The Marc Blitzstein Website
John Jansson's unofficial Blitzstein site is the only website devoted entirely to Blitzstein and his
work. It's a lovingly compiled fan site full of information, including a good section on The Cradle
Will Rock.
NERO FIDDLED: The Cradle Will Rock
In March of 2006, I published this appreciation of Cradle on my political blog, NERO FIDDLED. It
includes quotations from the libretto, some historical background and analysis, and the story of
how I first encountered Blitzstein's work.
American Century Theatre's Audience Guide
The American Century Theatre in Arlington, Virginia included Cradle in its 2000-2001 season. The
theatre's website includes a synopsis, character descriptions, and short essays about Marc
Blitzstein, the social background of the play, and the legendary original production. A decent
primer.
YouTube clip from the 1985 production
The 1985 Acting Company production of Cradle, directed by John Houseman, was filmed for PBS.
A Patti LuPone fan has posted this excerpt, featuring "Croon Spoon" and "Honolulu" (unfortunately
excising "The Freedom of the Press").
Tams-Witmark Music Library
Tams-Witmark owns the licensing rights for American productions of Cradle. Their website has
information on how to apply. The rights are readily available and reasonably priced for
independent theatre companies.
Leonard J. Lehrman
Lehrman, perhaps, is the person most responsible for carrying Blitzstein's torch since the
composer's death. Lehrman has adapted and staged much of Blitzstein's work, starting with
Cradle at Harvard in 1969. With the cooperation of Blitzstein's estate, Lehrman has completed
some of the work Blitzstein left unfinished. Lehrman is also responsible for the preservation of
much "lost" Blitzstein material, on the recordings A Blitzstein Cabaret and A Blitzstein Centenniel.
His website includes information on all of this, plus links to some of the many articles he's
published, some of which deal with Marc Blitzstein, though none addresses Cradle directly or in
depth.
New Line Theatre
New Line Theatre in St. Louis, Missouri presented Cradle as part of its 2001-2002 season. Their
website includes director Scott Miller's thoughtful analysis of Cradle, which is worth reading.
There is disappointingly little information about It's All True, a play by Jason Sherman which tells
the story of Cradle's first production. It's All True was presented at New Line in tandem with The
Cradle Will Rock.
John Jansson's unofficial Blitzstein site is the only website devoted entirely to Blitzstein and his
work. It's a lovingly compiled fan site full of information, including a good section on The Cradle
Will Rock.
NERO FIDDLED: The Cradle Will Rock
In March of 2006, I published this appreciation of Cradle on my political blog, NERO FIDDLED. It
includes quotations from the libretto, some historical background and analysis, and the story of
how I first encountered Blitzstein's work.
American Century Theatre's Audience Guide
The American Century Theatre in Arlington, Virginia included Cradle in its 2000-2001 season. The
theatre's website includes a synopsis, character descriptions, and short essays about Marc
Blitzstein, the social background of the play, and the legendary original production. A decent
primer.
YouTube clip from the 1985 production
The 1985 Acting Company production of Cradle, directed by John Houseman, was filmed for PBS.
A Patti LuPone fan has posted this excerpt, featuring "Croon Spoon" and "Honolulu" (unfortunately
excising "The Freedom of the Press").
Tams-Witmark Music Library
Tams-Witmark owns the licensing rights for American productions of Cradle. Their website has
information on how to apply. The rights are readily available and reasonably priced for
independent theatre companies.
Leonard J. Lehrman
Lehrman, perhaps, is the person most responsible for carrying Blitzstein's torch since the
composer's death. Lehrman has adapted and staged much of Blitzstein's work, starting with
Cradle at Harvard in 1969. With the cooperation of Blitzstein's estate, Lehrman has completed
some of the work Blitzstein left unfinished. Lehrman is also responsible for the preservation of
much "lost" Blitzstein material, on the recordings A Blitzstein Cabaret and A Blitzstein Centenniel.
His website includes information on all of this, plus links to some of the many articles he's
published, some of which deal with Marc Blitzstein, though none addresses Cradle directly or in
depth.
New Line Theatre
New Line Theatre in St. Louis, Missouri presented Cradle as part of its 2001-2002 season. Their
website includes director Scott Miller's thoughtful analysis of Cradle, which is worth reading.
There is disappointingly little information about It's All True, a play by Jason Sherman which tells
the story of Cradle's first production. It's All True was presented at New Line in tandem with The
Cradle Will Rock.
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