The Cradle Will Rock • A Milestone of the American Theater
Lecture by Robert Benedetti of New Mexico Actors Lab
Presented by Renesan
A production of the Federal Theatre Project, The Cradle Will Rock was to begin previews on Broadway June 16, 1937, with elaborate sets and a full orchestra, but it was shut down by the Works Progress Administration which feared that the pro-union plot was "too radical" and might jeopardize WPA funding in Congress. The theatre was padlocked and surrounded by Federal Marshals. 600 audience members gathered outside the theatre for the show were entertained by the cast, which included Will Geer and Howard DaSilva. Just in time, director Orson Welles, producer John Houseman, and composer Marc Blitzstein rented a vacant theatre and a piano. The audience traveled 21 blocks north to the Venice Theatre, many on foot, where the show's creators planned for Blitzstein to perform the entire musical at the piano. Just after beginning the first number, Blitzstein was joined by Olive Stanton, the actress playing Moll, from the audience. During the rest of the performance, various actors joined in with Blitzstein and performed the entire musical from the house. The event made headline news and the show was eventually produced in the same way and became the first production of the Mercury Theater.
This August, the New Mexico Actors Lab will recreate this famous opening night at the Swan Theater as part of its 2020 season. Director Robert Benedetti will provide the behind-the-scenes background of this ambitious undertaking.