Coke Bottle and Cowboy Boots

This was written by Maggie, one of our summer interns. The opinions expressed herein do not reflect those of Civitas other than respect for the value of open dialogue.

Rocco Landesman, born in 1947 and raised in St. Louis, has spent the greater part of his life as a Broadway theater producer. Landesman has produced several Broadway shows, including “Angels In America” (1993 and 1994 Tony, Best Play) and “The Producers” (2001 Tony, Best Musical). From 2009 to 2012, he was the chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, the federal government’s public agency with an annual budget to fund for grants that support the arts, bringing it to everyone and cultivating education and leadership. Landesman also partly owns Jujamcyn Theaters which has five Broadway theaters. In June of 2013, Landesman was inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame. Beyond theater, Landesman is involved in the thoroughbred racehorses world and has bought three minor league baseball teams.

Landesman comes from a Bohemian German-Jewish family. Growing up in St. Louis, his father owned the Crystal Palace cabaret, hosting many new performers at the beginnings of their careers, such as Barbra Streisand and Miles Davis, which sparked the beginning of Rocco’s appreciation for the arts. In terms of education, Landesman attended Clayton High School, then studied at Colby College and got his B.A. in English Literature from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1969. After, he earned his M.F.A. in Dramatic Literature and Criticism from the Yale School of Drama in 1972 and then his D.F.A. in 1976. At Yale, he also served as an assistant professor and editor of its theater magazine.

Landesman has written several articles, mostly in the New York Times arts section, and focuses on problems between the commercial and not-for-profit sectors of American theater. For example, the National Endowment of the Arts’ budget was the highest in 1992, before Republican majority in Congress in 1994, which impacted the funding of “controversial art.” From Broadway, Landesman went to Washington and started a campaign to fund the arts with low-interest loans and rent subsidies for artists all over.

In addition, Landesman helps artists facing hardships through the program “Our Town,” giving grants to local grassroots arts organizations. The original budget is $5 million in 35 cities, and it will hopefully revitalize many communities. He also wants to provide grants to artists individually, especially young ones.

Recently and notably, Landesman has been very involved in George Washington High School in San Francisco. Why? Because many find a painting in the school to be controversial. Some argue to take it down; some demand it stay up. Landesman is fighting for its preservation in the school.

Following the Great Depression, the Works Progress Administration was part of the New Deal to employ the millions of people looking for work. Part of this was artists who would paint murals, including the one at George Washington High School. This particular mural shows George Washington’s full story, him leading the country as well as owning slaves. This mural has been up for 50 years, seen by many high schoolers and adults alike. Students have to pass this everyday; should they? Do they have to? Should we increase or decrease sensitivity? Landesman is strong in his belief to keep this painting up because it is a work of art and realistic portrayal of history. Taking it down would cost money and diminish its significance. He even appeared on FOX News on the Tucker Carlson Show, seen by millions, to get his ideas out there. Landesman fights for the belief that “art should never be destroyed.” What would you do – keep it as it is, cover it, or destroy it? Landesman wants it kept as it is and how it has been for half a century.