Varsity Show

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This article is about the Columbia University stage show. For the 1937 film, see Varsity Show (film)

The Varsity Show, founded in 1894, is one of the oldest traditions at Columbia University, and certainly its oldest performing arts tradition. Its long list of alumni include such distinguished names as Oscar Hammerstein II ’16, Lorenz Hart ’18, Richard Rodgers ’23, and I.A.L. Diamond ’41. Each year, the Varsity Show attracts some of Columbia and Barnard College’s finest actors and creative talents.

Founded as fundraiser for Columbia athletics, the Varsity Show now draws together the entire Columbia undergraduate community for a series of sold-out performances every April. Dedicated to produce a unique full-length show that skews and satirizes many dubious aspects of life at Columbia, the Varsity Show is often written and inspired by a long list of contributors, including the cast, production and creative teams.

1 The I.A.L. Diamond Award for Achievement in the Arts
2 112 Years of the Varsity Show
3 External links
4 Further reading

[edit] The I.A.L. Diamond Award for Achievement in the Arts

The I.A.L. Diamond Award is presented on annual basis to a Columbia or Barnard alumnus/a who has demonstrated continued commitment to and has found success in the arts. Mr. Diamond is the only individual to have written four consecutive Varsity Shows. He then went on to Hollywood to write such classics as Some Like it Hot and The Apartment, for which he won an Academy Award.

In 2004, Terrence McNally was the first recipient of the award. Mr. McNally, author of Master Class, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, and Ragtime, wrote the 66th Annual Varsity Show.

In 2005, Jeanine Tesori, Barnard College Class of 1983, was honored with the award. Ms. Tesori was the music director for the 89th Annual Varsity Show and then came back a year in 1984 to write the music for the 90th Annual Varsity Show. She is a three-time Tony Award nominee for her work on Twelfth Night, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Caroline, or Change.

In 2006, Art Garfunkel, Columbia College Class of 1962, received the award. Mr. Garfunkel is best known as half of the folk duo Simon and Garfunkel.

[edit] 112 Years of the Varsity Show

1894: Joan of Arc 1896: The Buccaneer 1897: Cleopatra 1899: Varsity Show 1900: The Governor's Vrow 1901: Princess Proud 1902: Vanity Fair 1903: The Mischief Maker 1904: The Isle of Illusia 1905: The Khan of Kathan 1906: The Conspirators 1907: The Ides of March 1908: Mr. King 1909: In Newport 1910: The King of Hilaria 1911: Made in India 1912: The Mysterious Miss Apache 1913: The Brigands 1914: The Merry Lunatic 1915: On Your Way 1916: The Peace Pirates 1917: Home James 1918: Ten for Five 1919: Take a Chance 1920: Fly with Me 1921: You'll Never Know 1922: Steppe Around 1923: Half Moon Inn 1924: Old King's 1925: Half Moon Inn 1926: His Majesty, the Queen 1927: Betty Behave 1928: Zuleika, or the Sultan Insulted 1929: Oh, Hector 1930: Heigho Pharoah 1931: Great Shakes 1932: How Revolting! 1933: Home James 1934: Laugh it Off! 1935: Flair-Flair: The Idol of Paree 1936: Off Your Marx 1937: Some of the People 1938: You've Got Something There 1939: Fair Enough 1940: Life Begins in '40 1941: Hit the Road 1942: Saints Alive 1944: On the Double 1945: Second the Motion 1946: Step Right Up 1947: Dead to Rights 1948: Streets of New York 1949: Mr. Oscar 1950: Wait for It 1951: Babe in the Woods 1952: Streets of New York 1953: Shape of Things 1954: Sky's the Limit 1955: When in Rome 1961: Streets of New York 1963: Elsinore 1964: Il Troubleshootore 1966: The Bawd's Opera 1967: Feathertop 1978: The Great Columbia Riot of '78 1980: Fly With Me 1982: College on Broadway 1982: Columbia Graffiti 1983: Fear of Scaffolding 1984: The New U 1985: Lost in Place 1987: From Here to Uncertainty 1988: The Bonfire of Humanities 1989: Sans Souci, Be Happy 1990: Behind the Lion Curtain 1991: The Silence of the Lions 1993: Lion Game 1994: Angels at Columbia: Centennial Approaches 1995: Step Inside 1996: Devil in a Light Blue Dress 1997: Enlargement and Enhancement: The Scaffolding Years 1998: Love is Indefinite 1999: Beyond Oedipus: Leaving the Womb 2000: Mo' Money, Mo' Problems 2001: Sex, Lies, and Morningside 2002: 108th Annual Varsity Show 2003: Dial 'D' for Deadline 2004: Off-Broadway 2005: The Sound of Muses 2006: Misery Loves Columbia