Drawing upon archival resources, official correspondence and personal interviews, this book provides a detailed examination of the U.S. Federal Theatre Project in the decade of the 1930s. It recreates the often chaotic but frequently exhilarating story of "Uncle Sam" as producer. Special attention is given to the controversial Negro unit, the prize-winning production of See How They Run, and the mass spectacles which attempted to incorporate Hallie Flanagan's vision of a truly national project rooted in local culture.