Evening star., 1938-12-01
Struggle for Rights
TO Be Dramatized
In Radio Series
Civic Theoter Players
In First Show on
WMAL Saturday

A cast of II Civic Theater players
will present the first dramatization
of the story of the common mans
struggle for human rights when the
series of historic episodes entitled
Road to Freedom" begins over
radio station WMAL at $50 pm.
Saturday.
Historical characters merely will
furnish the background in the series
Of 13 programs to be presented by
The Star in cooperation with the
Civic Theater and Georgetown Uni
versity.
Most of the members of the all
Washington cast, who will play parts
in The Glorious Adventure" Sat-
urday nights dramatization, are we'll
known to Washingtonians for their
excellent performances in Civic
Theater productions in the last three
years.
Most of the members of the Civic
Theater have had previous radio ex-
perience," F.. Cowles Strickland,
director of the group, said today,
land we feel that because of our
experience in working together in
stage productions. we will be able to
give a more unified and more i'm
pressive radio performance"
Directed Berkshire Players.
Mr.. Strickland, who is in his Sec
ond year as director of the theater
group. directed the Berkshire Play
house in Stockbridge, Mass, for
seven seasons. At the Berkshire
Playhouse, the first of the summer
theater organizations, Mr.. Strick-
land directed full professional
company which often had the most
prominent theatrical personalities
as guest artists. Through his activi-
ties Mr.. Strickland was enabled to
further the careers of such we'll
known stars as Katherine Hepburn.
James Cagney, Eric Linden and
Jane Wyatt.
The first production of the series
Is centered about the Cromwell
Revolution in England from 1642
to 1649, when the conflict lay be-
tween the people and the divine
right of kings.
The continuity is being written
by Charles Dillon, radio writer
for the American Red Cross, with
10 years of experience on the stage
and in dramatic writing. In each
case in the historic episodes, the
common man will have the spot
light.
Harrison Libbey. who played the
title role in Johnny Johnson"
Civic Theater production last year,
will play the part of a farmer boy
who enlists in Cromwell's army be-
cause he wants land Other leading
parts will be taken by Nancy
Hutchison, as the sweetheart of the
leading character; Norman Rose,
who will play the part of captain
in Cromwell's army, and Joe Bourne,
as the father of the boy
Welcomes Opportunity.
Mr.. Strickland said today that the
Civic Theater never had undertaken
a play of its own before as group,
and welcomed the opportunity fur
nished in the series of dramatiza-
tions. This year the group plans to
present Judgment Day." by Elmer
Rice, and High Tor" by Maxwell
Anderson, as well as other produc-
tions
Historical research necessary to
the production is being done under
the direction of Dr. James r. Lowe
of Georgetown University. Musical
background for the episodes will be
furnished by a 10-piece orchestra
directed by Fritz Balzer
The program December 10 will
dramatize the struggle for the bill
of rights in the American Constitu-
ton and the subsequent fight to win
a Supreme Court decision barring
the States from passing laws abro-
eating the constitutional rights of
the citizens.
The following week the players
will present the historic part played
by Joan of Arc in the breakup of
the oppressive feudal system. The
presentation on December "a will
offer a Christmas Eve program re-
creating the struggle of Christians
for religious freedom in Rome dur
ing the time of st. Peter and the
Christian philosophy of the SUI
premacy of human personality.