Marc Blitzstein discusses THE CRADLE WILL ROCK

Including Performances of "The Nickel Under The Foot" and "Hotel Lobby Sequence." THE CRADLE WILL ROCK is a musical play by Marc Blitzstein, premiering in 1937. The musical is famous for its original production being shut down by the government forcing relocation to another theater where it was performed by Blitzstein on a solo piano with some cast members singing their parts. The fully orchestrated version is still rarely heard to this day. The plot is an allegory about America during the depression with archetypal characters inhabiting the fictional Steeltown USA, run by the tyrannical Mr. Mister and his Liberty Committee. The touchy subject of unionization is also prominent. The cast for the musical performances includes Evelyn Lear (Moll), Jane Connell (Mrs. Mister), Alvin Epstein (Yasha the Violinist) and Roddy McDowell (Dauber the Artist). Blitzstein at the piano and direction by Arthur Luce Klein. Excerpted from Spoken Arts album 717, released 1956. Unreleased on CD. Ripped by myself.