thu 13 oct 2016
American Highways on Friday 14 October 18:00 CET features composer Marc Blitzstein. He has been all but forgotten, but in the 1930s he was famous for his political musical, The Cradle Will Rock. Composed by Blitzstein, Directed by Orson Wells, Produced by John Houseman…and banned by the Federal Government.
The show, when it opened, in a borrowed theater, without sets or costumes, and with the actors performing from seats in the audience, was an instant hit. It became the defining moment of Blitzstein’s career, and one of the compositions for which he will most be remembered. Although the work could not have been more political, he said, “I’m not writing music-plays of social significance…
