"Furious Improvisation" Looks at History of Federal Theater Project

"Furious Improvisation" by Susan Quinn recounts the history of the Federal Theater Project from the 1930's. "It is a vivid and engrossing portrait of the turbulent 1930s, rich in humor and anecdotes which combine to tell not only the story of the theatre project but also of the Great Depression and government intervention in a time of national peril, a time when the still-pressing issues of discrimination, injustice and the meaning of liberty commanded center stage. "

NPR book reviewer Maureen Corrigan reviewed the book and said the book was full of "goose bump raising anecdotes," such as the dramatic moment when President Franklin's political strategist Harry Hopkins, and WPA director, addressed a hostile crowd in Iowa City in 1935 after a performance. "Who," they demanded, "is going to pay for this?" Hopkins answered, "You are. And who better? This is America, the richest country in the world. We can afford to pay for anything we want. And we want a decent life for all the people in this country. And we are going to pay for it."

Wow. Imagine a top aid to the current president passionately defending the public funding for a controversial cultural event and claiming that the arts and culture are part of the basics of "a decent life."And then further claiming that we have the funds and should fund the arts as a national public good.

Listen to an interview with Susan from WILL-AM.