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NATIONAL SERVICE SURE A
FEDERAL THEATRE PROJECT
W0RE5 PROGRESS ADMINISTRATI
lb97 Broadway - New York City
Irwin A. Rubenstein - Manager
NATIONAL
SERVICE BUREAU
PUBLICATIONS
A
CATALOG
National Service Bureau
publication No lH
September
1937
The following lists and scripts are supplied
without charge to Federal Theatre directors.
The prices charged to individuals and private
institutions merely cover the cost of mimeo¬
graphing, and are payable in advance.
PLAY-READING DEPARTMENT
PUBLICATIONS
90 NEW PLAYS, selected "by Francis Bosworth and Converse Tyler.
A compilation of the best of the plays reviewed by the bureau.
These, for the most part, are the workB of young authors who
show promise and deserve encouragement. Some of the plays are
brilliant; the quality of others is controversial* Indices of
subjects, technical requirements and directing difficulties
promote ease in selection ......price 50#
34 OLD AND NEW SPANISH PLAYS, compiled by Joseph Liss. A collec¬
tion of farces, interludes, miracles, mysteries, moralities
and modern plays, selected for their particular interest to
modern audiences. An enlarged and revised edition of an
earlier list ...price 20#
22 ENGLISH MYSTERIES, MIRACLES AND MORALITIES, compiled by Mabel
Wortbington,
A representative selection of plays from an in^ortant period
of early English drama...., price 20#
SOME NEW UNPUBLISHED ONE-ACT PLAYS. In this list are plays for
all tastes: childrens* plays, folk plays, plays for conserva¬
tive and liberal groups. price 20#
SOME IRISH PLAYS, An attempt has been made to cover the modern
Irish drama movement from the beginning of the century to the
present time. The production dates of the plays range from
1899 (Hyde's "Twisting of the Rope") to 1930 (Yeats* "The Words
Upon the Window-Pane"). Each play has been chosen primarily
for those qualities of form and treatment which transcend any
loss through changing social patterns.. ....price 10#
The following lists of plays will be available for distribution
until the present supply is exhausted:
CLASSIC ENGLISH PLAYS,. compiled by Kenneth White. 10#
MODERN CONTINENTAL PLAYS....... compiled by Philip Chadbourne..10#
CHILDREN'S PLAYS .compiled by Ruth E Tebbetts 10#
NEGRO PLAYS....... compiled by Charles Feinberg. 10#
EARLY SPANISH ONE-ACT PLAYS....... compiled by Joseph Liss.....10#
SPANISH MIRACLES AND MORALITIES compiled by Joseph Liss.10#
—
COMMUNITY-DRAMA LISTS'
THE NATIONAL SERVICE BUREAU cannot supply copies of these plays.
They may "be obtained through the publishers whose names ap¬
pear in the lists, and who will also indicate the number of
copies required for production.
THANKSGIVING NON-ROYALTY PLAYS & PAGEANTS. (Thanksgiving, Hal¬
loween, Plymouth Days) 76 plays. Includes plays and page¬
ants suitable for all ages ....... 25^
RURAL PLAYS PART I, (Dramas, Comedies, Farces) for advanced
groups. 20 <p
RURAL PLAYS PART II, (Dramas, Comedies, Farces) for inter¬
mediate groups. 20 $
RURAL PLAYS PART III, (Dramas, Comedies, Farces and Burlesque-
pageant- collections) for 4H Clubs, Farm Bureaus, Granges
and Communi ty Clubs. 20$#
A SUGGESTED PRODUCTION LIST OF NON-ROYALTY PLAYS, Part I One-Act
plays, compiled by Pamela James.
A general list of 50 recommended plays, excluding those re¬
lating to children, rural, religious and holiday subjects,
which subjects are treated in other lists .25^
A SUGGESTED PRODUCTION LIST OF NON-ROYALTY PLAYS, Part II Full-
length plays, compiled by Pamela James. 50 plays,
A continuation of Part I of the same series, with the same
subjects excluded. r... 25^
A SERIES OF CHILDREN'S NON-ROYALTY PLAYS, Part I (Health - Safety-
Humane), compiled by Louis Rosenthal and Oscar Halpern.
The first of a series of children's play lists. This list of
47 plays represents the best non-royalty material of this
character available for children.............. 25<j;
PATRIOTIC HOLIDAY PLAYS, Part I (Abraham Lincoln - George Wash¬
ington), compiled by Richard Haines.
A selection of 55 plays about Washington and Lincoln, includ¬
ing dramas, comedies, pageants, fantasies and farces .25^
PATRIOTIC HOLIDAY PLAYS, Part II (Flag Day, Memorial Day and
Fourth of July). Plays and pageants for all ages suitable for
patriotic holiday presentation.. .......20<£
A SUGGESTED PRODUCTION LIST OF NON-ROYALTY CHRISTMAS PLAYS.
Part I - Children's plays (secular)...compiled by Pamela James.
Plays with music are included in this list of 54. Additional
lists of Christmas plays will appear later in the year....25£
EASTER PLAYS, compiled by Pamela Janes and Richard Haines.
Biblical dramas, modern dramas, service programs for churches
and schools are included in this list of 73 plays........,25^
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COMMUNITY DBAMA LISTS (Cont'd.)
JEWISH NON-ROYALTY PLAYS AND PAGEANTS (Holiday - Historical -
General), compiled "by Harold W. Rosenthal and Samuel J,
Kreiter. 84 plays. An attempt to represent, as far as pos¬
sible, the various attitudes within Jewish life that have ex¬
pressed themselves in the drama ...25^
PLAYS PRODUCED BY FEDERAL THEATRE
(All these plays, with the exception of Living Newspaper pro¬
ductions, are royalty plays. Agents of authors ipust "be con¬
sulted "before production.)
BATTLE HYMN, a play in 3 acts *by Michael Blankfort and Michael Gold
John Brown's struggle to secure self-determination for the
Negroes. An Experimental Theatre production, N.Y. 1936 .50^
BROTHER MOSE, a play in 3 acts by Frank Wilson.
A comedy of Negro life, with spirituals and suggested music.
As produced by Negro units of the Federal Theatre Project... .50$#
DONOGOO-TONKA, a comedy in 3 acts by Jules Romaine, translated
by Gilbert Seldes.
The story of the easy manner in which an adventurer brings a
South American country into existence by spreading the rumor
of its discovery., 50^
INJUNCTION GRANTED, written by the editorial staff of the Living
Newspaper.
A dramatic history of the use of injunctions in labor dis¬
putes. Bibliography, production plots and design of stage
setting. Produced by the Living Newspaper, N.Y. 1936 ,.50^
JOHN HENRY, Steel Driving Man, 9 scenes, prologue and epilogue,
by Frank B Wells.
A dramatization of the John Henry saga, adhering closely to
the accepted interpretations in work-song and ballad versions
of the legend. First produced by the Federal Theatre Project,
Los Angeles, 1936. 50^
TRIPLE-A PLOWED UNDER, written by the editorial staff of the Liv¬
ing Newspaper.
Agrarian problems in the United States. Includes a bibliog¬
raphy of sources consulted, curtain, light, costume, plots
and properties. Produced by the Living Newspaper, N.Y. 1936,50^
POWER, a Living Newspaper play by Arthur Arent,
Based on research compiled by the editorial staff of the Liv¬
ing Newspaper and produced by them, N.Y. 1937.,.. ,..,50^
1935, written by the editorial staff of the Living Newspaper.
Highlights of the year 1935, dramatized in the manner used by
the March of Time. Includes costume, sound and property plots.
Presented by Living Newspaper, N.Y. 1936 ....50$
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MARIONETTE PUBLICATIONS
A SUGGESTED PRODUCTION LIST OF PLAYS FOR A MARIONETTE THEATRE, with
synopses, comments and noteB, Compiled by Rose Carlyn. Puppets,
marionettes and shadows are included in this selection of 52
plays for children and adult audience. ,,25#
Copies of a Marionette Bibliography issued by the Washington
Marionette Festival are available free with this list.
HIS MAJESTY THE MICROBE or THE MICROBE UNIVERSE, an illustrated
marionette fantasy in ten scenes, by Lee Freeson.
An ingenious health play, with germs as the characters and a
scene set in the human body. (Non-royalty). ..20#
NATHAN HALE, an illustrated marionette play by Rose Carlyn.
A dramatization for puppets of the story of this heroic figure
of the American Revolution. (Non-royalty). 20#
DEATH TAKES THE WHEEL, by J C Furnas, An adaptation of the sensa¬
tional article "And Sudden Death", by the Buffalo Historical
Marionette Theatre. (Royalty) .20#
THE TOTESI, a play for marionettes in 4 scenes by Ruth Fenisong.
An Indian play suggested by a legend of the Iroquois. (Non-
royalty) . 20#
THE CHILDREN OF SALEM, a play for Marionettes by Ruth Fenisong.
A strong indictment of superstition. Two children almost cause
the death of-an innocent woman for witchcraft. (Non-royalty)....20#
OLIVER TWIST, a play for maiionettes by Ruth Feuiso.vg and Samuel
Sayer, from the story by >harles Dickens. Illustrn-ced.
Dialogue in easy English by A. Xagen, with the cooperation of
the Language Research Institute at New York University. (Non-
royalty) 20#
THE DRAGON ZNEE ZEE, an illustrated play for Chinese marionettes in
4 scenes by Carl Glick.
A dramatization for puppets of the story of the Dragon guarding
a princess against unwelcome suitors. (Non-royalty)... ..20#
LIFTING THE BUSHEL, an illustrated one-act play for marionettes by
Gilbert Lawrence.
An amusing play based on school life from actual case records
in the files of the National Youth Administration .....20#
DON QUIXOTE, a two-act marionette play adapted from Miguel Cervanta's
celebrated masterpiece, by Robert Larson 20#
SHERLOCK HOLMES, adapted for marionettes by Ruth Fenisong and Samuel
Sayer. Illustrated.
A dramatization of "The Murder at Stokes Manor", by Sir-Arthur
Conan Doyle. 20#
LATE PRIMITIVE, a three-act marionette play by William Beyer. Wnile
adult in content the play has amusing animal characters and suf¬
ficient action to be entertaining to all audiences. Illustrated.
(Royalty) 25#
AMERICANA
FOLK TUNES FROM MISSISSIPPI - collected by Arthur Palmer Hudson and
edited "by George Herzog, 45 tunes collected from white people
in Mississippi between the years 1923 and 1930, the music and
lyrics of which are here presented for the first time in a
printed collection, 25^
EARLY AMERICAN PLAYS, a program devoted to the early American Theatre.
Synopsis and critical comments of "The Better Sort", "Haven", and
"The Man of the Times", three plays designed to round out an eve¬
ning' s entertainment in Early American Theatre,,, ,..,.10^
HAVEN or THE MERITED GALLOWS, by Charles Prentiss. )
A fast-moving farce melodrama of 1797 which would contrast well
with "The Man of the Times" and "The Better Sort", An exact
transcription of the play.
THE MAN OF THE TIMES or A SCARCITY OF CASH, a farce by Mr. Beets
of Charleston, S. C. ) for
An exact transcription of this early American play (1797)
which was a plea for a system of ethics in business and for ) 50^
devotion to the affairs of one's country.
THE BETTER SORT or THE GIRL OF SPIRIT, "an operatical, comical
farce." Boston, Mass.
The third play of the group planned for an evening of early
Americana (1789). An exact transcription.
EARLY AMERICAN PLAYS, Part I (Colonial and Revolutionary period),
compiled by Ben Russak.
A selective list of 9 plays, indicating the revolt of the Ameri¬
can dramatists against English society and customs 10^#
THE SIX DEGRESS OF CRIME or WINS, WOMEN, GAMBLING, THEFT, MURDER
AND THE SCAFFOLD, a melodrama in six parts by F. S. Hill, New
York. A synopsis of this early 19th century (185-) "blood and
thunder" melodrama 10^
THE DISAPPOINTMENT or THE FORCE OF CREDULITY, "a new American comic
opera" in two acts, by Andrew Barton, New York.
The first comic opera written in America, lampooning prominent
people of the time (1767). Script complete with music and
lyrics. $1.00
THE DISAPPOINTMENT or THE FORCE OF CREDULITY
An outline of the plot, list of songs wnich appear in the play
and a bibliographical note .10^
BARNUM RETURNS or THE NEW AMERICAN MUSEUM, by Katharine Clugston.
An historical American vaudeville show, utilizing all the
characters and settings, period music and dances .,..,$1.00
BARNUM RETURNS or THE NEW AMERICAN MUSEUM
An outline and analysis of the script, listing all the songs
included..., .10^
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ANTI-WAR LISTS
(In preparation)
ANTI-WAR PLAYS - ROYALTY, Part I. The anti-war and peace plays which
are included in this list comprise the best English and Anerican
material of its kind available, 25^
ANTI-WAR PLAYS - NON-ROYALTY - This list contains a large selection
of dramas, fantasies, pageants and satires, A cross index indi¬
cating those plays suitable for mixed casts, males, females and
children, is included f....25 tfi
ANTI-WAR PLAYS, Anglo-Jewish - This is by no means a final treatment
of anti-war plays to be compiled from the Anglo-Jewish field,
but is a fair cross-section of the best material available at
the present. In the case of scripts not already available in
Jewish, arrangements for translations for units of the Federal
Theatre may be made through the NATIONAL SERVICE BUREAU 25^
SAME LIST IN ENGLISH 25<*
ANTI-WAR PLAYS in languages other than English, compiled by the
Foreign Plays Department, NATIONAL SERVICE BUREAU. Thousands
of plays in a score of languages were examined, hundreds were
read. The plays listed represent a final choice after a con¬
sideration of many factors 20^
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VAUDEVILLE and MUSIC PUBLICATIONS
72 VAUDEVILLE SKETCHES - NON-ROYALTY, Part I - The sketches in this
volume have "been chosen with the end in mind that every taste
must "be satisfied, with the result that there is a sketch here¬
in for every audi ence. 25^
57 VAUDEVILLE SKETCHES - ROYALTY, Part I - These sketches selected
from among the "best in American vaudeville, have "been chosen
to satisfy the most exacting demands of two generations of
vaudeville lovers, the old and the new... .20<#
MUSICAL PLAYS. Compiled by Albert Julian and Arthur Ganzfried.
A list of 66 musical plays, with complete synopses and comments.
The NATIONAL SERVICE BUREAU has succeeded in greatly reducing
the royalty on these plays for Federal Theatre Projects 25^
NOTE: The following lists indicate the music, book, lyrics,
number of acts and publisher of each play. Revised editions of
these and lists of royalty musical plays will include complete
synopses and production notes.
ADULT OPERETTAS, a list of 44 selected operettas for which amateur
performance rights may be obtained by purchasing the number of
books required for the cast 10^
CHILDREN'S OPERETTAS. Performing rights to these works may be pro¬
cured for amateur performance by purchasing the number of books
required for the cast.... .10^
HOLIDAY MUSICAL PLAYS FOR CHILDREN, a list of recommended oratorios,
pageants, cantatas, pantomimes and entertainments. These works
may be procured for amateur performance by purchasing the number
of books required for the cast........ 10{#
HOLIDAY MUSICAL PLAYS FOR CHILDREN, a list of 43 Christmas, Hallo¬
ween and Thanksgiving Day operettas, cantatas, pageants and
entertainments, with complete synopses and production notes.
Compiled by Albert Julian assisted by Arthur Ganzfried,
These works may be procured for amateur performance by pur¬
chasing the number of books required for the cast.............,10^
NATIONAL YOUTH ADMINISTRATION PLAYS
Written "by Bureau playwrights under the auspices
of the National Youth Administration from actual
case records in the files and from statistics
compiled "by the Federal Government.
THE LOST GENERATION, by Isador Reuben.
A play in two scenes with epilogue and prologue 20£
WE ARE THE FUTURE, by Irving P. Kapner.
A play of rural youth. 20<p
MORNING PAPERS, by Joseph Liss.
A play about newsboys.. „ .20^
THE WILDCATS, by Joseph Liss.
A play about youth. Script includes illustrations of
sets for amateur and professional productions. .20^
LIFTING THE BUSHEL, by Gilbert Lawrence.
A one-act play in 3 scenes for hand puppets. Script is
complete with illustrations of sets and puppets.., ...,.*20^
THRENODY-AMERICAN, by Herb Meadow.
A radio drama about youth which may easily be used as a
stage play 20$
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