Flora, the Red Menace

This John Kander and Fred Ebb musical is set in 1935 when the world faces an uncertain political and economic future. At the height of the Great Depression, the government-funded Federal Theatre Project gathers a group of performers to tell the story of optimistic Flora Meszaros, a newly graduated art student. She embarks on a career as a fashion illustrator in Manhattan and soon falls in love with Harry, a fellow artist. But Harry has a secret — he turns out to be an idealistic communist. Is Flora herself a “red menace” or just that good ol’ classic Broadway standby — a gal in love? Flora, the Red Menace is the first collaboration between the creators of Cabaret and Chicago. Although the original Broadway production ran for only 87 performances, critics and the public alike were enchanted by the show’s 19-year-old star, Liza Minnelli, whose breakout performance in the title role won her a Tony Award.