Columbia University Teachers College - Tower Yearbook (New York, NY)

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of the Dramatic Association, gave a markedly successful Shakespearean Tercentenary Festival. The possibility of harmonious results from the in- ter-action of the different Departments was demonstrated as a fact. The truth of the costuming to the Elizabethan period gave charm to the scene, the Elizabethan tidbits and spicy beverages, the spirited country dances of the time, the stage-businessl' of the folk, spontaneous but showing deep and accurate study, all united in a delightful ensemble that will be hard to surpass, or even duplicate. A very important element was the economy ofthe production. The As- sociation is making strenuous efforts in the dramatic line, at least, to initiate by example a more economical basis of social life in the colleges and high- schools. In the Shakespeare Festival, all the costumes were planned to come within a one dollar limit-very few went beyond this. Thus was demon- strated anew the old truth that simplicity merely enhances charm. By the conclusion of the present year it is planned to adopt a constitu- tion and elect regular officers, so that the Association may be put on a per- manent basis. Page One-Hundred-seventeen

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THE DRAMATIC ASSOCIATION HE Dramatic Association was formedto unify the spirit of all things dramatic at Teachers College. Teachers College is especially rich in material upon which to draw in initiating such an attempt. For here the practical and the idealistic go hand in hand. There are many departments to draw upon: Manual Arts and Design for scenery, Fine Arts and Clothing for scenery and for the designing of costumes g Foods and Cookery for Period Cookery, Dramatic pantomime, and Music and Speech for self-evident reasons, and History, Education, and English to knit them all into a significant whole. This then, is the pivotal idea in the formation of the new Dramatic Arts Association :-to draw into co-operation the scattered talent of these Departments, thereby developing a new appreciation of the social signifi- cance of dramatic work for the school and for the community. The organ- ization will formulate and present for discussion regulations for all College plays, making recommendations as to their frequency, economy, and sim- plicity. There are already formed sub-committees, each with its own chair- man and program, which will take up such projects as these :- theg pro- duction of class or club plays, the training of students as coaches, the for- mation of a collection of plays suitable for school and college performance, together with an annotated collection of prompt books for a lending library. It is expected by the Association that all who use plays produced in the As- sociation or with its help, shall file prompt books, which are available for the use of members or persons recommended by them. The society holds regular meetings, some of them open to the public, in which matters of dramatic interest are presented. For example on Mon- day, February 14th, 1916, Mr. A. G. Arvold of the Little Country Theatre, Fargo, North Dakota, lectured under the auspices ofthe Association. Al- ready the Association has provided a coach for at least one play in the Horace Mann School, and has given advice and lent its prompt books to a number of schools. The members of the Association's Committee for l915-1916 are Pro- fessor Allan Abbott, Miss Helen Diller, Miss Kyle Adams, Miss Jane Hyde and Mr. Raymond Sovey. The excellence of the new plan was demonstrated during Alumni VVeek, February, 1916, when the entire College, headed by the Committee Page Ozze-Hzmdred-sixteen

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Scenes from the 1916 Festival Page O11,e-Hulzdrcd-sighteen