The Playwright's Company: Saving the Art on Broadway
             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 individual theatre producers on Broadway, did have some effect upon the brothers. Within the first year of the Depression, they had lost a million dollars. The next season, they suffered a three million dollar loss, and by the end of the Depression, they suffered a total loss of around eight million dollars. This loss in profit was due to several reasons. Since audience members had less money to spend on entertainment, they were becoming more choosy with their fare. If they wanted to see "fluff" entertainment, they could see a film for cheaper. The Shuberts, who were never known for their artistry, were in trouble. Although the Shuberts did suffer in the Depression, it also gave the...