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

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

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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 FESTIVAL SPIRIT IN TEACHERS COLLEGE HF, various expressions of the Festival spirit in Teachers College have been so spontaneous and delightful, that it has been found of interest to the entire College and its friends to trace to their beginnings, threads that have been woven into the fabrics of the festivals since 1914. It is significant that 'fit all began in the Department of Music and Speech, two primary channels of human emotion. There was a class in Plays and Festivals, and the members determined to let the whole Col- lege participate in the joy of their work, by giving a T, C. festival. The Practical Arts Department was drawn in, for obvious reasons, and the Students' Council next because of the size and seriousness of the undertak- ing. Many now in Teachers College must remember the old County Fairs sponsored by the Council, which were to raise money for its activi- ties and which were undertaken by various clubs. These old County Fairs were the real progenitors of the present Festival, for in 1914 the Hrst festival replaced the last County Fair. The Council undertook the business part and the Festival class the making of the Festival. The Masque of Joy for the benefit of the Manhattan Day Nursery was the first of the new Festivals and was given on January 10, 1914. In 1915, a New Yearls celebration had been planned, when Miss Grace Dodge's death made necessary a revamping of the plan into two later festivals: a Valentine's celebration and, on VVashington's Birthday, a Fes- tival of True Romance. Here, for the first time, the graduate as well as undergraduate students, became part of the undertaking, drawing yet more threads into the Woof of the pattern. This was suggested by the oc- currence of the Alumni reunion during that week, and the custom of com- bining the two occasions seems to have become a permanent one. The Festival of True Romance was especially charming, being a de- licious morsel from the times of chivalry, most faithfully and bouyantly car- ried out in word and spirit. For those who were unfortunate enough to miss it, a full account can be found in the Teachers College Record for May, 1915. As a natural result of the working out of the Festival spirit, the whole College, Professors, grads, undergrads, and Fanny Morton, have been drawn into the irresistible whirlpool of community spirit. The whole College, in large or small part, contributed to the Shakespeare Festival of 1916, which was an unqualified success. The feeling of personal joy of all in participation was one of the most pleasing elements in the festivals-for this is the Festival Spirit itself. The Beadle, the acrobats, the gossips, the bad boys, the street vendors, the dancers, even the grads in their capes and ruffs, all blended into an har- monious expression of community feeling that should be the source of much inspiration to all sons and daughters of our Alma Mater. Page OIIC'-PIIHILi7'8d-1l'f1liL'fL'6IL