The Cradle Will Rock is a 1937 Agitprop piece by Marc Blitzstein, of which the original production was in effect shut down by the federal government due to its radical social themes.
Preliminary Collage
Due to the strong Brechtian influence in the play, I chose to experiment with a few different elements of alienation with the lighting. The first main element I explored was the use of bold colors to create a very stylized environment on the stage. The other element was using very stark lighting effects, using no color at all. With both of these elements, the main thought was to avoid using ‘natural’ lighting, which could make the audience forget that they are in a theater. High contrasts in the lights create a more stylized, unnatural feel and are more able to make the audience constantly aware that they are watching a performance.
Production Photos
Photos by Kimberlee Hurley
Kimberlee Hurley 