THE FEDERAL THEATRE PROJECT
MARY MERRILL
Mary Merrill
Costume Designer
Written and Performed by: Gwyndara Burkett
Setting: New York, New York, 1937
Mary Merrill is talking to a fellow costume designer who has asked if she would recommend working for The Federal Theatre Project.
The Federal Theatre Project? Why would you want to work for them? I came here to get away from them. Only 10% of their staff can be professionals and it shows. I'm surprised they're even still in operations. The higher ups have no clue what they are doing. The closest they've ever done to anything good is The Living Newspaper and that still has so many problems. I wouldn't be surprised if it even led to the project closing. It's propaganda. The Dies Committee already wants them shut down, just imagine what will happen when they see all that The Living Newspaper has done. You're better off finding your own job then hoping they give you one. They'll be gone soon enough anyways
Perry Bruskin • Martin Dies • Hallie Flanagan (1935) • Hallie Flanagan (1939) • Rosamond Gilder • Susan Glaspell • Hazel Huffman • Frida Kahlo • Mary Merrill • Virginia Nicholson • Elmer Rice • Eleanor Roosevelt (1935) • Eleanor Roosevelt (1939) • Franklin Delano Roosevelt • Olive Stanton • Helen Tamiris • Orson Welles • Artwork • Collaborators • Directors’ Note • Front Page Tableau • Music • Pen Pals • Research/Source Material • Share Your Thoughts • Special Thanks