Theatre: Under New Management

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To private enterprise the Federal Theatre Project last week handed over the biggest money-maker in its history: the Swing Mikado. After May 1, Chicago's Marolin Corp. will control the show, re-employ its all-Negro cast of 80. They will provide new sets since the present ones, being Government-owned, cannot be bought. They will up the admission from $1.10 to a $2.20 top, move the show from Broadway's outskirts to pleasure-seeking 44th Street, opposite a wildly glaring Hot Mikado. For the Hot Mikado's Producer Michael Todd, sore to begin with because the Swing Mikado competed Against him, is now in a towering rage because he pleaded for the chance to take it over, was coldly dished in favor of Marolin.

As a five-month hit in Chicago, the Swing Mikado made the Government $35,000; by May 1, as a two-month sellout on Broadway, it should make the Government $14,000 more. Checks for the profits are not, however, to be forwarded to the Treasury. All Federal Theatre receipts are thrown back into a general pool called "admission funds" to be drawn on for future productions. But money made in one city or region cannot ordinarily be used in another.