Chronology_history

Mimes and Mummers
Alumni Association

EARLY MIMES HISTORY

Tim Kelley FCRH '81 "unearthed" the following information in the Fordham Archives.

The first show in 1855 was, "King Henry the Fourth" followed by the comedy
"Seven Clerks".

There is an interesting reference in the program for the "Seven Keys to Baldpate" that indicates that the "Mimes" (formerly St John's Dramatic Society then the Fordham University Dramatic Association) actually predates the university:

"The custom of producing plays at definite intervals on the college stage extends back to the days of St. Mary's College, Kentucky, Fordham's lineal predecessor in the college world. The first play to be produced was an original drama by Father Chazelle, the first Jesuit president of St Mary's entitled "Red Hawk."

The years after the WWII get a bit murky (a program from 5/27/1946 that indicates "The Fordham Mimes and Mummers have the pleasure of welcoming you to their first production in four years in Collins Auditorium"). It is believed that it was about this time that an actual "theatre department" existed at Rose Hill. Presumably, its establishment coincided (after the interruption caused by the war) with renovations to Collins that were basically completed in 1941 (that's when the balcony was removed and the side stages were added). It's at this time that there are documents that refer to the "Fordham University Theatre, Department of Communication Arts". Sometimes their shows are done in association with the Mimes and Mummers, other times not. Sometimes the Mimes perform shows in association with the Thalians which was a theatre group within the Department of Education. Rev. Alfred J. Barrett (for whom the Barrett Award conferred at Enceania is named) was the chairman of the Department of Communication arts in the 1950's.

A certain famous thespian can be spotted by those who have a "Hawkeye" in far right of this picture from the 1956 One Act Play Festival. The program from the same play festival came be found here.

It was with the completion of Lincoln Center and the elimination of the last paid theatre position (that of theatre director held by Gerald Patt) at Rose Hill in 1972 that the Mimes took on the character of the organization as it exists today.

There are conflicting dates as to when the Mimes started using the name Mimes and Mummers (1919 or 1921). I believe I resolved the date as 1921. A 1920 program ("Seven Keys to Baldpate") still used the name "The Fordham University Dramatic Association"; however, the 1921 program "The Mistakes of a Night" used the name "The Mimes and Mummers".

A History of Shows From 1855-Present

1855 KING HENRY THE FOURTH & SEVEN CLERKS;

1871-72 HANDY ANDY; HEARTWELL AND HANDFORD

1873-74 BOURGEOIS GENTILHOMME; TEMPTATION; THE CRITIC; NOGO DUMPS; MACBETH

1875-76 THE GREAT ELIXIR; OUR RURAL FRIENDS; A REGULAR FIX; ROBERT EMMET; THE SPECTRE BRIDGROOM

1877-78 THE SEVEN CLERKS; THE HIDDEN GEMS; TWO BLIND BEGGARS; THE WHITE HORSE OF THE PEPPERS; THE CROSS OF ST JOHN; THE COUSINS; GUY MANNERING

1879-80 THE STEEPLE CHASE; NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND; OLIVER TWIST; ROBERT MACAIRE; THE ARTFUL DODGER; NO THOROUGHFARE; COX AND BOX; THE IRON CHEST; O’DONNELL OGE; HENRY DUNBAR; A NERVOUS MAN AND A MAN OF NERVE; THE MAN WITH THE IRON MASK

1881-82 THE BELLS; ELMA THE DRUID MARTYR; DAMON AND PYTHIAS, THE CRITIC; THE TICKET OF LEAVE MAN; SECRET SERVICE; THE GOLDEN FARMER; KING JOHN

1883-84 ROB ROY; THREE THIEVES; KING HENRY IV;
THE WHITE HORSE OF THE PEPPERS; BOMBASTES FURIOSO;
GUY MANNERING; THE LILLIPUTIANS

1885-86       THE CROSS OF ST JOHN; THE COUNT AND THE SECRETARY;
   MERCHANT OF VENICE; HIDDEN GEM; ST THOMAS MOORE;
   BATTLE OF HALLIDON

1887-88 WILLIAM TELL; HAMLET; THE BROKEN SWORD; KING JOHN;
ROB ROY; THE HEIR OF AESCENDUNE

1889-90         PEACOCKS’ HOLIDAY; THE INNKEEPER OF ABBEVILLE;
     WHENLOCK OF WHENLOCK; THE RIVALS; THE CRITIC;
     WAITING FOR THE VERDICT; OLIVER TWIST; THE VIRGINIA MUMMY

1891-92          A CELEBRATED CASE; BARNABY RUDGE; DISOWNED;
     THE BURGOMASTER OF SAARDAM; THE MERCHANT OF VENICE;
      NO. 1 AROUND THE CORNER; A NEW WAY TO PAY OLD DEBTS

1893-94 KING JOHN; DAMON AND PYTHIAS; POISONED

1895-96 RICHELIEU; THE BELLS; MACBETH; JULIUS CAESAR

1897-98 PAULUS THE TRIBUNE

1899-00 THE RIVALS; THE MERCHANT OF VENICE; THE CRITIC

1901-02 A PAIR OF SPECTACLES; MACBETH

1903-04 KING ROBERT OF SICILY; A NIGHT OFF; RECORD MISSING

1905-06 MAKE YOUR WILLS; A COLLEGE COMPLICATION 1906_ACollegeComplication.pdf

1907-08 A SOCIAL ASPIRANT; ROB ROY; ALL THE COMFORTS OF HOME

1909-10 KING JOHN; WHAT HAPPENED TO JONES; MACBETH

1911-12 IN THE FOOL’S BAUBLE; BACHELOR’S HALL;
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE

1913-14 M. BALMER; KING HENRY IV; THE PRIVATE SECRETARY;
TWELFTH NIGHT

1915-16                 A CELEBRATED CASE; DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE;
            KING RICHARD II; BEAU BRUMMELL
            1915_DrJekyllandMrHyde.pdf 1916_KingRichardII.pdf

1917-18 IF I WERE KING

1919-20 SEVEN KEYS TO BALDPATE 1920_Seven Keys to Baldpate.pdf

1921-22 MISTAKES OF THE NIGHT; NAPLEON II (L’AIGLON)
1921_The_Mistakes_of_a_Night.pdf

1923 HENRY VIII

1924 THE RIVALS

1925 ALBERIC, ARCHBISHOP OF GHENT

1926 BEAU BRUMMELL

1927 PALS FIRST

1927-28 PALS FIRST; RICHELIEU

1928-29 OTHELLO 1928_Othello.pdf

1929-30 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 1929_The Merchant of Venice.pdf

1930-31 TRELAWNY OF THE WELLS M&M logo used in 1930.pdf

1931-32 TWELFTH NIGHT, OR WHAT YOU WILL
M&M logo used in 1932.pdf

1932-33 THE RIVALS

1933-34 STRIFE

1934-35 CRIMINAL AT LARGE

1935-36 THE WOLVES

1936-37 JOURNEY’S END

1937-38 YELLOW JACK

1938-39 EPICOENE, THE SILENT WOMAN

1939-40 WHO RIDE ON WHITE HORSES

1940-41 LUCIFER AT LARGE

1941-42 A SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS; B-17

1942-43 MARTYR WITHOUT TEARS

1943-45

1945-46 SAINT IN A HURRY;

1946-47 WINGS OVER EUROPE; RAMBLINGS OF ’46; PEER GYNT; CROWN COLONY; BIKINI - BIKINI

1947-48 THE CARDINAL AND THE CROWS; RAMBLINGS OF ’47; AARON SLICK FROM PUMPKIN CRICK;
LAZARUS LAUGHED; Four Short Plays; CAESAR’S DOLL

1948-49 ROMEO AND JULIET; CAPTAIN JINKS OF THE HORSE MARINES; RAMBLINGS OF ’48; A VOICE IN RAMA; THE NEW GOSSON

1949-50 COME BACK ON TUESDAY; THE DOCTOR IN SPITE OF HIMSELF; THE COMEDIAN; SAM EGO’S HOUSE

1950-51 A TRIP TO CHINATOWN; DR FAUSTUS; COLOMBYRE; ANTIGONE; CUPID IN THE CLOISTER

1951-52 THE INSPECTOR GENERAL; ALL FOR LOVE; A TRIP TO SYRACUSE;
THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINER; HOTEL UNIVERSE;
PYRAMUS AND THISBE; ONCE UPON A MIDNIGHT

1952-53 A GAME OF CHESS; THE TRAITOR; THE ENEMY;
YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU

1953-54 OTHELLO; THE DEVIL IS A FOOL; CAESAR’S DOLL

1954-55 THE CAINE MUTINY COURT MARTIAL

1955-56 THE CENTENNIAL JUBILEE REVIEW; THE PROPOSAL;
One Act Plays (RIP VAN WINKLE, CHARLES II, ANDRE)
1956_Jesuit One Act Play Festival.jpg

1956-57 TIME LIMIT; ANTIGONE

1957-58 One Act Plays (A SLEEP OF PRISONERS, THE FLATTERING WORD);
THE CAVE DWELLERS

1958-59 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE; ALL MY SONS; OTHELLO

1959-60 THE CURMUDGEON; THE LAST MILE 1960_The_Curmudgeon.pdf (Courtesy of Gabriel Lopez)

1960-61 EMPEROR JONES & THE FARCE OF M. PIERRE PATELIN;

1961-62 CAINE MUTINY COURT MARTIAL; HIPPOLYTUS;
Dramatic Reading (MEDEA); THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE

1962-63         INHERIT THE WIND; THE SHOWOFF;
                    WAITING FOR GODOT; Readings From
                    (PROMETHEUS BOUND; THE BOOK OF JOB) RHINOCEROS

1963-64         ANTIGONE & MEDEA; TWELFTH NIGHT;
                    ENDGAME & COOPER’S YARD; TAKE HER, SHE’S MINE;
                    JULIUS CAESAR

1964-65         HECUBA & LA FEMME EN ROUGE; ROSS;
                    Two One Acts (A SLEEP OF PRISONERS, WILD BILL SWEET WILLIAM);
                    ANIMAL FARM; DOCTOR FAUSTUS & DON JUAN IN HELL

1965-66 MURDER IN THE CATHEDRAL; Two One Acts (THE CURMUDGEON, CHILD’S PLAY); AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE; THE WAYWARD SAINT

1966-67 ANATOMY OF A MURDER; NO EXIT; THE TRIAL

1967-68 UNDER THE MILKWOOD; THE PHYSICIST; THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT; MARAT-SADE; Trilogy of One Acts (THE PLAY, THE SLAVE, THE ROOM)

1968-69 THE INFERNAL MACHINE; BAREFOOT IN THE PARK;
IT’S A BIRD, IT’S A PLANE, IT’S SUPERMAN; THE HOMECOMING

1969-70 HAMLET; SIX CHARACTERS IN SEARCH OF AN AUTHOR;
MORNING, NOON, AND NIGHT; MARAT SADE

1970-71 ROSENCRANTZ & GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD; AMERICA HURRAH; THE TEMPEST; THE BALCONY

1971-72 LOVERS; MISSING SHOW HERE; THE BIRTHDAY PARTY; THE THREE PENNY OPERA

1972-73 AN EVENING WITH ISRAEL HOROVITZ; DRACULA; RHINOCEROS; ANTIGONE

1973-74 YOU KNOW I CAN’T HEAR YOU WHEN THE WATER’S RUNNING;
TWELFTH NIGHT; ANYTHING GOES; BOYS IN THE BAND

1974-75 STEAMBATH; THE TAMING OF THE SHREW; ONCE UPON A MATTRESS; THE CRUCIBLE

1975-76 PLAY IT AGAIN SAM; MAN FOR ALL SEASONS; CABARET; ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOOS NEST

1976-77 THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE; THE LION IN WINTER; Three One Acts (BIRDBATH, WITNESS, ZOO STORY); APPLAUSE;

1977-78 THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER; THE MISANTHROPE;
BYE BYE BIRDE; FIVE FINGER EXERCISE

1978-79 ARSENIC AND OLD LACE; MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING; PIPPIN; ROSENCRANZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD

1979-80 DON'T DRINK THE WATER; THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ERNEST; COMPANY; THE GLASS MENAGERIE

1980-81 THE RITZ; RHINOCEROS; CHICAGO; DIARY OF ANNE FRANK

1981-82 HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES; AS YOU LIKE IT; ON THE TOWN;
THE RUNNER STUMBLES

1982-83 BAREFOOT IN THE PARK; TAMING OF THE SHREW;
GREASE; THE RIMERS OF ELDRICH

1983-84 GOD'S FAVORITE; SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER; PAL JOEY; BUS STOP

1984-85 YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU; A CHRISTMAS CAROL;
GODSPELL; THE SHADOWBOX

1985-86 THE ROMANCERS & THE ADVANTAGES OF BEING SHY; DRACULA;
PIPPIN; BURIED CHILD

1986-87 AH WILDERNESS; THE TEMPEST; JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR;
TEN LITTLE INDIANS

1987-88 BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS; THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ERNEST; SWEENEY TODD; INHERIT THE WIND

1988-89 ARSENIC AND OLD LACE; MACBETH; HAIR;
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST

1989-90 THE NERD; MACBETH; ANYTHING GOES; OUR TOWN

1990-91 HAY FEVER; THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER; WEST SIDE STORY; CRIMES OF THE HEART

1991-92 A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM; A CHRISTMAS CAROL;
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF; THE ODD COUPLE

1992-93 PIPPIN; NEIL SIMON’S FOOLS; THE MUSIC MAN; STEEL MAGNOLIAS

1993-94 INTO THE WOODS; THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST;
CABARET; THE CRUCIBLE

1994-95 MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING; THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ERNEST; MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG; WAIT UNTIL DARK

1995-96 TWELFTH NIGHT; PRELUDE TO A KISS;
CITY OF ANGELS; GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS

1996-97 MACBETH; BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS; GODSPELL;
ANGELS IN AMERICA: MILLENNIUM APPROACHES

1997-98 A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM; MOON OVER BUFFALO;
BLOOD BROTHERS; A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

1998-99 THE TEMPEST; MOON OVER BUFFALO; JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR; DANCING AT LUGHNASA

1999-00 HAMLET; NOISES OFF; A CHORUS LINE;
TO GILLIAN ON HER 37^TH BIRTHDAY

2000-01 MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING; AN IDEAL HUSBAND; HAIR

2001-02 ROMEO AND JULIET; RUMORS; TEN LITTLE INDIANS; IOLANTHE

2002-03 THE TAMING OF THE SHREW; THE MARRIAGE OF BETTE AND BOO;
THE WIZ; ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST

2003-04 MACBETH; THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER;
THE WILD PARTY; BLOOD WEDDING

2004-05 A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM; NOISES OFF;
INTO THE WOODS; THE CRUCIBLE

2005-06 CHILDREN OF EDEN; YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU;
ON THE TOWN; OTHELLO