Theater In The 1930's

Throughout history, humanity has endured many hardships and struggles. One of the biggest obstacles in American history was the Great Depression in the 1930’s. The government stepped in to try and get America out if the Depression with programs like Works Progress Administration (WPA), Civil Works Administration (CWA), and Federal Emergency Relief Act (FERA). The truth was people were losing jobs, money, places to live, and even family. One of the areas of employment most affected by the Great Depression was the theatre. A program called the Federal Theatre Project began to help struggling theaters everywhere. Even after all the plays written, people employed/cast, and money put into the Federal Theatre Project, as a whole it was not a successful

In the 1930s, the world of theatre wanted to convey ideas freely with the concept of “Free, adult, uncensored theatre.” This offended many people and sparked controversy because the theater wanted to produce plays with local and social issues. In text 3, by Margaret Bing, it declares, “ Originally designed to offer ‘Free, adult, uncensored theatre’ the FTP was able to pump new life into dying theaters... but the goal of integrating theater into small cities... was never realized.” This means that in some areas (usually bigger cities) the idea worked but in smaller communities, there was just too much conflict. With the Depression, people barely had money and they certainly were not going to waste what they had on a controversial play about social issues. Also the government experienced displeasure in integration of social dilemmas because of the current situations of the Depression. In the end, it was a decent idea that needed time, resources, and money to work which was impossible being in the time period of the Great

However, visionary is nothing like reality due to the truth of what the FTP was transformed into. The program transpired originally to give thespians jobs and entertain/enlighten people’s day throughout the depression. Yet, the result who was debate on social and local issues, conflict with the government, and eventually the end of the program. In text 3, the author writes, “...barred future use of the WPA funds for theatre activities of any kind, bringing the Federal Theatre Project to an end virtually overnight, just four year after it was begun…” To break this down, there was so much dispute on the FTP that it dismantled only four years after the program’s start. Some parts really fulfilled their goals in the FTP like the 1,200 plays produced in the short history of the program. Nevertheless, the government was losing tons of funds on the FTP, so they cut the funds and the program