The Cradle Will Rock

:For the 1999 film about the musical, see Cradle Will Rock.

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The 1937 musical The Cradle Will Rock by Marc Blitzstein was originally a part of the Federal Theatre Project. It was directed by Orson Welles, and produced by John Houseman.

Related Topics:
1937 - Musical - Marc Blitzstein - Federal Theatre Project - Orson Welles - John Houseman

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The musical is a Brechtian allegory of corruption and corporate greed. Set in "Steeltown, USA", it follows the efforts of Larry Foreman to unionize and combat wicked businessman Mr. Mister. Blitzstein portrays a whole panoply of societal figures: Mr. Mister's vicious, outwardly genteel philanthropic wife, sell-out artists, poor shopkeeps, immigrant families, a faithless priest, and an endearing prostitute named Moll. The piece is almost entirely sung-through, giving it many operatic qualities, although Blitzstein (as he often did, even in his full-blown operas) included popular song styles of the time.

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Originally set to open at the Maxine Elliott Theatre with elaborate sets and a full orchestra, the production was shut down due to "budget cuts" within the Federal Theatre Project?though it was widely believed that this was instead due to censorship on the part of the government. On the spur of the moment, Welles, Housman, and Blitzstein rented the Venice Theatre and a piano, and planned for Blitzstein to sing/play/read the entire musical to the sold out house. Just after beginning the first number, Blitzstein realized that he was being joined by the actor playing Moll?who joined in from the audience, since she was forbidden by the Actor's Union to perform the piece "onstage". During the rest of the performance various actors joined in with Blitzstein and performed the entire musical from the house. Many who attended the performance, including poet laureate Archibald MacLeish, thought it to be one of the most moving theatrical experiences of their life. Performances to this day rarely use elaborate sets or an orchestra, instead preferring a spare set and single piano in homage to this event.

Related Topics:
Censorship - Poet laureate - Archibald MacLeish

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The success of the production led Welles and Houseman to form the Mercury Theatre.

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The Cradle Will Rock was performed shortly after its initial New York production by students at Harvard, with a young Leonard Bernstein at the piano. It was revived on Broadway in 1964 and Off-Broadway in 1983.

Related Topics:
Harvard - Leonard Bernstein - Broadway - 1964 - Off-Broadway

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