The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-02-11
NY. Labor
Goes to the
Theatre
By WALT CARMON.

workers would go to distinctly labor
theatre.
They do in Russia. Every night
the theatres Of Moscow are packed to
the doors with workers. Perform
ances of new plays are fiat presented
to members Of trade unions, and at
all performances, special low rates are
made for trade union members and
workers in the factories. These
workers want something new. Some
thing closer TO their own lives. A new
viewpoint, new presentation-a new
theatre. In Germany, also, the work.
ers' theatre is no longer an expert
ment.
But the labor movement is COM
paratively small in the United States.
1t is unjust to expect Of 1t the devei-
opment of labor theatres as they ex-
list in Russia or in Germany. The
American labor movement still lacks
more important things than a labor
theatre. Yet in New York, a group of
talented and courageous people are
striving to establish distinctly labor
theatre, convinced that it could be
done even now. They believe that
workers will come to see their plays;
that stage presenting the workers.
viewpoint would secure workingclass
support-even in the face of competi-
ton from Broadway and the movies.
The New Playwrights have written
their own plays, brought new orig
inal presentation to their stage, and
made their appeal to the workers Of
New York. They made special In
ducements to labor groups to bring
them to Cheir performances. Did they
come to the theatre? Three plays
have been presented for month each.
The fourth is now ready. The facts
are in this interesting list I have be-
fore me.
Only the Teachers Union and the
Joint Board of the Furriers and
Cloakmakers reserved the theatre for
special performances of "The Belt"
the first play. Individual workers
came to the theatre, many Of them.
they came, they saw and they talked
about it. 1t was, they said, little
'arty." But labor is a generous cri-
tic. They sensed in this play Of the
Ford factories the feel of life that
was their own. They liked it
When "The Centuries" was pre-
sented, the Window Cleaners Union,
the Colorado Miners Relief, Working
Glass Housewives and other labor or
CARNATIONS came in body. Before the
third play, "The International" COM
ple.ed it's arranged run Of four weeks.
the three plays were reserved for spe-
cial performances of 81 different
trade unions, fraternal and political
organizations of labor. Miners Re-
lief, Brookwood College, Plumbers
Helpers, DAILY WORKER, week
ly People," League For Mutual Aid
all sections of labor found the stage
of the New Playwrights sincere and
worthwhile. They criticized plenty,
they debated more, but they came in
increasing numbers.
And now fourth play about to
ken Blues" begins on February II.
Following plays of the Ford factory,
Jewish life on the East Side of New
York, and The broader theme of the
international struggle for oil, the
Negro worker comes to the stage of
the New Playwrights. This is SUBJ
ject matter for workers theatre.
Let's look again az this list. At
each of the first three plays present.
ed, increasingly more labor organize
tons came. Today, several days be-
fore the presentation of "Hoboken
Blues" also to be presented for only
four weeks, Is nights have already
been reserved for labor organizations.
they still come: the In ernational
Seaman's Club, the Workers School,
Lower Bronx Labor Center, Jewish
Workers University. Some organi-
cations are coming for the second
time.
Here's sunshine in the gloom Of all
the worries of the New Playwrights.
Labor organizations are coming back
for more. Every night they are not
turning crowds away from the doors.
Not yet. But the directors are laok-
ing at the list of "sold out" nights for
"Hoboken Blues" and they are already
ge ting busy on the play that is to
follow. They look at the list again
and they are even laying plans for
next season.
Will workers come to their theatre
instead of the propaganda and hokum-
filled stage of Broadway? The New
Playwrights were not sure of this
themselves only a short while ago.
You may recall some Of their COM
plants in The DAILY WORKER.
Just now they are busy rehearsing
"Hoboken Blues" They are singing.
acting and painting scenery.
mn mn mr.