Dramatics

Scene from "The Rivals" performed by the women of William Smith College on Saturday, December 16, 1911.

Scene from "Pygmalion and Galatea" performed by the students of William Smith in 1911.  Caption reads: "'A sculptor does not test the beaty of a figure by its bulk.' - Pyg."

A scene from the William Smith performance of "Pygmalion and Galatea," 1911.  Caption reads: "Gal. - 'Monster! - Appoach me not!'"

Scene from the play "Pygmalion and Galatea," 1911.  Caption reads: "Daphne - 'Yon brazen girl! I am his wife!'"

A program from the William Smith student performance of "Pygmalion and Galatea," Monday, June 17, 1911.  Click image to view full program.

Scene from "The Rivals" performed by the women of William Smith College on Saturday, December 16, 1911.  Pictured from left to right are Frances Eddy, Frances Turgeon, and Marie Sporer.

A photograph of the cast of the William Smith student production of "Pygmalion and Galatea," 1911, in full costume.

Dramatics began at William Smith College in 1908 with the Charter Class.  A Committee on Dramatics was formed and much consideration was given that first year to choosing plays in which all of the students could participate.  They opened with two plays, "A Lunch in the Suburbs" and "Kleptomaniac," which were performed for a small audience in the old dining room of Blackwell House.  

The following year they combined the Glee Club with Dramatics to perform the Japanese operetta "The Princess Chrysanthemum" on May 11th.  By this time a stage had been fitted up in the gymnasium and the performance was given there.  The operetta was a great success, and so it was performed a second time on Sub-Freshman Day.

In their third year, the Dramatics Society held it's first outdoor play.  Their performance of "Pygmalion and Galatea" had been so popular that year, that they added two additional performances.  The third performance was held on Tuesday of Senior Week on North Campus where "a perfect little stage with background and wings of pine had been set up."  It was hoped at the time that the performance of an outdoor play would become an annual event at William Smith.