“ One Third of a Nation ” and the Federal Theater
Project: Staging History in the Classroom presented by EY Zipris, Museum of the City of New York

In 1938 the Federal Theater Project presented the original Living Newspaper play One Third
of a Nation.
Staged during the Great Depression, the production took its title from Franklin Delano
Roosevelt ’ s second inaugural address and its subject from New York City ’ s housing crisis.
Participants will analyze sources to discover how the thoroughly researched plays both educated and entertained while focusing on political, social, and economic concerns of the
1930s.

1. Introduction to the Federal Theater
Project
1.
“ …One Third of a Nation… ” script review
1. Document analysis
1. Living Newspaper script write
1. Performances!

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• Most famous and largest:
WPA, 1935- 1943
“I pledge you, I pledge myself to a new deal for the
American people... This is more than a political campaign.
It is a call to arms.
” FDR,
1932 • Provide relief for the unemployed
• Construction and improvement of public buildings, highways and parks
• Provide work for unemployed artists in four categories: music, art, theater, and writing
• Artistic endeavors: murals, public structures, and documentary photography

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• August 27, 1935 – June
30, 1939
• Over six million dollars set aside based on how many in the theater industry were thought to be unemployed.
• Hallie Flannigan became director in 1935.
Consistently accused of communist and socialist agendas, especially through the political slant of Living
Newspaper plays.
• Famous artists: Arthur
Miller, Orson Welles,
Elia Kazan, Arthur Arent.
“ …they seek to dramatize a new struggle – the search of the average American today for
knowledge about his country and his world; to dramatize his struggle to turn the great natural and economic forces of our time toward a better
life for more people. ”
Hallie Flanagan Director, Federal Theater Project,
1935- 1939
“ The Living Newspaper is a dramatization of a
problem – composed in greater or lesser extent of many news events… the effect of these news events on the people to whom the problem is
of great importance.
”
Arthur Arent, One Third of a Nation.

http://newdeal.feri.org/images/d46a.gif

… Mr. Eagle and Mr. Robbins originated a series of pictures showing present conditions in the Chelsea and East Side slum districts. The value of this work can further be gauged by the use being made of these photographs to build the movie sets for the film version of “ one third of a nation ” now in the process of production.
”
From: photonotes, October 1938

• Choose one of the four documents to read
• Silently read your article or document
• Review your document again highlighting a
provocative or informative sentence
• In small groups, discuss your documents noting a common theme
• Share the sentences you underlined and piece them together in a one minute script supporting your theme
• Perform!

• Write legibly – you aren’t the only one reading the script.
• Decide who will stand where.
• Practice once even if its just running through the lines.
• Decide if you will adlib or if you will stick to the script.
• Indulge your inner Angie.
• Go big.