Metropolitan Playhouse Presents the First Revival of WPA Play POWER by Arthur Arent

Metropolitan Playhouse, the East Village company committed to exploring contemporary America through its theatrical past, presents the first New York revival of Power by Arthur Arent, a "Living Newspaper" developed through the WPA's Federal Theater Project. First presented at the Ritz Theater (now the Walter Kerr) in 1937, Power will be revived in Metropolitan's home theater at 220 E 4th Street) March 14th through April 12th, 2009.

Billed at the time as "A Thrilling Dramatization of Modern Industry" Power takes up a critical issue of the ‘30's: whether electrical power was a commodity or a public good. Echoed in today's debates over health care and credit reform, the power struggle over the power industry raged before Congress, in municipal courts, under inquiry by the FTC, and through extensive PR campaigns. Power's 21 scenes are illustrative vignettes more than psychological studies, and complemented by visual projections and voiceovers. The play makes drama of a political struggle, articulating Byzantine corporate structures, statistical profiles, as well as actual contemporary events, such as a Newark, NJ, power failure affecting 1 million people and the battle to create the Tennessee Valley Authority. On its debut in New York, WPA director Harry Hopkins said to the cast: "People will say it's propaganda. Well, I say what of it? ....The big power companies have spent millions on propaganda for the utilities. It's about time that the consumer had a mouthpiece."

Metropolitan's revival presents the sprawling play of 150 characters with nine performers taking on multiple roles. The production is directed by Mark Harborth, who directed last season's collection of Eugene O'Neill one-acts The Pioneer ("instructive and invaluable, but more than that it's extremely entertaining"-Martin Denton for nytheatre.com.) Mr. Harborth's 30 year professional career includes New York productions of Chess, Angels in America, Noises Off, Jesus Christ Superstar, Sweeney Todd, Pirates of Penzance, Animal Fair, Bent, and The Big Funk. Regionally, he has directed Hello Dolly, High Spirits, Chicago, Forever Plaid, Gypsy, Vanities, Beguiled Again, The Fantasticks, Children of a Lesser God, and Nunsense 3 among many others.

Power was created by the WPA's Federal Theater Project through the Living Newspaper Unit, established in 1935. While many of the Living Newspapers were written collaboratively, Power was penned by lead playwright Arthur Arent, based on months of research by 25 researchers, many of them unemployed journalists. FTP plays gave work of current cultural significance to thousands of theater artists and technicians during the Depression. From its inception, however, the FTP was dogged from the Right by New Deal opponents who objected to government funding for the arts at all, and from the Left by New Deal supporters who wished to rein in more radical productions that gave ammunition to conservative critics. In 1938, the program was even targeted by the Special Committee to Investigate Un-American Activities. Congress pulled funding for the controversial program in June 1939, but not before it had succeeded in creating distinctive new works of theater that reflected concerns and ideals of the time.

Metropolitan Playhouse explores America's theatrical heritage through forgotten plays of the past and new plays of American historical and cultural moment. Metropolitan has earned accolades from The New York Times, The Village Voice, Backstage, and nytheatre.com for its ongoing mission to produce theater that illuminates who we are by revealing where we have come from. Recent productions include Nowadays, Year One of the Empire, The Pioneer: 5 plays by Eugene O'Neill, Denial and The Melting Pot, as well as the Alphabet City and East Village Chronicles series and this year's Melvillapalooza.

Power begins five previews on Saturday, March 14, and opens Saturday, March 21 to run through Sunday, April 12. Show times are Thursdays through Saturdays at 8pm; Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm; plus Wednesdays (4/1 and 4/8) at 8:00 pm. There will be a special, Pay-What-You-Will performance on Monday, March 16 at 7:30 pm.

Tickets are $20 for general admission, $15 for students, seniors and Preview general admissions, and $10 for Children under 18. To purchase tickets, call TheaterMania at 212-352-3101 or visit www.metropolitanplayhouse.org to buy online.

 

 

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