The Theatre Conservatory presents Cradle will Rock on Sept. 30-Oct. 2

Roosevelt University’s 2011-12 theatre season kicks off on Friday Sept. 30 with The Cradle Will Rock, a 1937 New Deal Work Projects Administration (WPA) musical by Marc Blitzstein about labor unionizing, corruption and corporate greed.
 
The musical, set in Steeltown USA, is being performed for three nights, Sept. 30, Oct. 1 and 2 on The Theatre Conservatory’s O’Malley Theatre stage, 431 S. Wabash Ave., where students have been painting an elaborate black-and-white mural that is based on existing WPA art-project murals by artist Thomas Hart Benton. Theatre students Alex Gonzalez and Anthony Kayer are pictured in photo, above, with assistant professor of theatre and scenic designer Michael Lasswell (center) as they prepare the striking mural that will serve as a backdrop for the upcoming show.
 
Featuring the music of Vaudeville, musical theatre, opera, operetta, blues and jazz, this historical production dramatizes issues of labor, labor unions and the economic struggles of the nation, which  are directly parallel to issues facing America today,  said Joel Fink, a professor of theatre in Roosevelt’s theatre conservatory and the director of the show.

“It’s the perfect time to revive this show and it’s a true Roosevelt University show because of it deals with social justice – with a comic twist,” Fink said.

The Theatre Conservatory’s fall season also features three performances of Our Town in the O’Malley Theatre Oct. 21-23 and three performances of Rent at O’Malley on Nov. 17-20. For more information on The Cradle will Rock or The Theatre Conservatory’s 2011-12 season, visit www.roosevelt.edu/ccpa.  To order tickets, call The Theatre Conservatory box office hotline at 312-341-3831.