Tradition trumps theatricality of V-Show

When images of a split-faced Alma Mater and overzealous actors invade campus, it can mean only one thing: The Varsity Show is in town.

The 116th Varsity Show is banking on its advertising blitz and reputation to lure students, administrators, and alumni to this weekend’s performances. But with tradition comes high expectations, as numerous former Varsity Show members have gone onto real-world fame, from theater legends Richard Rodgers, CC ’23, and Oscar Hammerstein, CC ’16, to modern artists like “Next to Normal” composer Tom Kitt, CC ’96, and “Saturday Night Live” cast member Jenny Slate, CC ’04.. However, unlike many other performing arts organizations on campus, the Varsity Show attracts an audience mainly because of its rich history and renown as a uniquely Columbian experience, rather than for its musical-theater merit.

This does not mean that the Varsity Show is without creative value—on the contrary, the creative team works virtually all year to ensure such a large undertaking is made as successful as possible. Nevertheless, the students and faculty members who most appreciate the show for its theatrical merit are those who understand the theater world best.

Professor Patricia Denison, director of undergraduate studies for the drama and theatre arts department, addressed the distinction the Varsity Show holds as a work of student-produced work. “Like many other student-run productions, the Varsity Show gives undergraduates an opportunity to exercise their remarkable gifts as theater-makers,” she said. “Cast and crew, chorus, creative team, production team, design team—nothing in student theater quite matches the scale of the Varsity Show.”

Although she never participated in the Varsity Show, Danaya Almenares-Mesa, CC ’10, a drama and theatre arts major, understands the elements of putting together and presenting theatrical productions.

“Because it’s a student-made and student-run production, of course it’s not going to be flawless, but I think the dedication that everyone puts in it is incredible, and I think that they’ve always had very talented people working on the Varsity Show,” Almenares-Mesa said.

Aware of the professional feats Varsity Show alumni have gone on to accomplish, Almenares-Mesa expects quality work from this year’s production. “I am hoping to laugh. I love when they make a farce of things that students recognize, which is hard to do,” she said. “I guess the fear is always that it could get old because it’s the same campus, but I think new things happen here every year because it’s New York City, so I look forward to seeing what they turn that into.” 

Almenares-Mesa said that her three top criteria for a good Varsity Show are “good music, good story, and laughs.”

But for non-theater majors and faculty, the Varsity Show represents less of a theater experience and more of a traditional Columbia entertainment experience.

Hannah Cui, SEAS ’12, saw last year’s Varsity Show, and was pleasantly surprised by its complex satirical story. “Part of going and not knowing is to see what they throw at us this year,” she said.

Unlike Cui, Dakota Ward, CC ’12, was less satisfied with his V115 experience. “I thought the show was exaggerated last year, in terms of the length,” he said.

But this did not deter Ward’s conviction to see the show this year. After seeing the V116 “West End Preview” earlier this spring, Ward still wanted to be a part of the exclusively Columbian tradition, and began to look forward to V116.

“My whole family is coming to see it from Arizona, so I have high expectations. It better be good with my family coming,” Ward said.

 Laura Leuenberger, CC ’10, is also eager to see what V116 has to offer. She has seen the Varsity Show two of the last three years, and only skipped a year because she was studying abroad. When asked if she would attend this year’s production, she said, “Of course I’m going—it’s tradition!”

Leuenberger continued, “You go [to the Varsity Show] because it’s what you do. Columbia doesn’t do much by the way of traditions or school spirit, so V-Show is our outlet for both of those, that doesn’t make us dress up in colors, and lets us still be snarky about Columbia.”

While the appeal of the Varsity Show, for the majority of students, faculty, and alumni, is not based on its music, narrative, or acting, its sense of Columbian tradition and school spirit makes it an intrinsic part of life on campus. And it is that type of tradition that seems to have lasted even after graduation. Denison said, “Terrance McNally [CC ’60 and former Varsity Show writer], writing about the Varsity Show, pointedly notes that the only theater poster in his study is that of the Varsity Show.”