Hollywood director/actor Tim Robbins is in the last days of shooting on a film about one of the most controversial events in Broadway history: the night in 1937 when the federal government locked the doors on a production of Marc Blitzstein's left wing opera The Cradle Will Rock, and the actors marched to another theatre where they defiantly performed the work, under highly unusual circumstances.

Hollywood director/actor Tim Robbins is at work on a film about one of the most controversial events in Broadway history, the night in 1937 when the federal government locked the doors on a production of Marc Blitzstein's left wing opera The Cradle Will Rock, and the actors marched to another theatre where they defiantly performed the work under highly unusual circumstances.

Imagine a time when New York City's cultural leaders had to take a stand against repressive government interference in the arts. Oops -- that's today! "Giuliani's my press agent," Tim Robbins says with a sly smile. Actually, Robbins has written and directed a sweeping new feature film about another era of cultural ferment and censorship: the 1930s, when Orson Welles and John Houseman directed productions for the Federal Theater Project; when tycoons like Nelson Rockefeller filled the sky above Manhattan with tall buildings; when fascism began casting dark shadows over Europe. Robbins' movie, “Cradle Will Rock,” takes its title from Marc Blitzstein's musical salute to the working class, made famous when skittish federal authorities padlocked its theatre just before opening night in 1937. The response of Welles and his company of actors -- who defied the authorities, led a march to an alternate theater, and performed the show from their seats -- provides the film's exciting climax.

Tuptim pining away for Chulalongkorn instead of Lun Tha? The Kralahome conspiring against the King of Siam? Cuddly animal sidekicks??? What is this, a Disney "The King & I"?

Tuptim pining away for Chulalongkorn instead of Lun Tha? The Kralahome conspiring against the King of Siam? Cuddly animal sidekicks??? What is this, a Disney "The King & I"?

Two months ago, RCA Victor released the cast recording of A New Brain, the William Finn-James Lapine musical that played the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre last summer. This week, the same label will reissue (along with the Broadway cast disc of Darling of the Day) the recording of Al Carmines' Off-Broadway musical Promenade.

Two months ago, RCA Victor released the cast recording of A New Brain, the William Finn-James Lapine musical that played the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre last summer. This week, the same label will reissue (along with the Broadway cast disc of Darling of the Day) the recording of Al Carmines' Off-Broadway musical Promenade.

The Cradle Will Rock opens today at City Center, with a cast featuring Danny Burstein, Raul Esparza, Judy Kuhn and Anika Noni Rose. In honor of the Encores! revival, the Playbill Vault looks back on the musical's controversial debut.

Although No for an Answer, Marc Bliztstein's follow up to Cradle Will Rock, was given several concert stagings, the politically-charged opera never received the full production it had been seeking in 1941. Fifty years later, the Masters of Fine Arts students at San Francisco's American Conservatory Theatre program presented the world premiere of the music theatre work, ending Nov. 10 at the Zeum Theater, ACT's newest space. Performances began Oct. 26.

Although No for an Answer, Marc Bliztstein's follow up to Cradle Will Rock, was given several concert stagings, the politically charged opera never received the full production it had been seeking in 1941. 50 years later, the Masters of Fine Arts students at San Francisco's American Conservatory Theatre program open the world premiere of music theatre work Oct. 26 at the Zeum Theater, ACT's newest space.

Although No for an Answer, Marc Bliztstein's followup to Cradle Will Rock, was given several concert stagings, the politically charged opera never received the full production it had been seeking in 1941. 50 years later, the Masters of Fine Arts students at San Francisco's American Conservatory Theatre program will present the world premiere of No for an Answer Oct. 22-Nov. 10 at the Zeum Theater.

The lives to two dramatists are in the spotlight in this month's books column: "Marc Blitzstein: His Life, His Work, His World" by Howard Pollack and "Thornton Wilder: A Life" by Penelope Niven.

The lives to two dramatists are in the spotlight in this month's books column: "Marc Blitzstein: His Life, His Work, His World" by Howard Pollack and "Thornton Wilder: A Life" by Penelope Niven.

Playbill.com offers a round-up of some of the new productions, ranging from edgy new works to classic revivals, playing Off-Broadway during the fall season.