate people, theatre became

People saw this apparatus as important and positive even though the political leaders had some issues with the projects they produced. The project still kept going and putting in work to make productions and shows throughout the year. The project created awareness by producing drama about issues like deportation, how the people of color where being treated, political issues that were going on during that period and this inspired the public. They did not avoid certain topics despite warnings about using the names of political leaders. They were still able to pass across their message without using the names of that got the audience thinking and motivated to make a change. One of the changes the federal theatre project made was creation of the “Negro theatre project”. This was a branch for African Americans that added diversity to the theatre industry. This branch was located in “4 geographical regions in America” (“American Negro Theatre 1940 - mid 1950's”). This project also created job opportunities for African Americans. This project gave African American directors like’’ Edward Perry, Carlton Moss, and H. F. V. Edward’’ the opportunity to direct plays. The project dramatized things that were going on concerning social issues like what people of color went through because of the color of the skin. For instance “Frank Wilson’s folk drama Walk Together, Children (1936)” (“Federal Theatre Project (Negro

Therefore, this led to restrictions of what the project could produce. This did not stop people from getting involved with the project, but it affected the funding of the project and slowed down its development the project. The project kept producing regardless of less funding. This meant they had to stop putting out productions about social issues going on around the world. This project made history and was the closest to the creation of national theatre in America. The fall of the federal theatre project was due to the motive of the project, which was misinterpreted. The government did not believe in spending tax money to pay performers and promote art. The closure of federal theatre made about “8,000 people lose their jobs” (Paula Becker