history

The period in history from the Depression up until the beginnings of World War II were financially bleak for Broadway Theatre. The number of productions being produced were also down. Producers were going bankrupt left and right, and the Shubert Brothers developed a monopoly of Broadway itself. With the oncoming war approaching, theatre, as well as American pride, needed a boost. I will argue that this time on Broadway (1935-39) was productive in the case of The Playwright’s Company. I will argue that these talents combined provided the most forward form of thinking on the Broadway stage. First, I will look at the rise in power of the Shuberts and the motion picture industry. Both set the stage for the formation of the Playwright’s Company. I will then delve into the details of the Playwrights Company—including detailed information on those involved in the group. This evidence will show the influence and success the company had upon Broadway, especially consideri!

ng the previously mentioned challenges they faced.

The Shubert Brothers (Lee, Sam, and Jake) are well-known within the Broadway community. The Depression, knocking out a majority of individ

. . .
The money to be made in Hollywood was also enticing many New York directors, actors, and writers to Los Angeles. This subtle shift awakened a new interest in American theatergoers and gave them an alternative to the Living Newspapers and other agitprop plays of the day. Sherwood was also awarded the Pulitzer Prize for the play—which he sold to RKO Studios for $225,000 (134).

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**Bibliography**

. Anderson was not at all concerned with the financial aspects of the Company; he felt financial struggle sparked creative effort (Behrman 223). Sherwood joined in on Anderson’s “Stop Hitler Now” advertisement. But, analyzing the Company as a whole, it is hard to miss the overwhelming praise. But for the Playwright’s Company, their tenacity and vision outlasted this theatre monopoly. Not all of the plays were successful (at the box office or critically). Behrman always wrote with a comic vein but shared a concern for the human condition as well (Atkinson 271). He used Shakespeare as his inspiration (Bailey 132).

Sherwood joined the group after winning a Pulitzer Prize for his hit, Idiot’s Delight, which was produced by the Theatre Guild in 1936. To further analyze the success of the Company, it is also vital to look at the historical factors involved at the time of the group’s formation. The play, on surface level, was a simple drawing-room comedy.

Common topics in this essay:
Playwrights Company, LI Anderson, Basic Agreement, Pulitzer Prize, Living Newspapers, Sam Jake, Lee Horns, Theatre Atkinson, Wharton President, War II, playwrights company, pulitzer prize, world war, theatre guild, war ii, success company, broadway theatre, world war ii, american theatre, awarded pulitzer prize, lincoln illinois, abe lincoln illinois, plays produced, federal theatre project, win pulitzer prize,

Approximate Word count = 2789
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page double spaced)

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