The Federal Theatre Project (FTP) was a New Deal initiative funded by the Works Progress Administration (WPA)  during the Great Depression.  Supporting theatre and other live artistic performances in the Unites States, the FTP's primary goal was employment of out-of-work artists, writers, and directors, with the secondary aim of entertaining poor families and creating relevant art. The images in this slide show feature the WPA Circus, Living Newspapers, traveling variety shows and puppet performances in Central Park.

Images courtesy of: New Deal Network

“Magdalena Waltz” recording courtesy of the California Folk Life Recordings, Library of Congress