Evening star., 1935-07-07
NATIONAL THEATER
.SET-UP IS PUSHED
Patrons Meet in New York
Soon to Perfect
ORGANIZATION.

~ SSssp-
Firm in their belief thas "the plays
the thing" a group Of philantnropist
patrons of the theater will meet In
New York within the next few weeks
to take their first actual steps in
formation of the American National
Theater and Academy. Incorporation
of the organization was authorized by
an act of Congress signed Friday by
President Roosevelt.
Fundamentally, the objective OF
this new Step-child of the Federal
Government is educational, its in
tention being to form one or more
companies of competent actors, send
them on the road with worthwhile
plays and thus stimulate, 1t Is hoped,
an interest in the drama which has
Jagged so much during recent years.
In more detail, the purpose of the
organization is set forth in the fol-
lowing clauses of the Wagner-Mc-
Laughlin authorizing bill:
(a) The presentation of theatrical
productions OF the highest type.
(b) The stimulation of public in
terest in the drama as an art belong
ing both to the theater and to ntera-
ture and thereby to be enjoyed both
on the stage and in the study.
(c) The advancement OF interest
in the drama throughout the United
States by furthering the production
Of the best plays, interpreted by the
best actors at minimum cost.
Cd The further development OF
the study of drama of the present
and past in universities. colleges,
schools and elsewhere.
(e) The sponsoring, encouraging
and developing of the art and tech
nique of the theater through school
within the National Academy.
No Subsidy Provided.
No subsidy is provided for the or
ganization in its Incorporating act and
its proponents insist none Will be
asked. Initial costs of getting the
project under way will be borne by
patrons of the theater. some so OF
whom are incorporators. After its
launching, however. it is hoped that
the project will be self-supporting. tht
specifications being made in its in
corporation that it will be non-profit
making.
AS a start toward the objectives Of
the founders, 1t was indicated last
night that the first action will be
organization meetings of the sponsors
and a pledging of funds. Local COM
mittees will be formed in cities
throughout the country. with centra,
management Of the movement being
vested In a board Of Is members
headquarters of which probably will
| be in New York. This group will un-
dertake the selection Of plays, produc'
ton and bookings.
In this connection. Frank Gilmore
president of Actors Equity Associ-
| alton, was quoted last night as saying
the board may revive some of the
popular shows Of the past, produce
some of the current Broadway hits OF
| choose new plays"
With the blessing Of Federal char
ter. it is the hope of sponsors of the
movement that little difficulty will be
experienced in gaining the support OF
| local groups. No theaters are to bt
built by the academy group, the pro-
ductions to be staged in quarters al
ready existing in plentiful numbers
throughout the country.
| The mechanics were thus explained
by j. Howard Reber, author of the
charter. before a subcommittee of the
House Judiciary Committee:
I'VE are not having theater guild
We have an entirely different con-
ception. The first step is tc
get q nucleus of a company of the
very finest actors and produce one
of the very best plays obtainable II
as fine a form of production as con-
ceivably can be gotten together
| and to send that production to Wash
ington, to Chicago, to Pittsburgh ane
| elsewhere, and to do that under the
financial responsibility of the people
that are putting up the money te
carry on this project. Today tht
theater is almost nil in almost every
town under 100000 inhabitants ir
the United States where
city is not sufficiently large in oul
Judgment to support the production
we will send it there and we will ash
that city to have committee spon'
sor this production and guarantee
cost to a certain extent. Attendance
will be at popular prices"
| CIimaxes Campaign.
Approval of this movement for
national theater climaxed a cam
paign started by some of its sponsors
more than two years ago. At thai
time they conferred with President
and Mrs. Roosevelt at Hyde Park. 4
list of proposed incorporators. in
Guiding Mrs. Larz Anderson, Mis-:
Mabel Boardman, Mrs. Charles Ham
lin and William Green, all of Wash
ington, was drawn up.
The next step was to interest Sen
ator Wagner, New York Democrat, in
the proposition, and under his lead
ership the incorporation was ap'
proved by the Senate. In the House
Representative Mclaughlin. Demo
crat, of Nebraska, performed simi-
lar service after holding hearings or
the proposal.
Among those testifying at that time