Performing Arts

b. July 13, 1942
Hometown: Park Ridge, IL
Years at Ripon College: 1960-1964
Major: Philosophy
Extracurricular activities: College Days, Sigma Nu, illustrator for MUG, WRPN FM, Union Board, Drama

Plays at Ripon:
“The American Dream”- role: director. Ripon College Theatre.
“The Zoo Story”- roles: Jerry, director. Ripon College Theatre.
“The Three Penny Opera” – (1963) role: Mac the Knife. Ripon College Red Barn Theatre.
“Come Back Little Shiba”- (1963) role: backstage crew. Ripon College Red Barn Theatre.
“The Skin of Our Teeth”- (1963) role: Mr. George Antrobus. Ripon College Red Barn Theatre.
“Antigone”- (1964) role: backstage crew. Ripon College Red Barn Theatre.
“The Fantasticks”- (1964) roles: El Gallo, narrator. Ripon College Red Barn Theatre.

Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Years at Ripon College: 1958-1962
Major: Psychology
Extracurricular activities: Freshman class president, the Indigos*, Basketball, Student Council, Judicial Board, Homecoming Committee

* The Indigos were an independent, 4-member jazz ensemble. Members included Thomas “Duffy” Ashley-Farrand (Class of 1962); Peter Bock (Class of 1962); Al Jarreau (Class of 1962); Donna Oberholtzer (Class of 1963); Gail Jensen (Class of 1963); and Ann Hassler Wyatt (Class of 1965). Ashley-Farrand, Bock, Jarreau, and Oberholtzer founded the group in 1958. From 1958-1962 they performed at “college dances, the Republican House, Tuscombia Country Club every Saturday night, and eventually all over Wisconsin.” (Ripon College Magazine, Summer 1998, page 9.)

Right: List of Jarreau’s career highlights from the Ripon College Magazine, Summer 1993. Jarreau received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on March 6, 2001.

Awards:
Ripon College Distinguished Alumni Award (1982)
Ripon College Honorary Degree: Doctor of Performing Arts (1988)

Born in the fall of 1917, Mask and Wig was “was founded on the purpose of studying and presenting the best in acting drama, classic and modern.” As an honors society for the Ripon Dramatics Club–then a part of the Department of Public Speaking–it soon gained a reputation among the students, as well as the Ripon community, for high standard productions. Productions were so successful that for many years, Mask and Wig increased their productions from two per school year (one each semester) to three or sometimes four per school year. The plays became Commencement ritual, as well as ritual for First Year Students, who usually produced one a year.

From its reputation and success, many new organizations came forth, thus fortifying the beginnings of what is today the Theater Department. In 1920, the Wisconsin Alpha Chapter of Theta Alpha Phi established itself at Ripon College, still going strong today. Also, many new classes on theater design and production came forth. The pinnacle of Mask and Wig came with the building of Little Theater, sharing production space with Memorial Auditorium, City Auditorium, and Armory Theater. Today, one can still experience the vague outline of the Little Theater in East Hall, although the Memorial Gymnasium and Armory Theater are no longer present.

Professor H.P. Boody

Also, among the many important figures in the development of Mask and Wig were other Professors of English. Prof. H.H. Allen (Ripon College 1921-1926), was responsible for the building of the several theater stages, such as Little Theater and the College Theater in the Old Chapel. Another prominent figure is Prof. James Clark Graham, Prof. of English and later College Dean of Men (Ripon College 1916-1946), responsible for the organization of the Civic Drama League “another expression of this new interest in the play.” Originally intended for the community, it also soon involved the student body.

Success reached its peak in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Although the Mask and Wig theater never officially disbanded, it dissolved into Theta Alpha Phi in the 1947-48 school year, soon after Prof. Boody left Ripon College in 1946. Its legacy and impact on Ripon College remains.

Listed below you will see the Mask and Wig’s many productions. Visit the Ripon College Archives for a collection of programs and photos.

Three Act Plays

Jan. 16, 1917 — A Scrap of Paper *First Mask and Wig Production
Jun. 12, 1917 — Mice and Men
1917 or 18 — The Dressing Gown
1917 or 18 — The Neighbors
1917 or 18 — Mercedes
1918 — A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream
1919 — The Lion and the Mouse
1919 —The Rivals
Dec.8, 1919 — Sweet Lavender
Jun. 5, 1920 — The Merchant Gentleman
1920 — The Witching Hour
1920 — The Antigone of Sophacles
1921 — Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme
1921 — The Truth
Dec.1, 1921 — The Great Divide
Feb 1922 — The Impertence of the Creature
Jun. 1922 — The Shepherd in the Distance
Jun. 10, 1922 — Clarence
Nov. 24,1922 — Come Out of the Kitchen
Nov. 1922 — Three Pills in a Bottle
Dec.3, 1922 — The Witching Hour
Feb. 1923 — Helena’s Husband
Mar. 9, 1923 — The Passing of the Third Floor Back
Mar. 1923 — One Spanish Night
Jun. 8, 1923 — The Melting Pot
Nov. 27, 1923 — Three Live Ghosts
1923 – The City Beautiful
Mar. 7, 1924 — The Famous Mrs. Fair
Jun. 6, 1924 — Only 38
1924 — You and I
1924 – Light Eternal
Mar. 10, 1925 — Rollo’s Wild Oats
1925 — Mrs. Temple’s Telegram
Dec. 8, 1925 — John Fergusson
Aug. 11,1925 — The Intimate Strangers
1925 – Old Peabody Pew
1925 – Immanuel
Mar. 9,1926 — Dulcy
1926 — The Spirit of Ripon
Dec. 10,1926 — The Fool
1926 – The Romaunt of the River
1926 – The Old Fashioned Garden
Mar. 1,1927 — The Family Upstairs
Jun. 10, 1927 — Pollyanna
Nov. 22, 1927 — Sun Up
1927 — Mrs. Bumpstead-Leigh
1927 — The Garden of Memory
Nov.8, 1928 — The Patsy
Mar. 6, 1928 — Tweedles
Jun. 9, 1928 — The First Year
Mar. 12, 1929 — Applesauce
1929 — A Doll’s House
1929 — A New Birth of Freedom
1930 — Skidding
Jun. 13, 1930 — Peg O’ My Heart
Feb. 18 & 19, 1931 — Outward Bound
May 4 & 5, 1931 — Journey’s End
1931 — The Enemy
Mar. 16, 1932 — Berkeley Square
Jun. 10, 1932 — The Royal Family
1932 — The Cradle Song
Dec. 8 & 9, 1932 — Children of the Moon
Mar. 8 & 9, 1933 — Craig’s Wife
Jun. 8 & 9, 1933 — Your Uncle Dudley
Dec. 6, 1933 — Death Takes a Holiday
1933 – The King of Kings
Mar. 21-22, 1934 — Alice in Wonderland
Jun 8-9, 1934 — Candida
1934 — The Romance of Wisconsin
Nov.21-22, 1934 — Holiday
Dec. 14, 1934 — The Perfect Alibi
1934 – The Tercentennial Pageant
Mar. 5, 1935 — The Servant in the House
1935 — Smilin’ Through
1935 — Men Must Fight
Jun. 13,1936 — Hotel Universe
Nov. 17, 1936 — The Drunkard
1936 — Glee Plays the Game
1937 — The Whole Town’s Talking
Mar. 10, 1937 — The Return of Peter Grimm
Jun.11, 1937 — Spring Dance
1937 — Tons of Money
Mar.3, 1938 — Twelfth Night
1938 — The Importance of Being Ernest
Jun. 11, 1938 — The Swan
Dec.8, 1938 — Little Women
1938 – Ladies in Waiting
1938 – The Light of the World
1939 — The Night of January 16
June 10, 1939 — Miss Lulu Bett
1939 – You Can’t Take It with You
Jun. 7, 1940 — Petticoat Fever
1940 — Julius Caesar
1940 — Charley’s Aunt
1940 — Cock Robin
1941 — What a Life
Nov. 14, 1941 — The Man Who Came to Dinner
Apr. 17, 1941 — Our Town
Feb. 5-6, 1942 — Fight for Your Lady
Mar. 20, 1942 — Kind Lady
May 7, 1942 — George Washington Slept Here
Nov. 19, 1942 — The Eve of St. Mark
1943 — American Passport
Mar. 11, 1943 — Arsenic and Old Lace
1943 – The Male Animal
Dec. 13, 1944 — Night Must Fall
1944 – Heart of the City
Mar. 20, 1945 — Personal Appearance
Jun. 5, 1945 — Claudia****100th Mask and Wig Production****
1945 – The Prince of Peace
Feb. 21, 1946 — The Little Foxes
1946 or ’47 — Sorority House

One Acts

1923 or 1924:
The Dear Departed
The Silver Lining
The Will

1924 or 1925:
The Well Remembered Voice
The Old Lady Shows Her Medals

1928:
The Interior
Cabbages
Why the Chimes Rang

1946 or 1947:
Before Breakfast
Two Gentlemen From Soho
Deeper Than Atlanta

Special Performances

The Master Builder—Under the Auspices of Mask and Wig
1924 or 1925–The Women’s Town (with Ripon High School Students)

1935 or 1936–Friendship Plays
*Cloey
*The Mayor and the Manicure
*Highness

1939—Puppeteers
1946 or 1947–Nativity Play

Assembled by Emily Bach

b. July 28, 1943; York, PA
Hometown: York, PA
Years at Ripon College: 1962-1966
Major: Philosophy
Extracurricular activities: Reader’s Theatre, Alpha Chi Omega, Student Senate, Internal Affairs, Drama

Plays at Ripon:
“Rape of the Belt”- (1962) role: Queen of the Amazons. Ripon College Theatre.
“The Miser”- (1964) role: Elise. Church Theatre.
“The Beautiful People”- (1964) role: make-up crew. Church Theatre.
“Antigone”- (1964) role: Antigone. Ripon College Red Barn Theatre.
“Riders to the Sea”- (1966) role: Cathleen (lead).
“The American Dream”- (1965) role: Mrs. Barker. Church Theatre.
“As You Like It”- (1965) role: Rosalind. Church Theatre.

Awards:
Ripon College Distinguished Alumni Award (1984)
Ripon College Honorary Degree: Doctor of Performing Arts (1988)

Career Highlights:
Gremlins (1984)
Footloose (1984)
Back to the Future (1985)
Scream (1996)
Patch Adams (1998)

b. April 5, 1900
d. June 10, 1967
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
Years at Ripon College: Feb. 1921- April 1922
Major: Medicine
Extracurricular activities: Theta Alpha Phi (theatre), Alpha Phi Omega, Eastern Debate Team, Phi Kappa Delta (Debate Honor Society), All College Prom Committee.

In 1921, voted cleverest and most talented, tied 2nd for most popular.

Plays at Ripon:
“The Truth” (1921)- role: Warden. Initially performed at the Armory Theatre, this play toured the surrounding areas throughout the winter of 1921 and was featured at the June 21, 1921 commencement celebration.
“Dregs” – (1921) role: lead. “Dregs” was cancelled and replaced by “The Valiant”.
“The Valiant” – (1921) role: the prisoner.
“The Great Divide” – (1921) role: Phillip.
“Sintram of Skaserack” (1922)- role: Sintram.

Career Highlights:
Up the River (1930) First film
The Power of Glory (1933) First film success
San Francisco (1936) Nominated for Academy Award for Best Actor
Captains Courageous (1937) Won Academy Award for Best Actor
Boys’ Town (1938) Won Academy Award for Best Actor
Father of the Bride (1950) Nominated for Academy Award for Best Actor
Bad Day at Black Rock (1955) Nominated for Academy Award for Best Actor
The Old Man and the Sea (1958) Nominated for Academy Award for Best Actor
Inherit the Wind (1960) Nominated for Academy Award for Best Actor
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967) Last film
Below: Spencer Tracy accepts an honorary degree from Ripon College in 1940.

Ver Adest, Latin for “spring is here,” entertained Ripon College and the Ripon community from 1946-1957. With elaborate musicals written and choreographed by Ripon College students*, the Ver Adest shows included student-performed comedy, song, and dance reviews.

During its years as a major event at Ripon College, the co-chairs of the Ver Adest shows were two of the most important student positions on campus. At one time the show’s production involved as many as 25-30% of the student body. Interest in Ver Adest waned after the 1957 production and the program retired.

1946 – “Hi there, Mister!” Co-chairs: Doris Jacob and John J. Hovak.
1947 – “Let’s Call it a Day!” Co-chairs: Mary Ellen Weiske and Dix Waldo.
1948 – “Take it from Here!” Co-chairs: Mary Lou Blattspieler and John Nickless.
1949 – “This is the Life!” Co-chairs: Doris Bohling and Richard Zoph.
1950 – “Mind your Business!” Co-chairs: Mary Ellen Brode and David Kirch.
1951 – “This is it!” Co-chairs: Joanne Klawiter and Joseph Mazza.
1952 – “Of All Things” Co-chairs: Gina Hirschberg and Bill Wildermann.
1953 – No production due to the absence of director William Peterman.
1954 – “Hello Again” Co-chairs: Jane Anne Furzland and John English.
1955 – “Good News!” Co-chairs: Helen Healy and Bob Schieler.
1956 – “Where’s Charlie?” Co-chairs: Bob Schieler and Bob Ainsnorth.
1957 – “Pajama Game” Co-chairs: Bob Ainsnorth and Peter Mortensen.

*In 1955 the Ver Adest production staff decided to try “book shows.” In these shows the music and words were already written in the form of a musical.