Set Design for Melodies on Parade
Musical theater was a very prominent component of the Federal Theatre Project. Presentations ranged from musical revues to operettas and operas to modern musical productions. Several productions of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas were staged as well as a very rare production of Giovanni Batista Pergolesi’s La Serva Padrona, a landmark Italian opera. One little noted instance of brilliant writing was the script and lyrics by John La Touche (1914–1956), then in his early twenties, for the musical revue Melodies on Parade, seen in the New York area. La Touche went on to become one of the most respected writers for the stage. Shown here is a stage set and images of Melodies when it was performed outside as part of the “Caravan Theatre” of the FTP. The portable stages allowed many small towns and rural areas the first opportunity to see professional stage productions.
Musical theater was a very prominent component of the Federal Theatre Project. Presentations ranged from musical revues to operettas and operas to modern musical productions. Several productions of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas were staged as well as a very rare production of Giovanni Batista Pergolesi’s <em>La Serva Padrona</em>, a landmark Italian opera. One little noted instance of brilliant writing was the script and lyrics by John La Touche (1914–1956), then in his early twenties, for the musical revue <em>Melodies on Parade</em>, seen in the New York area. La Touche went on to become one of the most respected writers for the stage. Shown here is a stage set and images of <em>Melodies</em> when it was performed outside as part of the “Caravan Theatre” of the FTP. The portable stages allowed many small towns and rural areas the first opportunity to see professional stage productions.