Varsity Show

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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

The Varsity Show is one of the oldest traditions at Columbia University and certainly its oldest performing arts presentation. Founded in 1894 as a fundraiser for the university's fledgling athletic teams, the Varsity Show now draws together the entire Columbia undergraduate community for a series of sold-out performances every April. Dedicated to producing a unique full-length spectacle that skewers and satirizes many dubious aspects of life at Columbia, the Varsity Show is written and inspired by an extensive team of cast, producers and production personnel.

The long list of alumni who have written, performed, directed, worked backstage, or otherwise been associated with the show includes such distinguished names as:

William C. DeMille '00, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences;
John Erskine '00, pioneer of the Great Books program;
Arthur Garfield Hays '02, who represented the American Civil Liberties Union at the Monkey Trial of John Scopes;
Ralph Morgan '04, the first president of the Screen Actors Guild;
Roy Webb '10, composer for scores of films, including Abe Lincoln in Illinois, Notorious, and Marty;
Dixon Ryan Fox '11, president of Union College;
Legendary lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II ’16;
Howard Dietz '17, lyricist for Dancing in the Dark and head of publicity for MGM, who created its famed Leo the Lion trademark;
Herman Mankiewicz '17, who with Orson Welles wrote Citizen Kane;
Lorenz Hart ’18, lyricist of My Funny Valentine, Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered and many other Broadway standards;
Humorist Corey Ford '23, who named Eustace Tilley, the mascot of The New Yorker magazine
Legendary songwriter Richard Rodgers ’23;
Cultural historian Jacques Barzun '27;
Albert Maltz '30, one of theHollywood Ten and screenwriter for Destination Tokyo;
William Ludwig '32 screenwriter for The Great Caruso and Oscar co-winner for Interrupted Melody;
Martin Manulis '35, television producer and creator of Playhouse 90;
John La Touche '37, lyricist for Cabin in the Sky and The Golden Apple;
Minimalist poet Robert Lax '38;
Chicago bears quarterback Sid Luckman '39;
Oscar-winning screenwriter I.A.L. Diamond '41, Billy Wilder's co-author on The Apartment and The Fortune Cookie;
Holocaust author Gerald Green '42;
Actor Sorrell Booke '49, who played Boss Hogg in The Dukes of Hazzard;
Edward Kleban '59, lyricist for A Chorus Line;
Tony Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally '60;
Jon Bauman '69 of Sha Na Na.

1 The I.A.L. Diamond Award for Achievement in the Arts
2 114 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.

In 2007, Brandon V. Dixon, member of the Columbia College community, received the award. Mr. Dixon also received a Tony Award nomination for his performance of Harpo in the Broadway-hit, The Color Purple. He also originated the role of Simba in national tour of The Lion King. Mr. Dixon performed in the cast of the 107th Annual Varsity Show.