Hallie Flanagan (from Judith E. Barlow's Plays by American Women, 1930-1960, Applause Books) was the woman who had perhaps the greatest effect on the American theater in the 1930s. She was a playwright and director who would leave an indelible mark as the head of the Federal Theatre Project. Flanagan was a Vassar professor when she and co-author Margaret Ellen Clifford wrote Can You Hear Their Voices? It was one of the earliest and most compelling agitprop dramas written in this country. It was Clifford, a former student of Flanagan's, who suggested she read Chambers' story on which the play is based. The play was written rapidly and opened at Vassar on May 2, 1931, just two months after the story's publication.
While Can You Hear Their Voices? began its journey from Vassar with productions around the world (one of its most Popular Productions was by the Shanghai People's Theater) its authors moved on in their theatrical careers. Margaret Ellen Clifford founded a children's theater in Portland, Maine, and eventually joined the faculty of Skidmore College, where she served as chair and professor of theater from 1952 until her death in 1971. Flanagan continued her interest in political theater with productions at Vassar of We Demand, a drama about unemployment, and a work entitled Miners on Strike, before being tapped to head The Federal Theatre Project. Flanagan's vision for the Project was to bring theatre to the great majority of the American public who had never witnessed it, plus producing cutting-edge high-quality theatrical material. Though the program enabled the creation of a number of fine works, some argued over political agendas being delivered by plays. Concerns over works with messages deemed to be communistic and socialistic plagued Flanagan and the Theatre Project. Flanagan was called to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1938.
After four years, the Federal Theatre Project was shut down and Flanagan returned to Vassar. Flanagan died in a nursing home in 1969. According to sources she was haunted in her later years by memories of her interrogation by HUAC. Like many of her colleagues in the thirties, Flanagan knew the power of theater to teach and inspire audiences-a credo that underlies her work as a director, administrator, professor and playwright. Although her canon of plays is small and uneven, her influence on the American theater was and is immense. In "CAN YOU HEAR THEIR VOICES?" Hallie Flanagan and Margaret Ellen Crawford fuse theatrical innovation with social conscience to produce a vital dramatic work about poverty and inequity that remains relevant today.
Directors Ralph Lewis and Barry Rowell are also writers and producers and along with Catherine Porter co-Artistic Directors of Peculiar Works Project. Both have directed extensively for PWP. (Both co-directed 3Christs for PWP. Lewis' other PWP directing credits include: Viet Rock, Den of Vice at The Judson House Project, and Jonah's Escape? Rowell's PWP directing credits include: Before I Wake, Freiheit Takes a Stand, and The Judson House Project.) Mr. Lewis is a member of the Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab. In New York City he has also worked with Hyperion Theatre Group, The Field, Prism Playhouse, and Turnip Theatre Company. In addition to his work with PWP, Mr. Rowell has directed for HERE's American Living Room, TheatreKore NYC, and adobe theatre.
The costume design will be by Deb O, lighting design by David Castaneda, the video design by Matthew Tennie, and the dramaturgy by Gwen Orel. The producing associate will be Cathy Carlton , and the production stage manager will be Susan D. Lange.
The complete performance schedule will be: June 3 through 27, Thursdays through Sundays at 7:00 p.m. Ticket prices for the previews on June 3, 4, and 5 will all be $10.00. (cash at the door/by credit card online). Beginning with the Opening Night on June 6 all tickets will be $18.00 ($15.00 for students and seniors) at the door (cash only); to order and charge online tickets will be $15.00 ($12.00 for students and seniors). TDF vouchers will be accepted. The box office number for reservations is 212-352-3101 or at www.theatermania.com/new-york/shows/can-you-hear-their-voices_168197/.
