What could be more timely than an Arthur Miller play about the Great Depression now that we’re in this not so great depression/recession/tough economic period of our history?

Brooklyn’s acclaimed Brave New World Repertory Theater is presenting a must-see production of Arthur Miller’s The American Clock at the Brooklyn Lyceum (227 4th Avenue, Park Slope, Brooklyn) from March 3-13.

Last year I enjoyed the company’s sold-out site-specific run of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible at The Old Stone House and I’m hoping to catch their new production and urge you to do so, too.

Set  mostly in Brooklyn, The American Clock moves through the United States as it portrays a dramatic mosaic of songs and stories based on Studs Terkel’s epic oral history of that time.

Mood Indigo, Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries and On The Sunny Side of the Street are just some of the songs in the show, which includes 53 characters played by 20 actors. A middle-class Brooklyn family, train-riding hobos and Wall Street brokers brought and more tell the story  America’s iconic economic crisis.

The show, which runs March 3-13 (Thursdays-Fridays at 8PM, Saturdays at 3 and 8PM and Sundays at 7PM), is directed by Brave New World Associate Artistic Director Cynthia Babak. The huge cast is led by BNW Producing Artistic Director Claire Beckman and fellow founding member Stuart Zagnit as Rose and Moe Baum, based on Miller’s own parents. Company member Joe Salgo plays Miller’s autobiographical role of Lee Baum.