Chapter 7: American Theatre and Drama between the Wars (1917-1940)

Rachel Crothers

Dec 12, 1876

Rachel Crothers was a female playwright and theatre director known for her well-crafted plays such as "He and She", "When Ladies Meet", and "Susan and God". Among theatre historians, she is generally recognized as "the most prolific woman dramatist writing in the first part of the twentieth century."

Clifford Odets

Jul 18, 1906

Clifford Odets was an American playwright, screenwriter, and director. He was the last actor chosen for the Group Theatre’s summer rehearsals in June 1931. He was the director and writer for “None but the Lonely Heart” (1944) and “The Story on Page One” (1959). He wrote many plays such as “Humoresque” (1946), “Deadline at Dawn” (1946), and “Wild in the Country” (1961). There were also plays that he wrote and acted in—“The General Died at Dawn” (1936) and “Sweet Smell of Success” (1957).

The Stage Woman's War Relief (1918-1938)

1918

"The Stage Women’s War" relief was formed by women theatre volunteers & suffragists at the beginning of World War I. The organization created various forms of entertainment for troops. They assisted with clothing and hospital supplies. They even created a restaurant for military called the “Stage Door Canteen” in 1918 in NYC. Their logo was a woman on stage, letting her red fur drop wayside and revealing her white volunteer ensemble. You can even see comedy and tragedy masks at the top.

American Laboratory Theatre

1923

The American Laboratory Theatre was founded in 1923 by Richard Boleslavsky and Maria Ouspenskaya. It was located in New York City and closed down in 1933. While the theatre was open, almost 500 students were taught there. The school gave theatrical productions from 1925-1930 and aimed for high-brow audiences. Not only did they teach actors, but directors were also trained here.

Group Theatre

1931

The Group Theatre was founded in 1931 by Harold Clurman, Cheryl Crawford, and Lee Strasberg. This group comprised actors, directors, playwrights, and producers. Their goal was to be the kind of theatre they all believed strongly in— forceful, naturalistic, and highly disciplined artistry. The most successful production put out by this theatre was “Golden Boy.” The theatre was located in New York City and it stopped production in 1941.

"When Ladies Meet"

1932

“When Ladies Meet” is a film that was directed by Harry Beaumont and Robert Leonard and produced by Lawerence Weingarten. The film is the first adaptation of the 1932 play by Rachel Crothers that had the same name. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Art Direction by Cedric Gibbons. The film was also remade under the same name in 1941.

The Federal Theatre Project

1935

The Federal Theatre Project was a program that was founded as part of Roosevelt’s New Deal during the Great Depression to give funds to live artistic performances and entertainment programs within the United States. The director of this project was Hallie Flanagan. This project made it possible for many Americans to see live theatre for the first time.

Works Progress Administration

May 6, 1935

Federal Project Number One of the Works Progress Administration gave jobs to musicians, artists, writers, actors, and directors in large arts, drama, media, and literacy. There were five total projects that were dedicated to these and they are the Federal Writers’ Project, the Historical Records Survey, the Federal Theatre Project, the Federal Music Project, and the Federal Art Project. The Works Progress Administration dissolved on June 30 of 1943.

"Triple-A Plowed Under"

Mar 14, 1936

“Triple-A Plowed Under” is a play from the Living Newspaper that was produced by the Federal Theatre Project in 1936. It was written by Arthur Arent and directed by Joseph Losey. The play focused on the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1933 and the difficult situations the farmers were facing during the dust bowl. The play premiered on March 14, 1936, at the Biltmore Theatre and ran until May 2, 1936.

"Our Town"

Jan 22, 1938

“Our Town” was a three-act play that was written by Thornton Wider. This play is about an imaginary town in America called “Grover’s Corners” and takes place between the years of 1901-1913. It talks about the lives of the people that live in this town. The first performance of “Our Town” was at McCarter Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey in 1938. It would later premier on Broadway and receive the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.