Fuse Theatre Ensemble Hosts It Can't Happen Here

Fuse joins theaters across the country to read It Can't Happen Here, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Federal Theatre Project's historical production of Sinclair Lewis' and John C. Moffitt's powerful drama.

Readings in theaters, art centers and living rooms - in Chicago, Los Angeles, Hollywood, New York, Louisville, Cleveland, Syracuse, and many other cities - will follow the spirit of the original production, which opened in 22 theaters in 18 US cities on October 27, 1936, instigating our regional theatre system, and was seen by more than 316,000 people.

"No one agreed on the play," Hallie Flanagan told an audience some months later, "but everyone had to see it. It was called good, bad, savage, mild, American, un-American, Fascist, communist, too far left, too far right, a work of genius, a work of the devil,"(Furious Improvisation by Susan Quinn.)

The play envisions a fictional America where a powerful President becomes a dictator, abolishing labor unions, free speech, and a free press. His sinister allies, known only as "the Corpos," recruit unemployed and dissatisfied young people and intimidate anyone who opposes their agenda.

Directed by newest Fuse Ensemble member Brian Allard, this reading features a cast from the ensemble and Portland heavies like Harold Phillips and James Lawrence. Admission is free, but donations are accepted, including special donations towards Occupy Portland will also be accepted.

The 2011 national reading project was initiated by Darryl Henriques, formerly of the San Francisco Mime Troupe, and is co-sponsored by the SFMT and Dell'Arte International. Henriques hopes to call attention to an important piece of American history and to alert today?s audiences to The Federal Theater Project, which employed theater workers, circus performers, cabaret and vaudeville acts a part of the WPA.

In our short 3 year existence, Fuse collaborated with The Museum of Contemporary Craft and nationally known craft artists, worked on the Drammy award winning Lieutenant of Innishmore, received a grant from the Regional Arts and Culture Council, were invited to perform in Seattle at the nationally renown Bumbershoot Festival with our inaugural production Craft/Craeft/Kraft, collaborated with NYC director Jocelyn Sawyer, have created 5 original works, organized the Gay Pride Reading Series, Portland Mini Fringe Festival and soon the Portland Fringe Festival.

Fuse Theatre Ensemble Dares:

Our audiences to exit their comfort zones
Our peers to collaborate before competing
Our community to manage our resources sustainably

Shift the Paradigm.

Fuse Theatre Ensemble is a 501c3 public benefit organization

performing on the Arena Stage @ Theater! Theatre!
3430 SE Belmont, Portland Oregon

www.fusepdx.com | 503.235.FUSE (3873) | info@fusepdx.com

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