( S . u) V\l^\ ^ ^ S WORKS PROGRESS AIM INISTRATI ON 1754 New York Avenue, N. W. Washington, P. C. 7096 INSTRUCTIONS PENERAL THEATRE PROJECTS HALL IE PLANAC-AN DIPECTCR OCTOBER 1355 7096 INSTRUCTIONS FOR FEDERAL THEATRE PROJECTS INDEX PART I PART II TYPES OF PROJECTS 1 (1) Theatre Companies as a Separate Department of an Existing Non-Profit Theatre Organization ... 1 (2) Independent Theatre Companies . 2 (3) Marionette Theatres 2 (4) Children's Theatres . 2 (5) Vaudeville, Variety and Circus Projects 3 (6) Theatre Companies in the CCC Camps 3 (7) Teaching of Theatre Techniques 3 (8) Research and Publication 4 (9) Other Theatre Projects 4 PART III ORGANIZATION. 4 (1) Theatre Regions and Regional Directors of Federal Theatre Projects 4 (2) Cooperating Sponsor 5 (3) Approval of Projects 6 (4) Analysis of Qualifications of Theatre Workers and of Theatre Projects Desirable in the Community 6 (5) Classification of Theatre 'Workers 8 PART IV LABOR, SUPERINTENDENCE, AND OTHER THAN LABOR COSTS 10 (1) Labor and Superintendence 10 (2) Other than Labor Costs 10 PART V SPECIMENS OF FORMS 11 (1) Federal Theatre Project Vocational Study Forms . 11-15 (2) Supplementary Technical Information for Federal Theatre Projects 16-17 (3) Professional History Form for Nominees for Directorial or Superintendence Positions in Federal Theatre Projects 18 ?fUS INSTRUCTIONS FOR FEDERAL THEATRE PROJECTS of the WORKS PROGRESS AK1 LUSTRATION October 2-1, 1035 (These instructions are to be used in connection with SUPPLEMENT No. 1, to BULLETIN #29 - W.P.A. SPONSORED FEDERAL PROJECT #1. ART, MUSIC, THEATRE AND WRITING.) PART I PURPOSE: The primary aim of the Federal Theatre Project is the reemployment of theatre workers now on public relief rolls; actors, directors, playwrights, designers, vaudeville artists, stage technicians, and other workers in the theatre field. The far reaching purpose is the establishment of theatres so vital to community life that they will continue to function after the program of this Federal Project is completed. PART II TYPES OF PROJECTS: 1. Theatre Companies - as a separate department of an existing non-profit theatre organization. Already existing public theatres or non-profit private theatres of proven excellence, wherever possible, will be selected as the centers about which certain Federal Thea.tre projects will be developed. It is suggested that such theatres cooperate in tne forming of separate, supplementary, pro¬ ducing ur.its composed of from twenty to one hundred or more theatre workers from relief lists. Certain theatres in universities, towns, or cities have already developed a dramatic expression for their individual regions; such theatres may properly cooperate with Federal Theatre units to test plays of native playwrights, to give a classical repertory, or otherwise to supplement their existing production program. It is assumed that such supplementary theatre units will use the stage and technical plant of the fostering theatre organ¬ ization, except in certain cases in which additional facilities may be required to house properly the expanded program. 7096 - 2 - 2. Independent Theatre Companies. Where no such regional thea.tre is present, or is practicable as a center, new, independent theatre companies may be formed under the Federal Theatre Project; in which case, such a theatre company should have a definite production program which has the possibility of becoming integrated with commun¬ ity life. It is advisable that this theatre organization be equipped with its own technical work shops. 3. Marionette Theatres. Marionette theatres of adult actors may be organized either as in¬ dependent producing units or as supplementary units to operate in connection with another unit of the Federal Theatre Projects. In addition to giving other public performances, marionette theatres will develop special, free programs for public organizations such as schools, hospitals, and similar public institutions. The production of new dramatic material dealing with local history or folk drama should be encouraged. A work shop with complete facilities for build¬ ing a production and for rehearsing should be incorporated in the project when needed. 4. Children's Theatres. Children's theatres, with adult actors, may be organized as independent producing units or as supplementary units to operate in connection with another unit of the Federal Theatre Project. Plays and presentations for children should not cling to the often sen¬ timental production in children's theatres of the past. Rather, their subject matter .and presentations should be as simple, eloquent, and imaginative as the terms in which the modern child reacts to the world around him. Wherever possible, members of a children's theatre unit should write their own plays, drawing on history and folk lore of the past, legends and stories of the locality, and modern invention and discovery in which the child is interested. -3- 7096 5. Vaudeville, Variety and Circus Projects• Vaudeville, variety, and circus units may be organized as individual theatre companies, each as a separate unit, or one or more as joint units, or a combination of any number of these elements may be proposed as a separate, sup¬ plementary unit to operate in connection with an existing non-profit theatre organization. In cooperation with the Federal Music Project, public programs of special vaudeville or variety acts in connection with dance bands or jazz orchestras are to be encouraged. Such programs may be given in municipal auditoriums, schools, parks, State Armories, or other public buildings. 6. Theatre Companies in the CCC camps. It is expected that the present plan, now in operation in certain corps areas, of sending small theatre companies to perform at CCC camps will be expanded to include such camps in other parts of the country as yet without such programs. The programs in these camps should be rich in entertainment, vivid in presentation, and provocative of thought. 7. Teaching of Theatre Techniques. The teaching of theatre techniques (including one or more of the follow¬ ing: direction, acting, playwriting, stage management, design, lighting, costum¬ ing, and theatre speech) may be carried on in connection with projects previously listed, whenever qualified instructors are available to provide such instruction to workers on the project during the workers' leisure time. Public educational institutions or communities may make application for teachers of theatre techniques. Such organizations must show that the pro¬ posed teaching position is not, nor has been, a regular one in the staff of the organization. Also, the organization must show that without such aid it would -4- 7096 be impossible to employ such a teacher at presents and that there is a reasonable probability that if the results of the work warrant, the organization could assume payment of the salary of such an instructor whenever Federal funds for this purpose may be exhausted. In certain CCC camps, resident instructors have been provided to teach theatre techniques and to direct minor theatrical activities, using the camp per¬ sonnel. It is expected that this policy will be extended to include CCC camps in other areas. 8. Research and Publication. The research and publication part of the Federal Theatre Project will include units performing research in the theatre field; the drawing-up of lists of plays, together with their authors, agents, and rental fees for the convenience of directors of Federal theatre units; the compilation of lists of hitherto unpro- duced plays; the translation of foreign plays; and the publication of a bulletin showing the nationwide activities of the Federal Theatre Project. 9. Other Theatre Projects. As the program of the Federal Theatre Project progresses, special pro¬ jects not included in the above lists may be developed in line with the purposes stated in Part I. PART III ORGANIZATION: 1. Theatre Regions, and Regional Directors of Federal Theatre Projects. In order to nrovide the proper professional and technical direction for a nationwide program under the Federal Theatre Project, it has been found advis¬ able to divide the United States into individual theatre regions. For each of these regions there has been appointed a Regional Director of Federal Theatre -5- 7096 Projects, who will act as the representative, in that region, for the Federal Director of Theatre Projects in Washington. The Regional Director, with the cooperation of existing Works Progress Administration officials in his region, will direct the funcitons of the Federal Theatre Project, and he will approve all appointments to superintendence positions in the theatre projects in his region. The list of theatre regions is as follows: Federal Theatre Project Regions fit" MEW YORK CITY ^ v^IDDLE WEST REGION MEW YORK STATE W r Ml h*■ y^ftlDDLE WEE • Minnesota, Missouri NEW ENGLAND REGION' Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts Rhode Island, Connecticut NEW JERSEY - PENNSYLVANIA OHIO Ohio;' West Virginia Kentucky VIRGINIA - CAROLIMAS Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina C + Ct^ JVpt- cr* As fat. Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota SOUTHWEST REGION Arkansas, Oklahoma, ---Texas NORTHWEST EEGIOM — Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon, Wyoming PACIFIC SOUTHWEST CaliforniaV Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA - Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia tni- SOUTHERN REGION ~ / Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee ^ -flA^ CENTRAL REGION Illinois, Indiana —' Michigan, Wisc